Freedom Index

A Legislative Scorecard Based on the Principles of the U.S. Constitution

Legislative Scorecard Based on the U.S. Constitution

The Legislative Scorecard is a nationwide educational program of The John Birch Society. Its purpose is to create an informed electorate on how state legislators are voting. The Scorecard is nonpartisan; it does not promote any candidate or political party. Bills are selected for their constitutional implications and cost to the taxpayers.

Please share this Scorecard in your district to inform people about your legislator's record on key votes.
U.S. Constitution, Amendment I --- 11 C.F.R. §114(4)(c)(4) --- 616 F.2d 45 (2d Cir. 1980)

Legislative Scorecard

Based on the U.S. Constitution

MA Scorecard 2021-2022

The Legislative Scorecard is a nationwide educational program of The John Birch Society. Its purpose is to create an informed electorate on how state legislators are voting. The Scorecard is nonpartisan; it does not promote any candidate or political party. Bills are selected for their constitutional implications and cost to the taxpayers.

Please share this Scorecard in your district to inform people about your legislator's record on key votes.
U.S. Constitution, Amendment I --- 11 C.F.R. §114(4)(c)(4) --- 616 F.2d 45 (2d Cir. 1980)

The following scorecard lists several key votes in the Massachusetts General Court in 2021 and 2022 and ranks state representatives and senators based on their fidelity to (U.S.) constitutional and limited-government principles.

This is our first state-level Scorecard; the selected votes may not be reflective of legislators’ overall records. Their cumulative scores will change as we add more votes. Please check regularly for updates.

Senate

1. Mandatory Police Interviews of Gun Owners

Good Vote: No

H5163 Mandatory Police Interview of Gun Owners (passed 37 to 1 on 8/1/2022). Removes the “good reason” provision from Massachusetts’s license-to-carry (LTC) statute, but keeps the requirement of mandatory in-person police interviews for residents who possess or carry firearms.

2. State-Sponsored Abortion and Sex Mutilation

Good Vote: No

H5090 State-Sponsored Abortion and Sex Mutilation (passed 39 to 1 on 7/26/2022). Orders the expanded public provision, facilitation, and promotion of “reproductive health care and gender-affirming care” activities, such as abortion and surgical treatment of “gender dysphoria.”

3. Universal Voter Registration and Permanent Mail-In Ballots

Good Vote: No

S2924 Universal Voter Registration and Permanent Mail-In Ballots (passed 37 to 3 on 6/9/2022). Adopts, as the "VOTES Act," several changes to state election law, including permanent early voting by mail and reinforcement of automatic voter registration.

4. Driver's Licenses for Illegal Aliens

Good Vote: No

H4805 Driver's Licenses for Illegal Aliens (passed 32 to 8 on 6/9/2022). Makes applicants without “proof of lawful presence” eligible for a Massachusetts driver’s license.” 

5. Income Tax Increase on High-Wage Earners

Good Vote: No

S5 Income Tax Increase on High-Wage Earners (passed 38 to 2 on 6/9/2021). Proposed to amend the Massachusetts Constitution to authorize an additional income tax of 4%—an 80% increase—on taxpayers who earn more than $1 million annually.

6. Next-Generation "Environmental Justice" Roadmap

Good Vote: No
S9 Next Generation "Environmental Justice" Roadmap (passed 39 to 1 on 3/15/2021). Acts as the “Next-Generation Roadmap for Massachusetts Climate Policy," setting a statewide target of “net-zero” emissions by 2050 and directing a “clean energy equity workforce” for “environmental justice populations.”
Legislator Scores
[ + ] Pro-liberty Vote[ - ] Anti-liberty Vote[ . ] Did not Vote
Name Party District Score 123456
Michael Barrett D SD-03-MID 0% ------
Joseph Boncore D SD-01-SUF NA ....--
Michael Brady D SD-02-PLY 0% ------
William Brownsberger D SD-02-SUF 0% ------
Harriette Chandler D SD-01-WOR 0% .-----
Sonia Chang-Diaz D SD-02-SUF 0% ------
Nick Collins D SD-01-SUF 17% ---+--
Joanne Comerford D SD-HAMPTO 0% ------
Cynthia Creem D SD-01-MID 0% ------
Brendan Crighton D SD-03-ESS 0% ------
John Cronin D SD-WORCES 0% ------
Julian Cyr D SD-CAPE 0% ------
Salvatore DiDomenico D SD-MIDDLE 0% ------
Diana DiZoglio D SD-01-ESS 0% ------
Peter Durant R SD-WORCES NA ......
Lydia Edwards D SD-01-SUF 0% ----..
James Eldridge D SD-MIDDLE 0% ------
Ryan Fattman R SD-WORCES 100% ++++++
Paul Feeney D SD-BRISTO 0% ------
Barry Finegold D SD-02-ESS 0% ------
Cindy Friedman D SD-04-MID 0% ------
Anne Gobi D SD-WORCES 17% ---+--
Adam Gomez D SD-HAMPDE 0% ------
Adam Hinds D SD-BERKSH 0% ------
Patricia Jehlen D SD-02-MID 0% ------
John Keenan D SD-NORFOL 0% ------
Edward Kennedy D SD-01-MID 0% ------
Eric Lesser D SD-01-HAM 0% ------
Jason Lewis D SD-05-MID 0% ------
Joan Lovely D SD-02-ESS 0% ------
Paul Mark D SD-BERKSH NA ......
Liz Miranda D SD-02-SUF NA ......
Mark Montigny D SD-02-BRI 0% ------
Michael Moore D SD-02-WOR 0% ------
Susan Moran D SD-PLYMOU 0% ------
Patrick O'Connor R SD-PLYMOU 33% --++--
Jacob Oliveira D SD-HAMPDE NA ......
Marc Pacheco D SD-01-PLY 17% ---+--
Rebecca Rausch D SD-NORFOL 0% ------
Michael Rodrigues D SD-01-BRI 0% ------
Michael Rush D SD-SUFFOL 0% ------
Karen Spilka D SD-02-MID 0% .-----
Bruce Tarr R SD-01-ESS 50% --+++-
Walter Timilty D SD-NORFOL 17% ---+--
John Velis D SD-HAMPDE 17% ---+--

Average Constitutional Score by Party

Party Score
Democrat 2.3%
Republican 61%