Friday, April 4, 2014
Contact: M. Royce Van Tassell
Taxpayers Association Releases 2014 Legislative Scorecard
Only Sen. Madsen, Rep. Grover receive perfect scores
The Utah Taxpayers Association released its 2014 Legislative Scorecard today. Senator Mark Madsen (R – Saratoga Springs) led the Senate with a perfect score of 100%, while Representative Keith Grover (R – Provo) led the House of Representatives with a perfect score of 100%. The Association’s 2014 scorecard rates Utah’s 104 legislators on 19 key taxpayer related bills.
Along with Sen. Madsen, three other Senators, earned “Friend of the Taxpayer” awards by scoring above 90%. In the House, nine other Representatives joined Rep. Grover in receiving “Friend of the Taxpayer” awards for scoring above 90%.
“Utah taxpayers escaped the 2014 General Session without any tax hikes,” said M. Royce Van Tassell, vice president of the Utah Taxpayers Association. “These 14 ‘Friends of the Taxpayer” defended against tax hikes and worked for greater efficiency in government.”
2014 “Friend of the Taxpayer” Recipients
House of Representatives
Rep. Keith Grover – 100% (R – 61)
Rep. Brian Greene – 94.1% (R – 57)
Rep. Dan McCay – 94.1% (R – 41)
Rep. Marc Roberts – 94.1% (R – 67)
Rep. Curt Webb – 94.1% (R – 5)
Rep. John Knotwell – 93.8% (R – 52)
Rep. Val Peterson – 93.8% (R – 59)
Rep. Jake Anderegg – 93.3% (R – 6)
Rep. Ryan Wilcox – 93.3% (R – 7)
Rep. Jon Stanard – 92.3% (R – 62)
Senate
Sen. Mark Madsen – 100% (R – 13)
Sen. Scott Jenkins – 94.1% (R – 20)
Sen. Howard Stephenson – 94.1% (R – 11)
Sen. Margaret Dayton – 93.8% (R – 15)
The 2014 Legislature’s most prominent tax increase proposals were Rep. Anderson’s HB 388 ($91 million, local-option sales tax hike for UTA), Sen. Osmond’s SB 111 ($100 million property tax hike to increase and equalize education funding), and Sen. Jones’ SB 118 ($278 million income tax hike to increase education funding). The House of Representatives approved HB 388 58-10, but the Senate refused to consider it. SB 111 passed the Senate 15-9, but the House refused to consider it. SB 118 passed the Senate education committee, but proceeded no further.
In the Senate, the highest scoring Democrats are Sen. Karen Mayne (80%, Dist. 5) and Sen. Luz Robles (73.6%, Dist. 1). Sen. Mayne scored higher than 12 Republican Senators, and Sen. Robles scored higher than 5 Republican Senators. In the House, the highest scoring Democrats are Rep. Janice Fisher (70.6%, Dist. 30) and Rep. Larry Wiley (64.7%, Dist. 31). Rep. Fisher scored higher than 19 Republican House members, and Rep. Wiley scored higher than six Republican House members.