Scoring the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) twice was a first for this year’s Scorecard, but not the only first. For the first time ever, LCV’s Scorecard included votes in both chambers to protect same-sex and interracial marriages, as well as reproductive rights. LCV is committed to safeguarding equity, and the House vote that failed to protect access to reproductive healthcare serves as a reminder that basic human rights are under threat from Republicans and the Supreme Court’s extremist majority.
Also for the first time this year, LCV’s annual These Votes Have Impacts report is included in the Scorecard itself. This section highlights the leadership of members of the Congressional Black Caucus, Asian Pacific American Caucus, and Hispanic Caucus — together, the Tri-Caucus — who scored an average of 98% on the 2022 Scorecard and were instrumental in passing bold climate legislation and working to address environmental injustice.
As in recent years, the Scorecard also includes votes on democracy issues, including votes to advance and confirm historic, personally, and professionally diverse judicial nominees. This includes the vote to confirm Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first Black woman on the Supreme Court.
LCV also scored votes on the John Lewis Voting Rights Act, a bill that would restore much-needed voter protections, including against discrimination targeting voters of color, and the DISCLOSE Act, a campaign finance reform bill that would provide for greater and faster public disclosure of federal campaign spending and “dark money” contributions.
Though both bills passed the House and received majority support in the Senate, they could not overcome the 60-vote filibuster threshold, underscoring the partisan divide between Democrats who champion policies that would strengthen and protect our nation’s democracy, and Republicans who seek to undermine our electoral systems and weaken voting rights.
Were your members of Congress on the right or wrong side of progress? Check out their 2022 LCV Scorecard scores now. And thank you for all your support!
Onward,
Katie Blume
Political & Legislative Director
Conservation Voters of PA
