Goldwater Institute annual Legislative Report Card is out

Individual Freedom, Limited Government Showing Signs of Life at State Capitol

Goldwater Institute Report Card Reveals Slight Shift Toward Principles of Liberty

Today the Goldwater Institute released its sixth annual Legislative Report Card, which scores Arizona lawmakers on 237 votes cast this year. The Report Card's goal is to determine whether or not lawmakers adhere to the principles of limited government set forth in the U.S. and Arizona Constitutions.

For the sixth year, the highest scoring senator was Ron Gould of Lake Havasu City. The highest scoring representative was Andy Biggs of Gilbert. The average grade in both chambers this year was a C-, a slight improvement over last year, when the average grade was a D.

"The Arizona Constitution strictly enumerates the legislature's proper purview and the legislative Report Card blows the whistle on those who go out of bounds," said Goldwater Institute President and CEO Darcy Olsen.

For the first time in the Report Card's history, legislative district 22 did not have the highest district average. That honor went to district 3, represented by Senator Ron Gould and Representatives Nancy McClain and Trish Groe. District 3 had an average score of 75 percent. District 22 ranked second with a score of 72 percent.

The Goldwater Institute's Legislative Report Card is the most comprehensive analysis of legislative activity issued in the state. This year it scored legislators on 237 votes in the areas of education, constitutional government, regulation, and tax and budget. Scores were tabulated into final percentages and given a letter grade.

You can read the Legislative Report Card by clicking here. Visitors to www.goldwaterinstitute.org can look up a lawmaker's score by last name, district or zip code.

The Goldwater Institute is a nonprofit public policy research and litigation organization whose work is made possible by the generosity of its supporters.