ST. LOUIS — Americans for Prosperity-Missouri recently released its annual scorecard highlighting state lawmakers who the group says are "policy champions" for their work to expand liberty in the state.
According to the AFP-MO, the scorecard focuses on what the group sees as key legislative issues such as taxes, education and health care reform. The group's 2023 scorecard features 43 lawmakers in the state Legislature who earned at least a 90 percent score.
"It’s an annual snapshot that constituents across the State of Missouri may use to either hold their elected officials accountable or thank them for their hard work," Jeremy Cady, State Director of Americans for Prosperity – Missouri told The St. Louis Record.
Scoring 100 percent and earning an A rating on the AFP-MO scorecard are Senators Jill Carter (Dist. 32), Travis Fitzwater (Dist. 10 ), Andrew Koenig (Dist. 15), Holly Thompson Rehder (Dist. 27), Mike Bernskoetter (Dist. 6), Rick Brattin (Dist. 31) and Tony Luetkemeyer (Dist. 34).
Missouri House of Representatives lawmakers scoring 100 percent and an A on the score card are Representatives Tony Lovasco (Dist. 64), Mark Matthiesen (Dist. 107), Brad Pollitt (Dist. 52), Doug Richey (Dist. 39), Chris Sander (Dist. 33), Adam Schwadron (Dist. 69), Justin Sparks (Dist. 110) and Cheri Toalson Reisch (Dist. 44).
Forty lawmakers scored between 60-70 percent and earned a D rating with 72 lawmakers scoring between 0 - 60 percent and earning an F rating from the AFP-MO.
"We are consistent in our scoring of important issues like reforming education, cutting taxes and government spending and expanding personal options in health care," Cady told The Record. "Missourians can easily see each year how their legislators are performing and whether their votes are aligned with the values of freedom lovers across the state."
AFP-MO highlighted 11 pieces of legislation and correlated the legislators' votes with the group's position on each issue including HB136 that was designed to prohibit institutions of higher learning from discriminating against a religious student association or deny any benefits available to any other student. Also highlighted was SB92 designed to modify tax credits.
Cady said in the AFP-Missouri press release that the organization hopes the scorecard will give voters transparency into lawmakers.
"Our scorecard serves the vital purpose of providing citizens with the information and transparency that they need to make informed decisions about their votes and to highlight the outstanding leaders who have worked to help their constituents live their version of the American dream," Cady stated.
As for the 2024 legislative session, Cady said there has already been challenges on the road to getting their policy issues accomplished.
"The 2024 legislative session has been off to a rocky start," Cady said. "A handful of senators have held up several conservative priorities that we’d like to see accomplished this year. For example, an expansion of the MO Scholars program has been on the Senate perfection calendar for multiple weeks now but hasn’t been brought up for discussion due to the infighting and endless filibusters."
"We're grateful for this year's policy champions who demonstrated principled leadership in advocating for reforms that will benefit the lives of Missourians and create new opportunities for future generations," he said in the group's press release.