How Kay Votes: Summary
see also: scorecard of scorecards
Iraq Invasion
It's clear now that the Bush Administration's case for invading Iraq
was built on exaggerations, misleading statements, and outright lies. Sen.
Hutchison wasn't the only one who fell for it - but nevertheless, she did
fall for it. And she's shown no initiative in trying to fix things since
then, or for investigating contractor and detainee abuses. Nor will she
even meet with peace activists.
(Details...)
>> Verdict: no good
Education
Public education is one of the foundations of American democracy,
yet it faces many obstacles. Lack of funding, priorities based on political
motives and attempts to privatize our schools are ongoing problems. Yet
according to the NEA (National Education Association), National PTA
(Parent Teacher Association) and the NSBA (National School Boards
Association), Sen. Hutchison has earned nothing but failing marks during
her Senate tenure.
(Details...)
>> Verdict: failing grade
Supporting Bush
Coming into the last half of the last term of George W. Bush's ruinous
Presidency, it has become clear to the vast majority of Americans what a
disaster his reign has been. Iraq, Katrina, the national debt and spying on
U.S. citizens are but a few of his legacies. But the blame
is not all his. He couldn't have done it without the unquestioning and
unflinching support of Senators like Kay Bailey Hutchison, who supported
the White House a staggering 96% of the time.
(Details...)
>> Verdict: Bush rubber stamper
Middle-Class Issues
The things most of us who consider ourselves "middle-class" want are
simple and obvious: safety, affordable healthcare, well-paying jobs, a
chance for our kids to go to college, a secure retirement. However, if the
scores Sen. Hutchison's been getting from the Drum Major Institute are any
indication, she's not that interested in providing or protecting those
things for her constituents.
(Details...)
>> Verdict: bad, and getting worse
Environment
According to every environmental group you can think of (The League of
Conservation Voters, Sierra Club, even Republicans For Environmental
Protection), Sen. Hutchison has done next to nothing to protect the
environment or preserve our natural resources.
(Details...)
>> Verdict: thumbs down
Corporate Welfare
Republicans like Sen. Hutchison always claim to be against "welfare,"
which they do indeed oppose for poor, disadvantaged citizens who are
struggling to make ends meet. But for some reason, big, profitable
companies get plenty of help getting by. Maybe it has something to do
with how much campaign cash you can get from single working mothers
compared to multi-national oil and timber conglomerates.
(Details...)
>> Verdict: terrible
Union Issues
Not all American workers are represented by a union, but they still
represent the workers of this country. And according to three of the biggest
and most influential, the AFL-CIO, the IBEW and the AFSCME, Sen.
Hutchison is not representing the working men and women of Texas or the
U.S. All three of these unions give her a career rating of 7.5% or less.
(Details...)
>> Verdict: deserves pink slip
