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

TN 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 Tennessee General Assembly 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. Budget

Good Vote: No

SB2897 Budget (passed 18 to 13 on 4/21/2022). Serves as the Appropriations Act of Tennessee, which, as passed by the General Assembly, allocates approximately $52.8 billion for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2022, and ending June 30, 2023.

2. Nullifying Federal COVID-19 Restrictions

Good Vote: Yes
SJR9005 Nullifying Federal COVID-19 Restrictions (passed 22 to 5 on 10/29/2021). Declares the right of the Tennessee General Assembly to nullify federal COVID-19 restrictions that violate the United States Constitution.

3. Prohibiting COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates

Good Vote: Yes
SB0858 Prohibiting COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates (passed 25 to 6 on 5/4/2021). Prohibits state or local governments from requiring, or mandating that a private business require, proof of COVID-19 vaccination as a condition for entry or utilization of services.

4. Prenatal Right to Life

Good Vote: Yes

SB1370 Prenatal Right to Life (passed 25 to 6 on 4/29/2021). Permits a cause of action for wrongful death against someone who kills a mother and her unborn child regardless of gestational age.

5. Parental Rights in Education

Good Vote: Yes

SB1229 Parental Rights in Education (passed 24 to 6 on 4/5/2021). Requires an LEA or public charter school to notify a student’s parent or guardian prior to commencing instruction of a “sexual orientation or gender identity” curriculum.

6. Permitless Firearm Carry

Good Vote: Yes

SB0765 Permitless Firearm Carry (passed 23 to 9 on 3/18/2021). Allows permitless carry of a handgun if a person meets age requirements, lawfully possesses the handgun, and is in a place that the person is lawfully present.

Legislator Scores
[ + ] Pro-liberty Vote[ - ] Anti-liberty Vote[ . ] Did not Vote
Name Party District Score 123456
Raumesh Akbari D SD-029 0% ------
Paul Bailey R SD-015 100% +++.++
Mike Bell R SD-009 83% -+++++
Janince Bowling R SD-016 100% ++++++
Richard Briggs R SD-007 60% -+++.-
Heidi Campbell D SD-020 0% ------
Rusty Crowe R SD-003 83% -+++++
Todd Gardenhire R SD-010 100% ++.+++
Brenda Gilmore D SD-019 0% ..----
Ferrell Haile R SD-018 75% -.+++.
Lee Harris D SD-029 NA ......
Joseph Hensley R SD-028 100% ++++++
Edward Jackson R SD-025 83% -+++++
Jack Johnson R SD-027 80% -+++.+
Brian Kelsey R SD-031 80% +.+++-
Sara Kyle D SD-030 0% ------
London Lamar D SD-033 NA ......
Jon Lundberg R SD-004 75% -++..+
Becky Massey R SD-006 67% -++++-
Randy McNally R SD-005 75% -..+++
Frank Niceley R SD-008 100% ++++++
Doug Overbey R SD-002 NA ......
Mark Pody R SD-017 100% ++++++
Bill Powers R SD-022 83% -+++++
Shane Reeves R SD-014 80% -.++++
Kerry Roberts R SD-023 100% ++++++
Katrina Robinson D SD-033 0% .-----
Paul Rose R SD-032 100% ++++++
Steve Southerland R SD-009 100% ++++++
John Stevens R SD-024 83% -+++++
Art Swann R SD-002 100% ++++++
Page Walley R SD-026 100% ++++++
Bo Watson R SD-011 83% -+++++
Dawn White R SD-013 100% ++++++
Ken Yager R SD-012 80% -.++++
Jeff Yarbro D SD-021 0% ------

Average Constitutional Score by Party

Party Score
Democrat 0%
Republican 87.8%