Did you know…

… the Heritage Foundation and Heritage Action are tracking the voting records of YOUR elected congressional representatives, as well as some of the 2016 presidential candidates?

The Heritage Foundation is one of the oldest, most respected and most influential conservative organizations in the country.  They are concerned with across-the-board conservative issues including freedom, fiscal responsibility, and traditional family values.  And they keep an eye on what our elected representatives in Washington D.C. are doing with our freedom and our tax dollars. You can read their scorecard so far this year here.

You can check the scores for representatives from your state, like South Dakota’s Senator John Thune, Senator Mike Rounds, and Rep. Kristi Noem.

Here is how South Dakota’s reps scored:

Not exactly the kind of scores you’d expect from three Republicans from a conservative state like South Dakota, is it?  Rather lackluster. These would be failing grades if they were scholastic scores.  How would you like it if your child brought home a report card in the 60-67% range?  Would it be okay with you if you had an employee who got their work assignments right 60-67% of the time–or if you are an employee, would it be okay if your employer got the amount on your paycheck (or your payday) right 60-67% of the time? Would you consider it acceptable if your doctor, your accountant, your pest control company, or your financial advisor got it right 60-67% of the time? Would you be okay with a police department, a fire department, or a tax assessor that got it right 60-67% of the time?

What happened to bringing “South Dakota common sense and conservative values to Washington D.C.“?  Maybe they didn’t get packed up for the move to the Potomac. Maybe they were overlooked and got left back here.

What did John Thune and the Heritage Foundation differ on?  Four items:

DHS FUNDING BILL: A BLANK CHECK FOR AMNESTY – On Friday, February 27, the Senate adopted a substitute amendment (#255) offered by Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) to the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act (H.R. 240). Heritage Action was key voting in favor of the House-passed DHS funding bill prior to the adoption of the McConnell Amendment, which essentially removed language that would have denied funding and resources for the President’s unconstitutional amnesty. With the adoption of the substitute amendment, Heritage Action will key vote against H.R. 240 and include it as a key vote on our legislative scorecard.

MANDATORY PAID SICK LEAVE – On Friday, March 27, the Senate considered numerous amendments to the Senate Budget Resolution (S Con Res 11). Introduced by Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), this amendment instructs the appropriations committee to set aside funds for a government program that establishes paid sick leave as well as “promote equal employment opportunities.”

$500 BILLION DOC FIX – The Senate voted on the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (H.R. 2). The bill, negotiated by Rep. John Boehner (R-OH) and Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), would permanently repeal Medicare’s Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) while making some small-scale reforms to the entitlement program and extending other programs such as the Clinton-era Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). The package will likely increase America’s debt by $500 billion over the next two decades.

CONFIRMATION OF LORETTA LYNCH FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL – The Senate vote leading to the confirmation of Loretta Lynch to serve as Attorney General.

Mike Rounds got the same score. He and Senator Thune voted wrong on the same three of four items, but Rounds got it right on mandatory paid sick leave, but got it wrong on a vote on an amendment to the Export-Import Bank vote:

MOTION TO TABLE KIRK EXPORT-IMPORT BANK AMENDMENT     The Senate voted on the motion to table (i.e. kill) an amendment introduced by Sen. Mark Kirk (R-IL) to reauthorize the Export-Import Bank.

What did Kristi Noem and Heritage Foundation differ on? Eight items:

DHS FUNDING BILL AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE – The House voted on the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act (H.R. 240), as amended by the Senate. The Senate amendment, offered by Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) removed essential language included by the House. As amended, H.R. 240 does nothing to prevent the President Obama’s unconstitutional amnesty.

TABLE SENATE AMENDMENT TO DHS FUNDING – The House voted to table the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act (H.R. 240), as amended by the Senate, after the bill had been brought to the floor via House Rule 22. The Senate amendment, offered by Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) removed essential language included by the House. As amended, H.R. 240 does nothing to prevent the President Obama’s unconstitutional amnesty. A vote against tabling the bill was an affirmative vote in favor of the legislation.

RE-AUTHORIZE DISCRIMINATORY HOUSING PRACTICES IN HAWAII – The House voted on the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Reauthorization Act of 2015 (H.R. 360). Introduced by Rep. Steve Pearce (R-NM), the bill would reauthorize the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996. In doing so, it would re-authorize the discriminatory housing policies implemented in Hawaii by the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands.

RSC BLUEPRINT FOR A BALANCED BUDGET – The House voted on the Fiscal Year 2016 Budget offered by the Republican Study Committee. The RSC’s Blueprint for a Balanced Budget, introduced by Rep. Marlin Stutzman (R-IN) and Rep. Bill Flores (R-TX), would balance in six years, reduce non-defense discretionary spending, reestablish national defense spending to support the military, repeal and replace Obamacare, reform Medicare and Medicaid, safeguard Social Security, and enact pro-growth tax reform.

$500 BILLION DOC FIX DEAL – The House voted on the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (H.R. 2). The bill, negotiated by Rep. John Boehner (R-OH) and Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), would permanently repeal Medicare’s Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) while making some small-scale reforms to the entitlement program and extending other programs such as the Clinton-era Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). The package will likely increase America’s debt by $500 billion over the next two decades.

HUDSON AMENDMENT TO TAKE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY SPENDING DOWN TO 2008 LEVELS – The amendment would take spending back to pre-stimulus FY 2008 levels with an across the board cut of 11.2 percent. The cuts would not apply to defense accounts.

MCCLINTOCK AMENDMENT TO ELIMINATE ESSENTIAL AIR SERVICES PROGRAM – An amendment offered by Rep. Tom McClintock (R-CA) to the FY 16 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act (H.R. 2577) would save $155 million by eliminating funding for the Essential Air Services (EAS) program.

TRANSPORTATION, HOUSING, URBAN DEVELOPMENT APPROPRIATIONS – The House will vote on the FY16 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act (H.R. 2577). The bill, commonly referred to at T-HUD, provides $55.3 billion in discretionary budget authority, which is a $1.5 billion increase above the current funding.

Looks like she needs to be listening to RINO Speaker John Boehner less and conservative Republican principles more.

On a broader note, how are things looking among presidential candidates who are in congress?

As you can see, Senator Ted Cruz and Senator Marco Rubio did great, coming in at 100%.  The only thing I really have against Rubio is the way he and his friends tried to shove amnesty down conservatives’ throats while pretending we’re racists for insisting that America’s borders be secure and our laws be upheld. Maybe now Rubio has figured out that acting like a Democrat (on any issue) isn’t a good path to the presidency.

What did Rand Paul and the Heritage Foundation differ on? Two items:

$500 BILLION DOC FIX – The Senate voted on the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (H.R. 2). The bill, negotiated by Rep. John Boehner (R-OH) and Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), would permanently repeal Medicare’s Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) while making some small-scale reforms to the entitlement program and extending other programs such as the Clinton-era Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). The package will likely increase America’s debt by $500 billion over the next two decades.

LEAHY AMENDMENT TO UNDERMINE RELIGIOUS FREEDOM – The Senate voted on the Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act (S. 262) as an amendment to the long-stalled Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015 (S. 178). Introduced by Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT), the amendment contains language that would undermine basic civil rights and our nation’s commitment to religious freedom.

What did Lindsey Graham get wrong? Since he scored 50%, flip a coin…or better yet, just read for yourself.

Looking at the scored of some candidates compared to a respected and revered conservative organization like Heritage makes it much more clear what we the people need to do in 2016, doesn’t it?

*** Bob Ellis *** Is a conservative author  and Life and Liberty News contributor