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Steve Buyer's Ratings and Endorsements

Vote Smart displays all known interest group ratings for each candidate and official, regardless of issue or bias.

Keep in mind that ratings done by special interest groups often do not represent a non-partisan stance. In addition, some groups select votes that tend to favor members of one political party over another, rather than choosing votes based solely on issue concerns. Nevertheless, they can be invaluable in showing where an incumbent has stood on a series of votes in the past one or two years, especially when ratings by groups on all sides of an issue are compared. Website links, if available, and descriptions of the organizations offering performance evaluations are accessible by clicking on the name of the group.

With rare exceptions, Vote Smart displays interest group ratings as a 0-100 percentage. While many interest groups use percentages as ratings to begin with, please note that Vote Smart has translated some ratings to a percentage from a different rating system for consistency and ease in understanding. Please visit the group's website, email us at ratings@votesmart.org or call our Voter Information Hotline at 1-888-VOTESMART for more specific information.

100%
2009
100%
2007-2008
93%
2005-2006
100%
2003-2004
100%
2003
89%
2001-2002
100%
1999-2000
0%
2009
0%
2007
0%
2006
0%
2005
0%
2004
0%
2003
0%
2001
2%
2000
0%
1999
10%
1997
0%
1996
100%
2007-2008
100%
2005-2006
100%
2003-2004
100%
2001-2002
100%
1999-2000
100%
1999
100%
1997-1998
100%
1997
100%
1996
100%
2009-2010
100%
2001
60%
2007-2008
94%
2005-2006
67%
2000
89%
1999
88%
1995-1996
93%
1993-1994
60%
2007
11%
2007-2008
100%
2001-2002
100%
2001-2002
66%
2005
62
2007-2008
62
2007-2008
0%
2005-2006
0%
2005-2006
33%
2003-2004
33%
2003-2004
40%
2001-2002
40%
2001-2002
58%
1999-2000
58%
1999-2000
67%
1998
71%
1997
33%
1996
30%
1995
56%
1994
56%
1993
0%
2007
Fence Sitter
2002
Fence Sitter
2002
11%
2003
0%
2001-2002
0%
2005
9%
2003-2004
0%
2001-2002
0%
2007-2008
0%
2005-2006
11%
2003
0%
2001-2002
0%
2000
33
2007-2008
33
2007-2008
13%
2005-2006
13%
2005-2006
11%
2003
11%
2003
0%
2001-2002
0%
2001-2002
0%
2001-2002
8%
2009
17%
2007-2008
17%
2007-2008
17%
2007
14%
2005-2006
14%
2005-2006
0%
2005
11%
2004
11%
2003
0%
2001-2002
0%
1999-2000
0%
1999
0%
1997
25%
1995-1996
25%
1995-1996
25%
1995
21%
1993-1994
21%
1993-1994
100%
2006
13%
2003
13%
2003
25%
2010
25%
2010
25%
2010
25%
2010
74%
2010
74%
2010
29%
2010
29%
2010
74%
2010
74%
2010
27%
2010
27%
2010
71%
2010
71%
2010
71%
2009
71%
2009
81%
2009
81%
2009
19%
2009
19%
2009
29%
2009
29%
2009
0%
2009
75%
2009
75%
2009
84%
2009
84%
2009
13%
2009
13%
2009
66%
2008
66%
2008
71%
2008
71%
2008
27%
2008
27%
2008
73%
2008
73%
2008
30%
2008
30%
2008
70.5%
2008
70.5%
2008
27%
2008
27%
2008
33%
2008
33%
2008
72%
2007
72%
2007
81%
2007
81%
2007
18.7%
2007
18.7%
2007
81.3%
2007
81.3%
2007
77%
2007
77%
2007
19%
2007
19%
2007
23%
2007
23%
2007
0%
2007
86.7%
2006
86.7%
2006
84%
2006
84%
2006
15%
2006
15%
2006
11%
2006
11%
2006
13.3%
2006
13.3%
2006
85%
2006
85%
2006
11%
2006
11%
2006
88%
2006
88%
2006
73%
2005
73%
2005
77%
2005
77%
2005
21%
2005
21%
2005
23%
2005
23%
2005
77%
2005
77%
2005
22%
2005
22%
2005
77%
2005
77%
2005
23%
2005
23%
2005
17%
2004
17%
2004
25%
2004
25%
2004
91%
2004
91%
2004
83%
2004
83%
2004
75%
2004
75%
2004
9%
2004
71%
2003
71%
2003
29%
2003
29%
2003
61%
2003
61%
2003
64%
2003
64%
2003
13%
2003
13%
2003
35%
2003
35%
2003
87%
2003
87%
2003
39%
2003
39%
2003
38%
2002
38%
2002
62%
2002
62%
2002
73%
2002
73%
2002
0%
2002
60%
2002
60%
2002
35%
2002
35%
2002
91%
2002
91%
2002
27%
2002
27%
2002
74%
2001
74%
2001
22%
2001
22%
2001
33%
2001
33%
2001
60%
2001
60%
2001
69%
2001
69%
2001
20%
2001
20%
2001
0%
2000
25%
2000
25%
2000
69%
2000
69%
2000
85%
2000
85%
2000
79%
2000
79%
2000
6%
2000
42%
1999
42%
1999
79%
1999
79%
1999
21%
1999
21%
1999
57%
1999
57%
1999
4%
1999
91%
1999
91%
1999
66%
1998
66%
1998
39%
1998
39%
1998
34%
1998
34%
1998
36%
1998
36%
1998
58%
1998
58%
1998
64%
1998
64%
1998
14%
1996
14%
1996
30%
1996
30%
1996
0%
1996
68%
1996
68%
1996
77%
1996
77%
1996
79%
1996
79%
1996
33%
2003
100%
2005-2006
91%
2003-2004
50
2007
71%
2007-2008
80%
2005-2006
100%
2003-2004
100%
2001-2002
50%
2007
50%
2007
0%
2006
0%
2006
94%
2009
100%
2009-2010
98%
2003
98%
2003
82%
2007-2008
96%
2005-2006
100%
2003-2004
100%
2001-2002
80%
2005-2006
100%
2003-2004
60%
2007-2008
75%
2005-2006
100%
2003-2004
100%
2003
25%
2010
25%
2010
0%
2003-2004
0%
2003-2004
17%
2003
17%
2003
9%
2001-2002
9%
2001-2002
20%
1999-2000
20%
1999-2000
16%
1997-1998
16%
1997-1998
18%
1997
18%
1997
15%
1995-1996
15%
1995-1996
17%
2003-2004
75%
1997-1998
0%
2004
36%
2009
67
2008
0%
2006
0%
2005
0%
2004
40%
2003
50%
2006-2012
50%
2006-2012
0%
2007-2008
0%
2007-2008
0%
2005-2006
0%
2005-2006
0%
2003-2004
0%
2003-2004
0%
2001-2002
0%
2001-2002
0%
2001
0%
1999-2000
0%
1999-2000
0%
1999
12%
1997-1998
12%
1997-1998
000%
1995-1996
000%
1995-1996
0%
2007
0%
2007
0%
2007
0%
2007
0%
2005-2010
0%
2007
0%
2001-2002
76%
2009
83%
2007
51%
2007
42%
2005
64%
2005
85%
2005
58%
2004
80
2003
80
2003
80
2003
73
2002
73
2002
73
2002
70%
2001
64%
2000
100%
1995-1996
100%
1995-1996
100%
2009
100%
2007-2008
93%
2005-2006
100%
2003-2004
100%
2003
89%
2001-2002
100%
1999-2000
87%
2004
100%
2007-2008
100%
2005-2006
100%
2003-2004
100%
2003
90%
2001-2002
100%
2000
100%
1997-1998
100%
1995-1996
16
2007-2008
16
2007-2008
13
2007
13
2007
17
2006
17
2006
-4
2005
-4
2005
95%
2009
95%
2009
90%
2008
90%
2008
92%
2007
92%
2007
100%
2006
100%
2006
71%
2005
71%
2005
84%
2004
84%
2004
92%
2003
92%
2003
80%
2002
80%
2002
100%
2009-2010
0%
2001-2002
52
2009-2010
3%
2009-2010
26%
2009
10%
2007-2008
0%
2007-2008
57%
2005-2006
88%
2007-2008
89%
2005-2006
84%
1998-2002
82%
1997
79%
1996
12%
2007-2008
7%
2007
8%
2005
18%
2003-2004
0%
2001-2002
14%
1999-2000
100%
2001-2010
100%
2001-2010
8%
2009
8%
2009
13%
2008
13%
2008
9%
2007
9%
2007
7%
2006
7%
2006
8%
2005
8%
2005
0%
2004
0%
2004
22%
2003
22%
2003
0%
2002
0%
2002
0%
2001
0%
2001
0%
2000
0%
2000
18%
1999
18%
1999
13%
1998
13%
1998
0%
1997
0%
1997
0%
1996
0%
1996
0%
1995
0%
1995
17%
2007
80%
2007-2008
80%
2007-2008
80%
2007
16%
2006
100%
2009
100%
2007-2008
93%
2005-2006
100%
2003-2004
100%
2003
89%
2001-2002
100%
1999-2000
23%
2000
3%
1999
16%
1998
46%
1997
38%
1996
50%
1995
36%
2009
67
2008
0%
2006
0%
2005
0%
2004
40%
2003
75%
2002
25%
2007
25%
2007-2008
25%
2007-2008
0%
2007
0%
2005-2006
0%
2004
0%
2003
0%
2001-2002
0%
2003-2004
0%
2003-2004
17%
2003
17%
2003
9%
2001-2002
9%
2001-2002
20%
1999-2000
20%
1999-2000
16%
1997-1998
16%
1997-1998
18%
1997
18%
1997
15%
1995-1996
15%
1995-1996
31%
2009
31%
2009
100%
2001
100%
2000
100%
1995-1996
100%
1995-1996
100%
2001
100%
2000
100%
2005-2006
91%
2003-2004
10%
2003-2004
10%
2003-2004
0%
2003
0%
1999-2000
50
2007
0%
2005
9%
2003-2004
0%
2001-2002
60%
2007
0%
2004
16
2007-2008
16
2007-2008
13
2007
13
2007
17
2006
17
2006
-4
2005
-4
2005
8%
2008
50%
2006-2012
50%
2006-2012
0%
2010
4%
2009-2010
7%
2009
9%
2007-2008
5%
2007
0%
2006
0%
2005
6%
2003-2004
5%
2003
0%
2001-2002
3%
1999-2000
6%
1999
7%
1998
6%
1997
15%
1995-1996
0%
2007
100%
2007-2008
100%
2005-2006
67%
2003
0%
2002
100%
2009
100%
2007-2008
93%
2005-2006
100%
2003-2004
100%
2003
89%
2001-2002
100%
1999-2000
100%
2007-2008
90%
2004
90%
2003
100%
2002
93%
1999-2000
100%
1997-1998
89%
1997
100%
1995-1996
95%
2009
95%
2009
90%
2008
90%
2008
92%
2007
92%
2007
100%
2006
100%
2006
71%
2005
71%
2005
84%
2004
84%
2004
92%
2003
92%
2003
80%
2002
80%
2002
80%
2007-2008
80%
2007-2008
80%
2007
16%
2006
4%
2007
4%
2007
81%
2007-2008
78%
2005-2006
84%
2003-2004
85%
2001-2002
72%
1999-2000
95%
1997-1998
100%
1995-1996
81%
2009
B-
2008
B+
2007
60%
2006
61%
2005
56%
2004
68%
2003
54%
2002
62%
2001
56%
1999
45%
1998
53%
1997
81%
1995
100%
2005-2006
100%
2005-2006
77%
2009
51%
2007
83%
2007
42%
2005
85%
2005
64%
2005
58%
2004
80
2003
80
2003
80
2003
73
2002
73
2002
73
2002
70%
2001
64%
2000
64%
2003-2004
64%
2003-2004
0%
2001-2002
0%
2001-2002
50%
2001-2002
50%
2001-2002
44%
1999-2000
44%
1999-2000
50%
1999-2000
50%
1999-2000
33%
1997-1998
33%
1997-1998
78%
2009
64%
2008
60%
2007
67%
2006
20%
1995
70%
1995
17%
2005-2006
17%
2005-2006
0%
2001-2002
85%
2007-2008
21%
2005-2006
21%
2005-2006
100%
2007-2008
100%
2007-2008
94%
2005-2006
94%
2005-2006
50%
2003-2004
50%
2003-2004
81%
2001-2002
-2
2001-2002
25%
2007-2008
25%
2007-2008
0%
2007
0%
2005-2006
0%
2004
0%
2003
0%
2001-2002
46%
2009-2010
0%
2004
12%
2007-2008
7%
2007
8%
2005
18%
2003-2004
0%
2001-2002
14%
1999-2000
0%
2005
50%
2006-2012
50%
2006-2012
33%
2005-2006
50%
2003-2004
33%
2001-2002
17%
2000
17%
1999
0%
2009
0%
2009
8%
2005-2006
33%
2004
0%
2003
8%
2009
8%
2009
13%
2008
13%
2008
9%
2007
9%
2007
7%
2006
7%
2006
8%
2005
8%
2005
0%
2004
0%
2004
22%
2003
22%
2003
0%
2002
0%
2002
0%
2001
0%
2001
0%
2000
0%
2000
18%
1999
18%
1999
13%
1998
13%
1998
0%
1997
0%
1997
0%
1996
0%
1996
0%
1995
0%
1995
F
2008
100%
2003
50%
2001-2002
50%
2001-2002
0%
2000
0%
1999
67%
1998
0%
1997
17%
1996
0%
2005-2006
0%
2003-2004
0%
2003
81%
2009
B-
2008
B+
2007
60%
2006
61%
2005
56%
2004
68%
2003
54%
2002
62%
2001
56%
1999
45%
1998
53%
1997
81%
1995
12%
2004
35%
2003
17%
2002
23%
2001
17%
2000
35
1999
18%
1998
14%
1997
78%
2009
64%
2008
60%
2007
67%
2006
18%
2009
60%
2001
60%
2001
55%
1997-1998
55%
1997-1998
13%
1995-1996
13%
1995-1996
50%
2007
33%
2009-2010
0%
2007
29%
2007-2008
22%
2005-2006
100%
2003
50%
2004
50
2007
0%
2003
0%
2006
100%
2003-2004
0%
2005
67%
2002
14%
1995-1996
14%
1995-1996
36
2007-2008
16%
2005-2006
16%
2005-2006
100%
2005
25%
2007-2008
25%
2007-2008
0%
2007
0%
2005-2006
0%
2004
0%
2003
0%
2001-2002
100%
2007
100%
2007
100%
2006
100%
2006
100%
2001
100%
2001
66%
2005
11%
2001-2002
20%
2000
0%
1999
21%
1997-1998
20%
1995-1996
0%
2007-2010
79%
2009-2010
79%
2009-2010
86%
2005-2008
86%
2005-2008
89%
2005-2006
89%
2005-2006
76%
2003-2006
76%
2003-2006
62%
2003-2005
62%
2003-2005
72%
2003
72%
2003
71%
2002
71%
2002
71%
2001
71%
2001
29%
2003-2004
62
2007-2008
62
2007-2008
0%
2005-2006
0%
2005-2006
33%
2003-2004
33%
2003-2004
40%
2001-2002
40%
2001-2002
58%
1999-2000
58%
1999-2000
67%
1998
71%
1997
33%
1996
30%
1995
56%
1994
56%
1993
0%
2007
0%
2007-2008
0%
2007-2008
0%
2005-2006
0%
2005-2006
0%
2003-2004
0%
2003-2004
0%
2001-2002
0%
2001-2002
0%
2001
0%
1999-2000
0%
1999-2000
0%
1999
12%
1997-1998
12%
1997-1998
000%
1995-1996
000%
1995-1996
11%
2003
0%
2001-2002
30%
2007
30%
2006
11%
2005
0%
2003-2004
18%
2001
40%
2000
46%
1999
63%
1998
44%
1997
7%
1996
0%
2001
31%
2009
31%
2009
100%
2007-2008
100%
2007-2008
94%
2005-2006
94%
2005-2006
50%
2003-2004
50%
2003-2004
88%
2007-2008
89%
2005-2006
84%
1998-2002
82%
1997
79%
1996
12%
2007-2008
7%
2007
8%
2005
18%
2003-2004
0%
2001-2002
14%
1999-2000
100%
2001-2010
100%
2001-2010
8%
2009
8%
2009
13%
2008
13%
2008
9%
2007
9%
2007
7%
2006
7%
2006
8%
2005
8%
2005
0%
2004
0%
2004
22%
2003
22%
2003
0%
2002
0%
2002
0%
2001
0%
2001
0%
2000
0%
2000
18%
1999
18%
1999
13%
1998
13%
1998
0%
1997
0%
1997
0%
1996
0%
1996
0%
1995
0%
1995
16
2007-2008
16
2007-2008
13
2007
13
2007
17
2006
17
2006
-4
2005
-4
2005
0%
2010
4%
2009-2010
7%
2009
9%
2007-2008
5%
2007
0%
2006
0%
2005
6%
2003-2004
5%
2003
0%
2001-2002
3%
1999-2000
6%
1999
7%
1998
6%
1997
15%
1995-1996
83%
2007-2008
100%
2007-2008
100%
2005-2006
67%
2003
-2
2001-2002
100%
2003
50%
2001-2002
50%
2001-2002
0%
2000
0%
1999
67%
1998
0%
1997
17%
1996
100%
2003
87%
2004
100%
2007-2008
90%
2004
90%
2003
100%
2002
93%
1999-2000
100%
1997-1998
89%
1997
100%
1995-1996
100%
2007-2008
100%
2005-2006
100%
2003-2004
100%
2003
90%
2001-2002
100%
2000
100%
1997-1998
100%
1995-1996
0%
2005
94%
2009
0
2005
0%
2005-2010
15%
2009-2010
15%
2009-2010
36
2007-2008
16%
2005-2006
16%
2005-2006
75%
2009-2010
75%
2009-2010
84%
2009-2010
84%
2009-2010
81%
2009-2010
81%
2009-2010
80%
2009
89%
2009
84%
2009
69%
2007-2008
69%
2007-2008
63%
2007
37%
2006
25%
2005
29%
2004
60%
2004
40%
2003
50%
2002
60%
2001
60%
2000
57%
1999
47%
1998
41%
1997
49%
1995-1996
49%
1995-1996
100%
1995-1996
100%
1995-1996
33%
2009-2010
50%
2003
50%
2003
0%
2006
0%
2007-2008
0%
2007-2008
0%
2005-2006
0%
2005-2006
0%
2003-2004
0%
2003-2004
0%
2001-2002
0%
2001-2002
0%
2001
0%
1999-2000
0%
1999-2000
0%
1999
12%
1997-1998
12%
1997-1998
000%
1995-1996
000%
1995-1996
0%
2001
0%
2007
36%
2009
67
2008
0%
2006
0%
2005
0%
2004
40%
2003
94%
2009-2010
100%
2007-2008
100%
2007-2008
100%
2005-2006
100%
2005-2006
67%
2003
67%
2003
100%
2009-2010
100%
2009
100%
2009
100%
2007-2008
100%
2007-2008
93%
2005-2006
93%
2005-2006
100%
2003-2004
100%
2003-2004
100%
2003
100%
2003
89%
2001-2002
89%
2001-2002
100%
1999-2000
100%
1999-2000
100%
2009-2010
100%
2007-2008
100%
2007-2008
90%
2004
90%
2004
90%
2003
90%
2003
100%
2002
100%
2002
93%
1999-2000
93%
1999-2000
100%
1997-1998
100%
1997-1998
89%
1997
89%
1997
100%
1995-1996
100%
1995-1996
0%
2008
0%
2008
4%
2007
4%
2007
4%
2007
4%
2007
94%
2009
100%
2005-2006
100%
2005-2006
77%
2009
77%
2009
76%
2009
83%
2007
83%
2007
51%
2007
51%
2007
64%
2005
64%
2005
42%
2005
42%
2005
85%
2005
85%
2005
58%
2004
58%
2004
80
2003
80
2003
80
2003
80
2003
80
2003
80
2003
73
2002
73
2002
73
2002
73
2002
73
2002
73
2002
70%
2001
70%
2001
64%
2000
64%
2000
90%
2010
84%
2009-2010
84%
2009-2010
84%
2009-2010
84%
2009-2010
81%
2009-2010
81%
2009-2010
81%
2009-2010
81%
2009-2010
75%
2009-2010
75%
2009-2010
75%
2009-2010
75%
2009-2010
80%
2009
89%
2009
89%
2009
80%
2009
84%
2009
84%
2009
69%
2007-2008
69%
2007-2008
69%
2007-2008
69%
2007-2008
63%
2007
63%
2007
37%
2006
37%
2006
25%
2005
25%
2005
29%
2004
60%
2004
60%
2004
29%
2004
40%
2003
40%
2003
50%
2002
50%
2002
60%
2001
60%
2001
60%
2000
60%
2000
57%
1999
57%
1999
47%
1998
47%
1998
41%
1997
41%
1997
49%
1995-1996
49%
1995-1996
49%
1995-1996
49%
1995-1996
0%
2005-2006
17%
2005-2006
17%
2005-2006
17%
2005-2006
17%
2005-2006
38%
2005-2006
38%
2005-2006
94%
2009
0%
2001-2002
85%
2007-2008
100%
1995-1996
100%
1995-1996
0%
2009
64%
2006
79%
2005
80%
2004
75%
2003
80%
2002
85%
2001
65%
2000
68%
1999
75%
1998
0%
2005-2006
95%
2009
95%
2009
89%
2008
89%
2008
60%
2007
60%
2007
75%
2006
75%
2006
65%
2005
65%
2005
73%
2003-2004
73%
2003-2004
85%
2001-2002
85%
2001-2002
94%
2009
81%
2007-2008
78%
2005-2006
84%
2003-2004
85%
2001-2002
72%
1999-2000
95%
1997-1998
100%
1995-1996
81%
2009
B-
2008
B+
2007
60%
2006
61%
2005
56%
2004
68%
2003
54%
2002
62%
2001
56%
1999
45%
1998
53%
1997
81%
1995
78%
2009
64%
2008
60%
2007
67%
2006
50%
2006
50%
2006
50%
2007
50%
2007
60%
2007
75%
2002
33%
2005-2006
50%
2003-2004
33%
2001-2002
17%
2000
17%
1999
0%
2003-2004
0%
2003-2004
17%
2003
17%
2003
9%
2001-2002
9%
2001-2002
20%
1999-2000
20%
1999-2000
16%
1997-1998
16%
1997-1998
18%
1997
18%
1997
15%
1995-1996
15%
1995-1996
60%
2003-2004
60%
2003-2004
40%
2001-2002
40%
2001-2002
20%
1999
20%
1999
0%
2007
94%
2007-2008
0%
2002
11%
2006
100%
2003
50%
2001-2002
50%
2001-2002
0%
2000
0%
1999
67%
1998
0%
1997
17%
1996
100%
2007-2008
100%
2005-2006
100%
2003-2004
100%
2003
90%
2001-2002
100%
2000
100%
1997-1998
100%
1995-1996
arrow_upward