Washington, D.C. – The Club for Growth Foundation released its 2024 economic scorecard for Alabama, offering citizens of the Yellowhammer State insights into each legislator’s voting record on economic issues. Craig Monger from 1819 News covered the scorecard in an exclusive report.
The Scorecard analyzes policies and votes to assign an Economic Growth Score from 0 to 100, with 100 representing the highest support for pro-growth policies. In 2024, the Foundation reviewed over 2,100 floor bills, scoring 15 Alabama House and 15 Alabama Senate votes.
“Despite being touted as one of the most conservative states in the country, lawmakers in Alabama consistently underperform when it comes to pro-growth, fiscally conservative economic policies,” said Club for Growth Foundation President David McIntosh. “To ensure future generations of Alabamans succeed, legislators must correct course and promote policies that will hold the government accountable and rein in spending.”
Click here to read the complete Alabama 2024 Scorecard from the Club for Growth Foundation.
Key Highlights from the 2024 Alabama Scorecard:
Alabama Senate:
- Average Republican Score: 37%
- Average Democrat Score: 9%
- Highest Rated Republican(s): Sen. Tom Butler (SD-2): 50%
- Highest Rated Democrat(s): Sen. Vivian Figures (SD-33):13%
- Lowest Rated Republican(s): Sen. Greg Albritton (SD-22): 25%
- Lowest Rated Democrat(s): Sen. Merike Coleman-Evans (SD-19): 0%
Alabama House:
- Average Republican Score: 36%
- Average Democrat Score: 11%
- Highest Rated Republican(s): Rep. Jennifer Fidler (HD-94), Rep. Jerry Starnes (HD-88), and Rep. Troy Stubbs (HD-31): 40%
- Highest Rated Democrat(s): Rep. Marilyn Lands (HD-10): 26%
- Lowest Rated Republican(s): Rep. Tim Wadsworth (HD-14): 17%
- Lowest Rated Democrat(s): Rep. Rolanda Hollis (HD-58): 5%
Notable Pro-Growth Legislation:
HB 73 – MIDDLING ANNUAL PROPERTY TAX INCREASE CAP
- Establishes a three-year cap on the assessed value of both commercial and residential property where the value is not to exceed 7 percent annual growth from the previous year’s assessed value
HB 129 – SIGNIFICANT SCHOOL CHOICE EXPANSION
- Implements a universal educational savings account (ESA) program, the CHOOSE Act for K-12 students
- Tax dollars will follow students to any participating school of parents’ or guardians’ choice
- Parents receive $7,000 for education expenses
- The program will expand to all eligible households regardless of income by 2027
SB 231 – LIMITING CRONY SUBSIDIES FOR CERTAIN EMPLOYERS
- Prohibits any employer from receiving taxpayer-funded subsidies and benefits if they participate in union-related activities
Notable Anti-Growth Legislation:
HB 346 – NEW GOVERNMENT HOUSING TAX CREDIT
- Creates a $50 million, non-refundable tax credit for government housing development that only would benefit well-connected entities
- The max credit amount for a project would be $2 million annually, and 20%-25% of the award cap would go towards developing government housing projects in rural areas
SB 67 – GENERAL FUND BUDGET BLOWOUT
- Allocates $3.3 billion in spending, a 13% increase from the previous year’s budget, and takes the spot for the largest general fund budget in the state’s history
- 7% increase in Medicaid spending
- $50 million earmarked to offset “inflationary increases”
SB 336 – ATROCIOUS STATEWIDE CORPORATE WELFARE SCHEME
- Creates and gives power to “research and development corridors” that only seek to benefit well-connected corporate interests in bioscience, advanced manufacturing, information technology, and cybersecurity
- These government entities would be exempt from competitive bidding requirements and are granted to levy fees, disperse subsidized grants to preferred interests, and incur debt.
Note: This Scorecard is based on selected votes and does not reflect a legislator’s entire voting record. The Club for Growth Foundation does not endorse or oppose any legislator for public office.