Washington, D.C. – The Club for Growth Foundation released its 2024 economic scorecard for Kentucky, providing citizens of the Bluegrass State with a detailed look into each legislator’s voting record on economic issues in Frankfort.
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 800 floor votes, scoring 15 in the Kentucky House and 14 in the Kentucky Senate.
“Despite having overwhelming majorities in both the State House and State Senate, Kentucky Republicans are not voting for fiscally conservative policies,” said Club for Growth Foundation President David McIntosh. “Lawmakers in Frankfort must prioritize legislation that will drive economic growth and prevent government overreach to ensure the next generation of Kentuckians can succeed and compete.”
Click here to read the Club for Growth Foundation’s full Kentucky 2024 Economic Scorecard.
Key Highlights from the 2024 Kentucky Scorecard:
Kentucky Senate:
- Average Republican Score: 52%
- Average Democrat Score: 5%
- Highest Rated Republican(s): Sen. Adrienne Southworth (SD-7): 82%
- Highest Rated Democrat(s): Sen. Robin Webb (SD-18):32%
- Lowest Rated Republican(s): Sen. Brandon Storm (SD-21): 35%
- Lowest Rated Democrat(s): Sen. Cassie Chambers Armstrong (SD-19), Sen. Karen Berg (SD-26), Sen. Denise Harper Angel (SD-35), Sen. Gerald Neal (SD-33), Sen. Reginald Thomas (SD-13), and Sen. David Yates (SD-37): 0%
Kentucky House:
- Average Republican Score: 57%
- Average Democrat Score: 19%
- Highest Rated Republican(s): Rep. Savannah Maddox (HD-61): 95%
- Highest Rated Democrat(s): Rep. Beverly Chester-Burton (HD-44): 36%
- Lowest Rated Republican(s): Rep. Kevin Jackson (HD-20): 29%
- Lowest Rated Democrat(s): Rep. Tina Bojanowski (HD-32): 5%
Notable Pro-Growth Legislation:
HB 2 – SCHOOL CHOICE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
- Ballot referendum to amend the Kentucky constitution on K-12 funding for non-government schools.
SB 65 – MEDICAID REGULATORY REPEAL VETO OVERRIDE
- Reverses the governor’s veto of repealing his executive order that expanded Medicaid benefits that includes dental, hearing, and vision subsidies.
- Expanded benefits would’ve utilized $38 million in appropriated funds.
- Kentucky’s Medicaid program encompasses nearly 33% of Kentucky’s state budget.
SB 215 – CALIFORNIA EMISSIONS STANDARD PROHIBITION
- Prohibits any Kentucky political subdivision or government agency from adopting California’s Green New Deal emissions standards that call for banning the sale of gas-powered vehicles by 2035.
Notable Anti-Growth Legislation:
HB 1 – MASSIVE INFRASTRUCTURE AND PENSION SPENDING BINGE
- Appropriates $2.7 billion, including:
- $230 million in pension payments.
- $200 million in state matching funds for the crony GRANT program.
- $50 million for crony corporate economic development projects.
- $225 million for expanding higher education facilities.
HB 6 – EXORBITANT BIENNIAL BUDGET AGREEMENT
- Appropriates $102 billion in spending for FY2025 and 2026 biennium.
- Increases by 13% the baseline general fund operating expenditures.
- $1.1 billion for federal broadband infrastructure.
- 3% salary increase for state employees.
- Infuses $3.2 billion in federal and general fund spending for Medicaid.
SB 142 – NEW TAXPAYER-BACKED PAID LEAVE MANDATE
- A new rule that mandates that government employees can receive four weeks of paid leave for the birth or adoption of a child.
- The mandate will lead to further taxation, higher costs, lower wages, compound pressures, and is vulnerable to continued expansion.
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.