Luther Strange III

This procedural motion allows the Senate to ignore the automatic spending reductions that go into effect because the Continuing Resolution to fund the federal government through January 19. ACU opposes busting the budget caps that have served as the only break on spending increases that have added to our national debt of over $20 billion and opposed this resolution. The Senate passed the resolution on December 21, 2017 by a vote of 91-8.

This bill substantially reduces taxes on corporations and small business, reduces individual income tax rates from top to bottom, increases the standard deduction for individuals and the exemption for the Death Tax and repeals Obamacare's individual mandate beginning in 2019. Although the bill does not include provisions advocated by ACU, including simplifying the tax code, abolishing the Death Tax and abolishing the Alternative Minimum Tax, ACU supported the bill as a good first step in passing more comprehensive tax reform. The Senate passed the bill on December 20, 2017 by a vote of 51-48. This vote was double-weighted due to its impact in expanding the overall American economy.

The Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR, 3.2% ACU LIFE) amendment to the comprehensive tax reform bill reinstated a tax on college endowments for institutions that refuse to accept federal funds. ACU believes colleges should be encouraged to refuse federal funds, rather than be penalized for it and opposed this amendment. The Senate passed the amendment on December 2, 2017 by a vote of 52-48.

The Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX, 99% ACU LIFE) amendment empowers parents to choose the best schools for their children by expanding 529 savings accounts to elementary and secondary school education as well as homeschool students. Currently, they can only be used for higher education. ACU supports the expansion of school choice and supported this amendment. The Senate passed the amendment on December 1, 2017 by a vote of 50-50 with Vice President Mike Pence (99.6% ACU LIFE) voting "Yes" to break the tie.

This resolution invokes the Congressional Review Act to overturn an Obama Administration rule that prohibits private contracts that require arbitration to settle disputes. ACU supports the right of private citizens to decide what contracts they sign and to use arbitration to avoid costly litigation without the interference of the federal government and supported this resolution. The Senate passed the resolution on October 24, 2017 by a vote of 50-50 with Vice President Mike Pence (99.6% ACU LIFE) voting "Yes" to break the tie.

The Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA, 8.8% ACU LIFE) amendment to the Fiscal Year 2018 Budget Resolution eliminates the provision that will allow drilling for oil and natural gas in a small portion of the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge. ACU supports increasing domestic energy production to provide affordable energy for all and opposed this amendment. The Senate defeated the amendment on October 19, 2017 by a vote of 48-52.

The Senator Rand Paul (R-KY, 96% ACU LIFE) amendment to the Fiscal Year 2018 Budget Resolution increases the total tax cut to $2.5 trillion over ten years from $1.5 trillion over ten years. ACU supports this increase when combined with mandatory and discretionary spending reductions and supported this amendment. The Senate defeated the amendment on October 19, 2017 by a vote of 7-93. This amendment was double-weighted due to the impact it would have had in reducing all American’s taxes.

The Senator Tom Udall (D-NM, 3.8% ACU LIFE) amendment to the Fiscal Year 2018 Budget Resolution calls for the permanent funding of the Payment in Lieu of Taxes program that "reimburses" states for "lost" revenue due to the federal government ownership of land. The program is currently subject to the annual appropriation process. ACU opposes tactics that force taxpayers in other states to pay for "lost" revenue and opposed this amendment. The Senate passed the amendment on October 19, 2017 by a vote of 58-41.

The Senator Rand Paul (R-KY, 96% ACU LIFE) amendment to the Fiscal Year 2018 Budget Resolution reduces discretionary spending by $43 billion. ACU supports reasonable spending reductions at a time of annual deficits heading back to $1 trillion and a national debt of over $20 trillion and supported this amendment. The Senate defeated the amendment on October 19, 2017 by a vote of 5-95.

This vote is to confirm the nomination of Ajit Pai as Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission. ACU supported the nomination of Pai, who compiled an outstanding record as a member of the FCC, supporting free market principles and keeping the internet free of federal control. The Senate confirmed the nomination on September 28, 2017 by a vote of 55-41.

This amendment to the House-passed bill to repeal and replace Obamacare contains the bill passed by Congress but vetoed by President Obama in 2015. It repeals major portions of Obamacare, including penalties for not buying government-approved health insurance, Medicaid expansion to able-bodied childless adults, and subsidies to buy insurance through government-controlled exchanges. The bill also prevents Planned Parenthood from receiving much of its federal funding for one year. ACU supports the repeal of Obamacare, which has caused millions of Americans to lose their insurance plan and their doctor while dramatically increasing premiums and deductibles and supported this amendment as the most that can be accomplished under Senate rules. The Senate defeated the amendment on July 26, 2017 by a vote of 45-55. This amendment is double-weighted due to the fact six Senators changed their vote from "yes" to "no" because, unlike the vote in 2015, this vote would have been signed into law.

This resolution invokes the Congressional Review Act to overturn an Obama Administration rule that puts controls on methane emissions from oil and gas drilling on federal lands. ACU opposes these regulations without congressional authorization that drive up the cost of oil and gas to promote a global warming agenda and supported this resolution. The Senate defeated the resolution on May 10, 2017 by a vote of 49-51.

The pivotal vote on the confirmation of Neil Gorsuch came on this motion to change the rules of the Senate that required a supermajority of 60 votes to end debate and allow a simple majority of Senators to end debate. ACU supported the nomination of Gorsuch, who compiled an outstanding record on the federal bench in following the conservative principles of the late Antonin Scalia, who he was named to replace, and so supported this motion. The Senate voted against approving the decision of the liberal Senate parliamentarian that 60 votes were required on April 6, 2017 by a vote of 48-52. (A "No" vote supported the ACU position). This vote was double-weighted due to the monumental role it played in shaping the U.S. Supreme Court.

This resolution invokes the Congressional Review Act to overturn an Obama Administration rule that forces states to send taxpayer funds for "family planning," known as Title X funds, to Planned Parenthood. ACU believes abortion is a human tragedy and opposes sending taxpayer funds to organizations that perform abortions, such as Planned Parenthood, and supported this resolution. The Senate passed the resolution on March 30, 2017 by a vote of 50-50 with Vice President Mike Pence (99.6% ACU LIFE) voting "Yes" to break the tie.

This resolution invokes the Congressional Review Act to overturn an Obama Administration rule that mandates how internet service providers can store and use information from customers. ACU opposes executive agency mandates that are properly handled through congressional legislation and, as with other Obama Administration rules, exempts companies such as Google and Facebook from similar regulation, and supported this resolution. The Senate passed the resolution on March 23, 2017 by a vote of 50-48.

This resolution invokes the Congressional Review Act to overturn an Obama Administration rule that micromanages how states and local school districts meet the accountability standards set in the omnibus education bill of 2015. ACU opposes federal control over local education and supported this resolution. The Senate passed the resolution on March 9, 2017 by a vote of 50-49.

This resolution invokes the Congressional Review Act to overturn an Obama Administration rule that weakens state and local citizen participation as well as the legislative branch of government in federal land management decisions. ACU supports strengthening local input over land management regulation, reducing the power of unelected bureaucrats in the executive branch, and supported this resolution. The Senate passed the resolution on March 7, 2017 by a vote of 51-48.

A key vote on the confirmation of Scott Pruitt as Director of the Environmental Protection Agency came on a motion to extend debate indefinitely on the nomination. ACU supported the confirmation of Pruitt, who, as Attorney General of Oklahoma, was a nationwide leader in fighting the Obama Administration's attempt to bypass Congress and initiate a federal takeover of the nation's electric power system and control privately owned land through the Waters of the United States rule and so opposed this motion. The Senate defeated the motion on February 17, 2017 by a vote of 47-51.

This vote is to confirm the nomination of Mick Mulvaney (97.8% ACU LIFE) as Director of the Office of Management and Budget. ACU supported the confirmation of Mulvaney, who, as a member of Congress, compiled a spectacular lifetime ACU rating and has been a leader in efforts to reduce government regulation and government spending. The Senate voted to confirm the Mulvaney nomination on February 16, 2017 by a vote of 51-49.

This vote is to confirm the nomination of Betsy DeVos as Secretary of Education. ACU supported the confirmation of Devos, who has been a champion of school choice and less federal regulation of local schools. The Senate voted to confirm the DeVos nomination on February 7, 2017 by a vote of 50-50 with Vice President Mike Pence (99.6% ACU LIFE) voting "Yes" to break the tie.