Texans for Fiscal Responsibility/Empower Texans released its 7th biennial legislative scorecard today (Thursday), and just 17 legislators scored above 80, corresponding to grades of A and B. This is the smallest such number in the Fiscal Responsibility Index’s history. Fourteen House members scored above 80, marking the fourth consecutive drop from the previous session. Just three senators scored above 80, a significant drop from 17 in 2017. These scores come at the end of a six-year period in which the group’s PAC has spent more than $11.5M on Republican primary races.
“With a legislative session relatively short on results, most lawmakers didn’t make the grade,” wrote Cary Cheshire, vice president of Empower Texans, in a post on Texas Scorecard. “Only a total of seven received a grade of 90 percent or above and the distinction of being named Taxpayer Champions.” Those seven were Sen. Bob Hall (R-Edgewood) and Reps. Kyle Biedermann (R-Fredericksburg), Briscoe Cain (R-Deer Park), Mike Lang (R-Granbury), Mayes Middleton (R-Wallisville), Jonathan Stickland (R-Bedford) and Tony Tinderholt (R-Arlington).
The average score of House Republicans was 59.8, the lowest average numerical score ever given, and the average Senate Republican scored 71.9, which is down nearly 16 points from 2017. Aside from 2011, when it issued non-numerical scores, the average House and Senate Republican member has received:
- 2007 – House 75.0, Senate 48.5
- 2009 – House 81.0, Senate 58.2
- 2011 – non-numeric scores
- 2013 – House 63.3, Senate 68.4
- 2015 – House 72.8, Senate 85.5
- 2017 – House 61.9, Senate 87.6
- 2019 – House 59.8, Senate 71.9
The number of members getting a green number, which means they received an A or a B, was at an all-time low for the scorecard:
- 2007 – House 29, Senate 0
- 2009 – House 43, Senate 4
- 2011 – House 53, Senate 8
- 2013 – House 29, Senate 3
- 2015 – House 23, Senate 14
- 2017 – House 19, Senate 17
- 2019 – House 14, Senate 3
These results come even as the Empower Texans PAC has greatly increased its spending through June 30 of election years, with most of the money going directly into Republican primary races:
- 2006 – none
- 2008 – $314K
- 2010 – $122K
- 2012 – $72K
- 2014 – $4.94M
- 2016 – $2.30M
- 2018 – $4.41M
“Once you are informed and equipped with information on how your legislator voted, be sure your family and friends are likewise prepared to hold their lawmaker accountable,” Cheshire wrote. “After all, the next election is only 271 days away. Does your lawmaker deserve your vote?” The election he is referring to is the March 3, 2020 Republican primary election.
©2019 Texas Election Source LLC
