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James Nussle's Ratings and Endorsements

Vote Smart displays all known interest group ratings for each candidate and official, regardless of issue or bias.

Keep in mind that ratings done by special interest groups often do not represent a non-partisan stance. In addition, some groups select votes that tend to favor members of one political party over another, rather than choosing votes based solely on issue concerns. Nevertheless, they can be invaluable in showing where an incumbent has stood on a series of votes in the past one or two years, especially when ratings by groups on all sides of an issue are compared. Website links, if available, and descriptions of the organizations offering performance evaluations are accessible by clicking on the name of the group.

With rare exceptions, Vote Smart displays interest group ratings as a 0-100 percentage. While many interest groups use percentages as ratings to begin with, please note that Vote Smart has translated some ratings to a percentage from a different rating system for consistency and ease in understanding. Please visit the group's website, email us at ratings@votesmart.org or call our Voter Information Hotline at 1-888-VOTESMART for more specific information.

100%
2003
84%
2001-2002
89%
1999-2000
100%
2001-2002
100%
1999-2000
100%
1999
100%
1997-1998
100%
1997
100%
1996
0%
2001
0%
1999
0%
1995-2003
0%
1995-1998
0%
1993-1996
100%
2001
91%
1999
95%
1995-1996
93%
1993-1994
100%
2001-2002
100%
2001-2002
50%
1991-1992
30%
2001-2002
30%
2001-2002
75%
1999-2000
75%
1999-2000
78%
1998
71%
1997
53%
1996
30%
1995
56%
1994
56%
1993
Fence Sitter
2002
Fence Sitter
2002
11%
2003
25%
2001-2002
0%
2003-2004
0%
2001-2002
25%
2001-2002
25%
2001-2002
0%
2000
11%
2003
11%
2003
25%
2001-2002
25%
2001-2002
25%
2001-2002
25%
2001-2002
0%
2005
11%
2004
11%
2003
25%
2001-2002
13%
1999-2000
0%
1999
50%
1997
0%
1995-1996
0%
1995
21%
1993-1994
13%
2003
13%
2003
100%
2003
0%
2005
78%
2005
78%
2005
22%
2005
22%
2005
71%
2005
71%
2005
89%
2005
89%
2005
31%
2005
31%
2005
67%
2005
67%
2005
39%
2004
39%
2004
59%
2004
59%
2004
38%
2004
38%
2004
61%
2004
61%
2004
62%
2004
62%
2004
36%
2004
36%
2004
33%
2003
33%
2003
23%
2003
23%
2003
24%
2003
24%
2003
71%
2003
71%
2003
29%
2003
29%
2003
71%
2003
71%
2003
64%
2003
64%
2003
71%
2003
71%
2003
32%
2002
32%
2002
56%
2002
56%
2002
63%
2002
63%
2002
73%
2002
73%
2002
21%
2002
21%
2002
34%
2002
34%
2002
41%
2002
41%
2002
66%
2002
66%
2002
69%
2001
69%
2001
47%
2001
47%
2001
7%
2001
20%
2001
20%
2001
49%
2001
49%
2001
89%
2001
89%
2001
42%
2000
42%
2000
56%
2000
56%
2000
0%
2000
28%
2000
28%
2000
71%
2000
71%
2000
79%
2000
79%
2000
79%
1999
79%
1999
73%
1999
73%
1999
16%
1999
16%
1999
69%
1999
69%
1999
23%
1999
23%
1999
29%
1999
29%
1999
39%
1998
39%
1998
58%
1998
58%
1998
81%
1998
81%
1998
14%
1998
14%
1998
39%
1998
39%
1998
59%
1998
59%
1998
44%
1996
44%
1996
29%
1996
29%
1996
0%
1996
68%
1996
68%
1996
55%
1996
55%
1996
82%
1996
82%
1996
0%
2003
100%
2003-2004
0%
2006
0%
2006
86%
2003
86%
2003
100%
2001-2002
75%
2003-2004
82%
2003-2004
0%
2003
0%
2003
9%
2001-2002
9%
2001-2002
0%
1999-2000
0%
1999-2000
21%
1997-1998
21%
1997-1998
18%
1997
18%
1997
19%
1995-1996
19%
1995-1996
35%
2003-2004
25%
1997-1998
0%
2004
0%
2005
14%
2004
33%
2003
17%
2001-2002
17%
2001-2002
17%
2001
20%
1999-2000
20%
1999-2000
18%
1999
12%
1997-1998
12%
1997-1998
11%
1995-1996
11%
1995-1996
38%
1991-1992
100%
1995-1996
100%
1995-1996
100%
2003
84%
2001-2002
89%
1999-2000
97%
2004
65%
1997
71%
1996
27%
2003-2004
0%
2001-2002
57%
1999-2000
0%
2004
0%
2004
11%
2003
11%
2003
0%
2002
0%
2002
13%
2001
13%
2001
20%
2000
20%
2000
45%
1999
45%
1999
25%
1998
25%
1998
42%
1997
42%
1997
10%
1996
10%
1996
17%
1995
17%
1995
0%
2006
100%
2003
84%
2001-2002
89%
1999-2000
33%
2000
44%
1999
31%
1998
74%
1997
50%
1996
57%
1995
0%
2005
14%
2004
33%
2003
100%
2002
0%
2004
0%
2003
0%
2001-2002
0%
2003
0%
2003
9%
2001-2002
9%
2001-2002
0%
1999-2000
0%
1999-2000
21%
1997-1998
21%
1997-1998
18%
1997
18%
1997
19%
1995-1996
19%
1995-1996
100%
1995-1996
100%
1995-1996
100%
2001
100%
2000
100%
2003-2004
0%
2003
0%
1999-2000
0%
2003-2004
0%
2001-2002
0%
2004
8
2005
100%
2003
0%
2002
100%
2003
84%
2001-2002
89%
1999-2000
92%
2003
100%
2002
100%
1999-2000
100%
1997-1998
89%
1997
100%
1995-1996
67%
2004
67%
2004
85%
2003
85%
2003
80%
2002
80%
2002
0%
2006
92%
2001-2002
79%
1999-2000
92%
1997-1998
100%
1995-1996
56%
2004
62%
2003
57%
2002
63%
2001
63%
1999
49%
1998
60%
1997
86%
1995
40%
2005
75%
2005
50%
2004
80
2003
80
2003
80
2003
90
2002
90
2002
90
2002
75%
2001
73%
2000
0%
2001-2002
0%
2001-2002
82%
2001-2002
82%
2001-2002
89%
1999-2000
89%
1999-2000
0%
1999-2000
0%
1999-2000
33%
1997-1998
33%
1997-1998
70%
1995
45%
1995
18%
2005-2006
18%
2005-2006
0%
2001-2002
88%
2003-2004
88%
2003-2004
88%
2001-2002
-5
2001-2002
0%
2004
0%
2003
0%
2001-2002
0%
2004
27%
2003-2004
0%
2001-2002
57%
1999-2000
0%
2005
100%
2003
33%
2001-2002
33%
2001-2002
50%
2000
0%
1999
100%
1998
50%
1997
17%
1996
56%
2004
62%
2003
57%
2002
63%
2001
63%
1999
49%
1998
60%
1997
86%
1995
25%
2003
17%
2002
27%
2001
42%
2000
38
1999
21%
1998
47%
1997
30%
1997-1998
30%
1997-1998
13%
1995-1996
13%
1995-1996
100%
2003-2004
22%
2005-2006
100%
2003
25%
2004
0%
2003
0%
2006
0%
2004
0%
2003
0%
2001-2002
0%
2001
0%
2001
65%
2003-2006
65%
2003-2006
46%
2003-2005
46%
2003-2005
69%
2003
69%
2003
63%
2002
63%
2002
64%
2001
64%
2001
0%
2005-2006
100%
2004
100%
2004
50%
2003-2004
86%
1997-1998
100%
2003-2004
29%
2003-2004
30%
2001-2002
30%
2001-2002
75%
1999-2000
75%
1999-2000
78%
1998
71%
1997
53%
1996
30%
1995
56%
1994
56%
1993
17%
2001-2002
17%
2001-2002
17%
2001
20%
1999-2000
20%
1999-2000
18%
1999
12%
1997-1998
12%
1997-1998
11%
1995-1996
11%
1995-1996
88%
2003-2004
88%
2003-2004
65%
1997
71%
1996
27%
2003-2004
0%
2001-2002
57%
1999-2000
0%
2004
0%
2004
11%
2003
11%
2003
0%
2002
0%
2002
13%
2001
13%
2001
20%
2000
20%
2000
45%
1999
45%
1999
25%
1998
25%
1998
42%
1997
42%
1997
10%
1996
10%
1996
17%
1995
17%
1995
8
2005
0%
2003-2004
0%
2003
23%
2001-2002
7%
1999-2000
0%
1999
21%
1998
13%
1997
8%
1995-1996
100%
2003
-5
2001-2002
100%
2003
33%
2001-2002
33%
2001-2002
50%
2000
0%
1999
100%
1998
50%
1997
17%
1996
100%
2003
97%
2004
92%
2003
100%
2002
100%
1999-2000
100%
1997-1998
89%
1997
100%
1995-1996
100%
1991-1992
100%
1991-1992
100%
2003-2004
100%
2003
93%
2001-2002
93%
2000
75%
1997-1998
75%
1995-1996
0%
2005
100%
1995-1996
100%
1995-1996
100%
2003
100%
2003
0%
2006
17%
2001-2002
17%
2001-2002
17%
2001
20%
1999-2000
20%
1999-2000
18%
1999
12%
1997-1998
12%
1997-1998
11%
1995-1996
11%
1995-1996
38%
1991-1992
0%
2001
93%
2003-2004
100%
2003
100%
2003
84%
2001-2002
84%
2001-2002
89%
1999-2000
89%
1999-2000
92%
2004
92%
2003
92%
2003
100%
2002
100%
2002
100%
1999-2000
100%
1999-2000
100%
1997-1998
100%
1997-1998
89%
1997
89%
1997
100%
1995-1996
100%
1995-1996
100%
1991-1992
100%
1991-1992
40%
2005
75%
2005
40%
2005
58%
2005
58%
2005
50%
2004
50%
2004
80
2003
80
2003
80
2003
80
2003
80
2003
80
2003
90
2002
90
2002
90
2002
90
2002
90
2002
90
2002
75%
2001
75%
2001
73%
2000
73%
2000
40%
2006
0%
2005
0%
2005
38%
2004
40%
2004
40%
2004
38%
2004
38%
2003
38%
2003
50%
2002
50%
2002
65%
2001
65%
2001
58%
2000
58%
2000
57%
1999
57%
1999
40%
1998
40%
1998
45%
1997
45%
1997
49%
1995-1996
49%
1995-1996
49%
1995-1996
49%
1995-1996
0%
2005-2006
18%
2005-2006
18%
2005-2006
13%
2005-2006
13%
2005-2006
13%
2005-2006
13%
2005-2006
0%
2001-2002
100%
1995-1996
100%
1995-1996
100%
2004
95%
2003
100%
2002
100%
2001
85%
2000
88%
1999
85%
1998
76%
2005
76%
2005
64%
2003-2004
64%
2003-2004
85%
2001-2002
85%
2001-2002
92%
2001-2002
79%
1999-2000
92%
1997-1998
100%
1995-1996
56%
2004
62%
2003
57%
2002
63%
2001
63%
1999
49%
1998
60%
1997
86%
1995
56%
2006
56%
2006
100%
2002
0%
2003
0%
2003
9%
2001-2002
9%
2001-2002
0%
1999-2000
0%
1999-2000
21%
1997-1998
21%
1997-1998
18%
1997
18%
1997
19%
1995-1996
19%
1995-1996
80%
2001-2002
80%
2001-2002
0%
2002
100%
2003
33%
2001-2002
33%
2001-2002
50%
2000
0%
1999
100%
1998
50%
1997
17%
1996
33%
2003-2004
100%
2003
100%
2003
60%
2003
50%
2003-2004
66%
2001
17%
1997-1998
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