Lifetime Rating
Peter Welch
Leading Leftist
Senator · Democrat
Congress
2025 CPAC Rating
3%
State
VTVermont
CPAC Rating History
Voting Record
Conservatives Support
This Sen. Rand Paul (CPAC Lifetime Rating 97%) amendment would require deficit reduction to be part of the reconciliation bill. CPAC supports reining in reckless government spending and returning to fiscal responsibility, and supported this amendment. The Senate defeated the amendment on February 21, 2025 by a vote of 24-76 (29 Republicans and all Democrats voted against).
Conservatives Oppose
This motion would retain the Obamacare tax credits and pay for them with tax increases on productive Americans. CPAC opposes tax increases to fund government healthcare programs and opposed this motion. The Senate defeated the motion on June 30, 2025, by a vote of 47-53 (all Republicans voted in against, and all Democrats voted in favor).
Conservatives Oppose
This motion recommits the bill to committee with instructions to eliminate the rescissions called for to reduce spending. CPAC supported the rescissions that cut wasteful deficit spending and opposed this motion on June 3, 2025. The Senate defeated the motion by a vote of 48-51 (2 Republicans and all Democrats present voted in favor). Republican Aye Votes: Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)
Conservatives Oppose
This amendment to the reconciliation bill, introduced by Sen. Mark Warner (CPAC Lifetime Rating 6%), directs lease payments from metropolitan airports towards aviation safety improvements. CPAC viewed this amendment as an earmark and a deliberate attempt to derail the One Big Beautiful Bill, and opposed this amendment. The amendment was defeated on July 1, 2025, in a vote of 50-50 (3 Republicans and all Democrats voted in favor). Republican Aye Votes: Sen. Jerry Moran (R-KS), Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)
Conservatives Support
This bill, sponsored by Sen. James Lankford (CPAC Lifetime Rating 88%), requires that when a botched abortion results in a live birth, the baby must be given the same medical care and attention received by any other newborn child. CPAC considers every abortion a human tragedy and believes that every life, including those who survive an abortion, deserves protection and CPAC supported this bill. The Senate defeated the motion to end debate on January 22, 2025 by a vote of 52-47, failing to reach the 60 votes required (all Republicans present voted in favor, and all Democrats voted against).
Conservatives Support
This resolution rejects a Department of Energy rule imposing unnecessary standards and labeling requirements on household appliances including washing machines, dishwashers, central air conditioners, heat pumps, and other items. The Congressional Review Act (CRA) is a law that lets Congress overturn federal agency regulations. After a federal agency creates a new rule, Congress has 60 legislative days to review it. If both houses of Congress pass a Joint Resolution of Disapproval and the President signs it, the rule is cancelled. CPAC opposes unnecessary regulatory burdens that raise prices on American consumers and supported this resolution. The Senate passed the motion on April 30, 2025, by a vote of 52-46 (all Republicans present voted in favor, and all Democrats present voted against), and President Donald J. Trump signed the measure into law on May 9, 2025.
Conservatives Oppose
This amendment to H.R. 1 would remove the spending cap on the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, an unaccountable bureaucracy created by Sen. Elizabeth Warren. CPAC supports budget caps that rein in out-of-control government spending and opposed this amendment. The Senate defeated the motion on June 30, 2025, by a vote of 47-53 (all Republicans voted in against, and all Democrats voted in favor).
Conservatives Support
This resolution invokes the Congressional Review Act to take away the special exemption given to California to force people to buy zero-emission trucks. The Congressional Review Act (CRA) is a law that lets Congress overturn federal agency regulations. After a federal agency creates a new rule, Congress has 60 legislative days to review it. If both houses of Congress pass a Joint Resolution of Disapproval and the President signs it, the rule is cancelled. CPAC opposes California’s radical overregulation of vehicles that threatens consumer choice and drives up costs for all Americans, and supported this resolution. The Senate passed the motion on May 22, 2025, by a vote of 51-45 (all Republicans present voted in favor, and all Democrats present voted against), and President Donald J. Trump signed the measure into law on June 12, 2025.
Conservatives Support
A Sen. Ron Johnson (CPAC Rating Score 92%) amendment to appropriations bill HR 3944 would cancel funding for any earmark publicly campaigned on by a politician. CPAC opposes the corrupt earmark system that politicians use for self-promotion at the expense of taxpayers and supported this amendment. The amendment was defeated on August 1, 2025, by a vote of 21-75 (30 Republicans and all Democrats present voted against).
Conservatives Support
This resolution invokes the Congressional Review Act to reject a Department of Energy rule that increases the price of already expensive commercial refrigerator-freezers. The Congressional Review Act (CRA) is a law that lets Congress overturn federal agency regulations. After a federal agency creates a new rule, Congress has 60 legislative days to review it. If both houses of Congress pass a Joint Resolution of Disapproval and the President signs it, the rule is cancelled. CPAC opposes unnecessary regulatory burdens that raise prices for American consumers and supported this resolution. The resolution passed the Senate on May 1, 2025, by a vote of 52-45 (all Republicans present voted in favor, and all Democrats present voted against), and President Donald J. Trump signed the measure into law on May 9, 2025.
Conservatives Support
This Sen. John Kennedy (CPAC Lifetime Rating 82%) amendment would reduce agricultural programs by 2% across the board. CPAC supports reducing wasteful subsidy programs that overwhelmingly benefit wealthy landowners and corporate agriculture at the expense of hardworking taxpayers, and supported this amendment. The Senate defeated the amendment on August 1, 2025, by a vote of 14-81 (37 Republicans and all Democrats present voted against).
Conservatives Oppose
This Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (CPAC Lifetime Rating 4%) amendment would make permanent the “temporary” tax credits for health insurance approved during the Covid spending spree. CPAC opposes making emergency spending permanent and burdening taxpayers with ever-expanding government programs, and opposed this amendment. The Senate defeated this amendment on February 21, 2025 by a vote of 48-52 (1 Republican and all Democrats voted in favor). Republican Aye Vote: Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)
Conservatives Oppose
This Sen. Patty Murray (CPAC Lifetime Rating 2%) amendment removes the provision that prevents taxpayer funds from going to Planned Parenthood. CPAC considers every abortion a human tragedy and opposes forcing taxpayers to fund the nation’s largest abortion provider, and opposed this amendment. The Senate defeated the amendment on June 30, 2025, by a vote of 49-51 (2 Republicans and all Democrats present voted in favor). Republican Aye Votes: Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)
Conservatives Support
This Sen. Mike Lee (CPAC Lifetime Score 99%) Amendment would eliminate wind and solar tax credits. CPAC opposes cronyist government subsidies that pick winners and losers in the energy market and force taxpayers to bankroll the radical green agenda, and supported this amendment. The Senate defeated the amendment on July 1, 2025, by a vote of 21-79 (32 Republicans and all Democrats voted against).
Conservatives Support
This resolution invokes the Congressional Review Act to reject an EPA methane emission rule which would have forced oil and gas facilities to pay unnecessary and burdensome fees. The Congressional Review Act (CRA) is a law that lets Congress overturn federal agency regulations. After a federal agency creates a new rule, Congress has 60 legislative days to review it. If both houses of Congress pass a Joint Resolution of Disapproval and the President signs it, the rule is cancelled. CPAC opposes unnecessary regulatory burdens that inevitably raise energy prices for hardworking Americans and supported this resolution. The Senate voted to reject this rule on February 27, 2025, by a vote of 52-47 (all Republicans present voted in favor, and all Democrats voted against). President Donald J. Trump signed the measure into law on March 14, 2025.
Conservatives Oppose
This Sen. Bernard Sanders (CPAC Lifetime Rating 7%) amendment makes an exception to the PAYGO rule, thus allowing a simple majority vote to raise the minimum wage. The PAYGO rule states that any vote that would raise the Federal deficit must receive at least 60 votes to pass. CPAC opposes government-mandated wage increases that kill jobs, stifle small businesses, and hurt the very workers they claim to help, including inexperienced workers and students, and opposed this amendment. The Senate defeated the amendment on April 5, 2025, by a vote of 47-52 (1 Republican and all Democrats present voted in favor). Republican Aye Vote: Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO)
Conservatives Support
A Sen. Rick Scott (CPAC Lifetime Rating 92%) amendment to an appropriation bill (H.R. 3944) to reduce spending on Agriculture programs, including the Food and Drug Administration. CPAC supports reducing taxpayer subsidies to wealthy farm corporations that are often centered far from agricultural land and supported this amendment. The amendment was defeated on August 1, 2025, by a vote of 15-81 (36 Republicans and all Democrats present voted against).
Conservatives Support
The Sen. Rand Paul (CPAC Lifetime Rating 97%) amendment reduces funding for the Agency for International Development. CPAC supports eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse at an agency that has squandered taxpayer dollars on foreign firms and failed to deliver results for the American people, and supported this amendment. The Senate defeated the amendment on March 14, 2025, by a vote of 27-73 (26 Republicans and all Democrats voted against).
Conservatives Oppose
This Sen. Susan Collins (CPAC Lifetime Rating 43%) amendment would increase the top tax rate once again to 39.6 percent. CPAC opposes punishing the most productive Americans with higher taxes that discourage investment and job creation, and opposed this amendment. The Senate defeated the amendment on July 1, 2025, by a vote of 22-78 (18 Republicans and 3 Democrats voted in favor). Democrat Aye Votes: Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA), Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-GA)
Conservatives Support
This resolution invokes the Congressional Review Act to reject a Department of Energy rule dictating efficiency standards for gas water heaters. The Congressional Review Act (CRA) is a law that lets Congress overturn federal agency regulations. After a federal agency creates a new rule, Congress has 60 legislative days to review it. If both houses of Congress pass a Joint Resolution of Disapproval and the President signs it, the rule is cancelled. CPAC opposes unnecessary regulatory burdens that raise prices on American consumers and supported this resolution. The Senate passed the motion on April 10, 2025, by a vote of 53-44 (all Republicans present and 2 Democrats voted in favor), and President Trump signed the measure into law on May 9, 2025. Democrat Aye Votes: Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA)
20 votes shown
Annual CPAC Ratings
| Year | CPAC Rating | Award | Lifetime Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3% | — | 5% |
| 2024 | 13% | — | 5% |
| 2023 | 5% | — | 5% |
| 2022 | 0% | — | 5% |
| 2021 | 0% | — | 5% |
| 2020 | 0% | — | 5% |
| 2019 | 0% | — | 6% |
| 2018 | 12% | — | 6% |
| 2017 | 7% | — | 5% |
| 2016 | 4% | — | 5% |
| 2015 | 9% | — | 5% |
| 2014 | 4% | — | 5% |
| 2013 | 12% | — | 5% |
| 2012 | 4% | — | 4% |
| 2011 | 8% | — | 4% |
| 2010 | 4% | — | 3% |
| 2009 | 0% | — | 3% |
| 2008 | 8% | — | 4% |
| 2007 | 0% | — | 0% |
- Year
- 2025
- CPAC Rating
- 3%
- Lifetime Rating
- 5%
- Year
- 2024
- CPAC Rating
- 13%
- Lifetime Rating
- 5%
- Year
- 2023
- CPAC Rating
- 5%
- Lifetime Rating
- 5%
- Year
- 2022
- CPAC Rating
- 0%
- Lifetime Rating
- 5%
- Year
- 2021
- CPAC Rating
- 0%
- Lifetime Rating
- 5%
- Year
- 2020
- CPAC Rating
- 0%
- Lifetime Rating
- 5%
- Year
- 2019
- CPAC Rating
- 0%
- Lifetime Rating
- 6%
- Year
- 2018
- CPAC Rating
- 12%
- Lifetime Rating
- 6%
- Year
- 2017
- CPAC Rating
- 7%
- Lifetime Rating
- 5%
- Year
- 2016
- CPAC Rating
- 4%
- Lifetime Rating
- 5%
- Year
- 2015
- CPAC Rating
- 9%
- Lifetime Rating
- 5%
- Year
- 2014
- CPAC Rating
- 4%
- Lifetime Rating
- 5%
- Year
- 2013
- CPAC Rating
- 12%
- Lifetime Rating
- 5%
- Year
- 2012
- CPAC Rating
- 4%
- Lifetime Rating
- 4%
- Year
- 2011
- CPAC Rating
- 8%
- Lifetime Rating
- 4%
- Year
- 2010
- CPAC Rating
- 4%
- Lifetime Rating
- 3%
- Year
- 2009
- CPAC Rating
- 0%
- Lifetime Rating
- 3%
- Year
- 2008
- CPAC Rating
- 8%
- Lifetime Rating
- 4%
- Year
- 2007
- CPAC Rating
- 0%
- Lifetime Rating
- 0%