The Connecticut congressional delegation scored low on the 2013 Liberty Index compiled by a panel of libertarian scholars headed by Dr. Clifford F. Thies, Elden R. Lindsey Chair of Free Enterprise and Professor of Economics and Finance at Shenandoah University in Winchester, Virginia. The Index was released Monday by the national Republican Liberty Caucus (RLC), of which Thies is former National Chairman.
House and Senate members were rated on a scale of zero to 100, based on a series of 2013 roll call votes involving economic liberty and personal liberty issues. The average of the two scores produced the Liberty Index.
Connecticut RLC State Coordinator Keith Velia stated: “It’s no surprise more people are moving ‘out of’ rather than ‘into’ Connecticut and that our economy ranks among the worst-performing: the complacency reflected in this index echoes the indifference toward real economic progress in our state government – clearly, we need change at both federal and state level. If we truly care about economic and personal freedom and we want our state to improve we need to come to grips with the fact that electing the same Democrats over and over will not make a difference. Connecticut has great potential but without new leaders and a better balance between the two parties we will remain stuck at the bottom. There has to be a more substantive debate among our elected officials.”
Ed Lopez-Reyes, current RLC national vice chairman and a Connecticut resident added: “What you see in this index is symptomatic of a one-party system where special interests are given priority over the needs of ordinary citizens. We hear a lot about the need for a viable third party: I’d like to see Connecticut elect something even remotely resembling a two-party system. 2014 could be a catalyst for change if voters really want to dispose of the status quo and see a genuine policy discussion between our elected officials. We need to elect Republicans and stop this ‘rinse-and-repeat’ nonsense.”
Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal scored 5 on economic liberty and 11 on personal liberty for a Liberty Index of 8.
Democratic Senator Chris Murphy scored 5 on economic liberty and 10 on personal liberty for a Liberty Index of 8.
The average Senate Republican scores were 86 and 81 for an average Liberty Index of 83 for Senate Republicans. The average Senate Democrat scores were 6 and 14 for an average of 10.The highest scores in the Senate, all Republicans, were Mike Crapo and Jim Risch, both of Idaho and scoring 100; Mike Lee of Utah 98; Ted Cruz of Texas, Rand Paul of Kentucky and Jerry Moran of Kansas, all at 95. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky scored 90.The lowest scores in the Senate, all Democrats, were Barbara Boxer of California, Mazie Hirono of Hawaii and the late-Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey, all scoring zero. Eight others scored 3. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada had a Liberty Index of 5.
Rep. John Larson, Democrat of Connecticut’s 1st District, scored 5 on economic liberty and 68 on personal liberty for a Liberty Index of 37.
Rep. Joe Courtney, Democrat of Connecticut’s 2nd District, scored 15 on economic liberty and 68 on personal liberty for a Liberty Index of 42.
Rep. Rosa DeLauro, Democrat of Connecticut’s 3rd District, scored 5 on economic liberty and 63 on personal liberty for a Liberty Index of 34.
Rep. Jim Himes, Democrat of Connecticut’s 4th District, scored 26 on economic liberty and 63 on personal liberty for a Liberty Index of 45.
Rep. Elizabeth Esty, Democrat of Connecticut’s 5th District, scored 15 on economic liberty and 63 on personal liberty for a Liberty Index of 39.
For comparison, the average House Democrat scored 11 on economic liberty and 55 on personal liberty for an average Democrat Liberty Index of 33. The average House Republican scored 90 on economic liberty and 50 on personal liberty for an average GOP Liberty Index of 70. The highest House scorers, all Republicans, were Mark Sanford of South Carolina 100; Mick Mulvaney of South Carolina, Tom McClintock and Dana Rohrabacher, both of California, and Jim Huelskamp of Kansas, all at 95. House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio was not scored because he did not cast enough votes. House Republican Leader Eric Cantor of Virginia had a Liberty Index of 61 based on average a 95 on economic liberty but only 26 on personal liberty.
The lowest House scorers, all Democrats, were Ed Markey of Massachusetts ZERO and five Democrats all at 18. House Democrat Leader Nancy Pelosi of California scored 20.
“This year, on the economics side, the index reflects votes on ‘hot issues’ such as Health Care Overhaul, the Ryan budget, carbon taxes, the Keystone pipeline, hydraulic fracturing, TANF (welfare) work rules and SNAP (food stamp) eligibility. Some curious votes are also included, among these are price supports for Christmas Trees, declaring stones to be agricultural commodities (and, thus, eligible for price supports), and funding the Navy’s grossly-overpriced Z-class destroyer,” explained Dr. Thies.
Thies explained further, “On the personal liberties side, there was some difficulty assembling sets of roll call votes that reflect the breadth of libertarian concerns. The House roll calls over-sample the tension between personal liberty and national security (as neo-conservatives see things). The Senate roll calls over-sample Second Amendment issues. This is a not unusual problem in the history of the Liberty Index. There simply are years when one or the other chamber generates disproportionate numbers of personal liberties votes in certain areas. All that can be said is that, hopefully, over time, the vagaries of this component of the index are evened-out.”
Dr. Thies has published the Liberty Index annually for nearly 20 years, except for 2011 and 2012 while he served as President of the Faculty Senate at Shenandoah University.
The Republican Liberty Caucus (RLC) of Connecticut is the state affiliate of the national RLC. Founded in 1991, the RLC is a political action organization dedicated to promoting the ideals of individual rights, limited government, and free enterprise within the Republican Party. For more information, please visit www.rlc.org.
Contact:
Connecticut State Coordinator Keith Velia
646.334.6144
National Vice Chairman Ed Lopez-Reyes
203.302.9515
The complete list of roll calls is linked here: www.scribd.com/doc/199498614/Liberty-Index-2013. Dr. Thies can be contacted directly at 540.665.5450.
