Representative Karen Bass's Special Interest Group Ratings

Biographical

Full Name: Karen Bass
Current Office: U.S. House - District 37, Democratic
First Elected: 11/02/2010
Last Elected: 11/06/2012
Gender: Female
Family: Divorced; 1 Child: Emilia
Birth Date: 10/03/1953
Birth Place: Los Angeles, CA
Home City: Los Angeles, CA
Religion: Christian
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How To Interpret These Evaluations

Abortion

2013 Planned Parenthood - Positions (Feb 26, 2013 100% 2012 Planned Parenthood - Positions 100% 2011-2012 National Right to Life Committee - Positions 0% 2011 Life Priority Network - Positions (Congressional House Only) 0% 2011 NARAL Pro-Choice America - Positions 100% 2011 National Right to Life Committee - Positions 0% 2009 Life Priority Network - Positions 0% 2009 NARAL Pro-Choice California - Positions 100% 2009 Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California - Positions 100% 2008-2009 California Abortion and Reproductive Rights League - Positions 100% 2008 Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California - Positions 100% 2007 Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California - Positions on Reproductive Rights 100 2006-2007 NARAL Pro-Choice California - Positions 100% 2006 NARAL Pro-Choice California - Positions on Reproductive Rights 100% 2006 Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California - Positions on Reproductive Rights 100 2005-2006 NARAL Pro-Choice California - Positions 100% 2005 Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California - Positions 100%

Agriculture and Food

2011 American Farm Bureau Federation - Positions 5% 2006 California Farm Bureau Federation - Positions 10% 2005 California Farm Bureau Federation - Positions 7%

Animals and Wildlife

2011 The Humane Society Legislative Fund - Positions 38% 2010-2011 Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund - Positions 100% 2010 American Cancer Society California Division, Inc. - State Assembly Score 93% 2009 The Humane Society Legislative Fund - Positions 100% 2005 PawPAC - Positions on Animal Protection 100%

Arts, Entertainment, and History

2012 TechCrunch/CrunchGov - Positions on Technology Industry 25% 2011 Americans for the Arts Action Fund - Positions (House Only) 100%

Budget, Spending and Taxes

2011 Alliance for Retired Americans - Positions 100% 2011 National Journal - Liberal on Economic Policy Score 87% 2011 National Journal - Liberal on Foreign Policy Score 88% 2011 National Journal - Conservative on Foreign Policy Score 0% 2011 National Journal - Liberal on Social Policy 80% 2011 National Journal - Conservative on Economic Policy Score 13% 2011 National Journal - Conservative on Social Policy Score 20% 2011 National Taxpayers Union - Positions on Tax and Spending 15% 2010 California Taxpayers' Association - Positions 11% 2010 Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association - Positions 21 2009 Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association - Positions 0 2008 California Taxpayers' Association - Positions 10% 2008 Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association - Positions 9.7 2007 California Taxpayers' Association - Positions on Tax and Fiscal Policy 13 2007 Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association - Positions 3.3 2006 California Taxpayers' Association - Positions on Tax and Fiscal Policy 19 2005 California Taxpayers' Association - Positions 25% 2005 Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association - Positions 7

Business and Consumers

2012 National Electrical Contractors Association - Positions 50% 2012 TechCrunch/CrunchGov - Positions on Technology Industry 25% 2011-2012 Irregular Times/Progressive Patriots/That's My Congress - Conservative Action Score 6% 2011-2012 Irregular Times/Progressive Patriots/That's My Congress - Net Congressional Score 81% 2011-2012 Irregular Times/Progressive Patriots/That's My Congress - Liberal Action Score 67% 2011 National Electrical Contractors Association - Positions (House Only) 100% 2011 National Federation of Independent Business - Positions 0% 2011 National Retail Federation - Positions 0% 2011 National Small Business Association - Positions 33% 2011 National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association - Positions 25% 2011 The National Lumber and Building Material Dealers Association - Positions 0% 2011 United States Chamber of Commerce - Positions 25% 2010 California Chamber of Commerce - Positions 47% 2010 Consumer Federation of California - Positions 88% 2009 California Chamber of Commerce - Positions 23% 2009 California National Federation of Independent Business - State Assembly Score 11% 2009 Consumer Federation of California - Positions 87% 2008 California Chamber of Commerce - Positions on Pro-Business Policy 20% 2008 California Manufacturers and Technology Association - Positions on Manufacturers Advocacy 9 2008 Consumer Federation of California - Positions 93% 2007-2008 California National Federation of Independent Business - Positions 13% 2007 California Chamber of Commerce - Positions on Pro-Business Policy 7 2007 California Manufacturers and Technology Association - Positions on Manufacturers Advocacy 0 2007 Consumer Federation of California - Positions 100% 2006 California Chamber of Commerce - Positions on Pro-Business Policy 24% 2006 California Manufacturers and Technology Association - Positions on Manufacturers Advocacy 0 2006 California National Federation of Independent Business - Positions on Pro-Small Business Policy 15 2006 Consumer Federation of California - Positions on Consumer Advocacy 100 2005-2010 Consumer Federation of California - Cumulative Score 94% 2005-2009 Consumer Federation of California - Positions 95% 2005-2006 California Manufacturers and Technology Association - Positions 0% 2005 California Chamber of Commerce - Positions 17%

Campaign Finance and Elections

2008-2011 Global Exchange - Percent Loyalty to Finance, Insurance, Real Estate Lobby 0%

Civil Liberties and Civil Rights

2012 Open Doors USA - Positions 75% 2011-2012 American Civil Liberties Union - Positions 92% 2011-2012 Irregular Times/Progressive Patriots/That's My Congress - Liberal Action Score 67% 2011-2012 Irregular Times/Progressive Patriots/That's My Congress - Net Congressional Score 81% 2011-2012 Irregular Times/Progressive Patriots/That's My Congress - Conservative Action Score 6% 2011 American Civil Liberties Union - Positions (House Only) 100% 2010 California Communities United Institute - Overall Score 89% 2010 California Communities United Institute - Women's Issues Score 93% 2010 California Communities United Institute - Minority Issues Score 88% 2010 California Communities United Institute - Positions on Economic Justice 90% 2010 California Communities United Institute - Positions on AIDS Policy 100% 2010 California Communities United Institute - Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Intersex Score 83% 2009 Applied Research Center - Overall Score 96% 2009 Applied Research Center - Green Equity Score 75% 2009 Applied Research Center - Legal Racism Score 0% 2009 Applied Research Center - Positions on Civil Rights 100% 2009 Applied Research Center - Positions on Criminal Justice 100% 2009 Applied Research Center - Housing and Economics Score 100% 2009 Applied Research Center - Health Equity Score 100% 2009 Applied Research Center - Leadership Score 10% 2009 Applied Research Center - Positions on Education Equity 100% 2008 Equality California - Positions 100% 2007 Applied Research Center - Positions on Racial Justice 95 2007 Asian Americans for Civil Rights and Equality - Positions on Civil Rights & Equality 100 2007 California Communities United Institute - Positions 99 2007 California Communities United Institute - LGBTI - LGBTI Rights Score 100 2007 Equality California - Positions on LGBT Rights 100 2007 Lambda Letters Project-Economic - Economic Policy Score 96 2007 Lambda Letters Project-People of Color - Minority Rights Policy Score 98 2007 Lambda Letters Project-Women's Issues - Women's Issues Score 100 2006 Applied Research Center - Positions on Racial Justice 100 2006 Asian Americans for Civil Rights and Equality - Positions on Civil Rights & Equality 100% 2006 California Communities United Institute - Positions on Underrepresented Group Issues 98 2006 California Communities United Institute - LGBTI - LGBTI Rights Score 92 2006 Lambda Letters Project-Economic - Economic Policy Score 100 2006 Lambda Letters Project-HIVAIDS - HIV/AIDS Policy Score 100 2006 Lambda Letters Project-People of Color - Minority Rights Policy Score 100 2006 Lambda Letters Project-Women's Issues - Women's Issues Score 98 2005-2006 Equality California - Positions on LGBT Rights 100 2005 Applied Research Center - Positions on Racial Justice 100 2005 Asian Americans for Civil Rights and Equality - Positions 100% 2005 California Communities United Institute - LGBTI - Positions 100% 2005 Equality California - Positions 100% 2005 Lambda Letters Project-HIVAIDS - Positions 100% 2005 Lambda Letters Project-People of Color - Positions 98% 2005 Lambda Letters Project-Women's Issues - Positions 100%

Conservative

2012 American Conservative Union - Ratings of Congress 0% 2012 American Conservative Union - Lifetime Score 0% 2011-2012 Heritage Action for America - Positions 15% 2011 American Conservative Union - Lifetime Score 0% 2011 American Conservative Union - Positions 0% 2011 Concerned Women for America - Positions 7% 2011 Eagle Forum - Positions 23% 2011 Heritage Action for America - Positions (House Only) 5% 2011 National Journal - Liberal Composite Score 91% 2011 National Journal - Liberal on Social Policy 80% 2011 National Journal - Conservative on Economic Policy Score 13% 2011 National Journal - Conservative on Social Policy Score 20% 2011 National Journal - Conservative on Foreign Policy Score 0% 2011 National Journal - Liberal on Economic Policy Score 87% 2011 National Journal - Liberal on Foreign Policy Score 88% 2011 National Journal - Conservative Composite Score 10% 2011 The Club for Growth - Positions 5% 2011 The John Birch Society - Positions (Summer-Fall) 10% 2011 The John Birch Society - Positions (Spring-Summer) 10% 2011 The New American - Positions on Conservative Issues 10% 2010 California Republican Assembly - Positions 0% 2009 California Republican Assembly - Positions 0% 2009 Capitol Weekly - Positions 91% 2008 California Republican Assembly - Positions 0% 2008 Capitol Weekly - Positions on Liberal Issues 100 2007 California Republican Assembly - Positions on Republican Principles 0 2006 California Republican Assembly - Positions on Republican Principles 0 2005 California Republican Assembly - Positions 0%

Education

2011 National Association for College Admission Counseling - Positions 100% 2011 National Education Association - Positions A

Environment

2011-2012 Irregular Times/Progressive Patriots/That's My Congress - Liberal Action Score 67% 2011-2012 Irregular Times/Progressive Patriots/That's My Congress - Net Congressional Score 81% 2011-2012 Irregular Times/Progressive Patriots/That's My Congress - Conservative Action Score 6% 2011 Clean Water Action California - Positions (Congressional) 100% 2011 Environment America - Positions 96% 2011 League of Conservation Voters - Lifetime Score 94% 2011 League of Conservation Voters - Positions 94% 2011 Sierra Club - Positions on Clean Water (House Only) 100% 2010 California League of Conservation Voters - Positions 100% 2010 California League of Conservation Voters - Lifetime Score 97% 2010 Sierra Club California - Positions 100% 2009-2010 Clean Water Action California - Positions 85% 2009 California League of Conservation Voters - Lifetime Score 96% 2009 California League of Conservation Voters - Positions 90% 2009 Environment California - Positions 77% 2009 Sierra Club California - Positions 60% 2008-2011 Global Exchange - Percent Loyalty to Finance, Insurance, Real Estate Lobby 0% 2008 California League of Conservation Voters - Positions on Environmental Conservation 95 2008 Sierra Club California - Positions 90% 2007 California League of Conservation Voters - Positions on Environmental Conservation 100 2007 Sierra Club California - Positions on Environmental Conservation 100 2006 California League of Conservation Voters - Positions 96% 2006 Environment California - Positions on Environmental Conservation 94 2006 Sierra Club California - Positions on Environmental Conservation 100 2005-2006 California Park and Recreation Society - Positions 100 2005 California League of Conservation Voters - Positions 100% 2005 Sierra Club California - Positions 100%

Foreign Affairs

2011 Citizens for Global Solutions - Global Issues Score 91% 2011 Friends Committee on National Legislation - Positions 83% 2011 National Journal - Liberal on Social Policy 80% 2011 National Journal - Liberal on Foreign Policy Score 88% 2011 National Journal - Conservative on Foreign Policy Score 0% 2011 National Journal - Liberal on Economic Policy Score 87% 2011 National Journal - Conservative on Social Policy Score 20% 2011 National Journal - Conservative on Economic Policy Score 13% 2011 Peace Action West - Positions 82% 2009 Resolve Uganda - Lifetime Score 75%

Government Operations

2011 Alliance for Retired Americans - Positions 100% 2009 California Public Interest Research Group - Positions 100% 2007 California Public Interest Research Group - Positions on Public Interest Advocacy 87 2006 California Public Interest Research Group - Positions on Public Interest Advocacy 100 2005 California Public Interest Research Group - Positions 100%

Guns

2012 Gun Owners of America - Ratings on Gun Rights - Elected to 113th Congress [12/2012] 0% 2012 National Rifle Association - Candidate Positions on Gun Rights 0% 2011 Gun Owners of America - Key Votes Alignment on Gun Rights - Federal Vote Scorecard - 112th Congress, First Session 25% 2010 National Rifle Association Political Victory Fund - Positions on Gun Rights F 2008 Gun Owners of California - Positions on Gun Rights 0% 2008 National Rifle Association Political Victory Fund - Lifetime Score F 2006 National Rifle Association Political Victory Fund - Lifetime Score F

Health and Health Care

2011 AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) Advocacy Association - Positions 67% 2011 American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists - Positions (House Only) 100% 2011 American Nurses Association - Positions 100% 2011 Association of University Centers on Disabilities - Positions 75% 2011 The Children's Health Fund - Positions (House Only) 100% 2008 United Nurses Associations of California / Union of Health Care Professionals - Positions 100%

Immigration

2009-2013 NumbersUSA [Americans for Better Immigration] - Positions - Reduce Illegal Jobs and Presence (Feb 11, 2013) 0% 2009-2013 NumbersUSA [Americans for Better Immigration] - Positions - Overall (Feb 11, 2013) 18% 2009-2013 NumbersUSA [Americans for Better Immigration] - Positions - Reduce Amnesty Enticements (Feb 11, 2013) 0% 2009-2013 NumbersUSA [Americans for Better Immigration] - Positions - Reduce Illegal Immigration at the Border (Feb 11, 2013) 66%

Labor Unions

2011-2012 United Food & Commercial Workers - Positions 100% 2011 American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) - Positions 100% 2011 Federally Employed Women - Positions 100% 2011 International Brotherhood of Boilermakers - Positions 71% 2009 California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO - Positions on Workplace Rights 89 2009 California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO - Lifetime Committee Votes Score 100 2009 California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO - Lifetime Score 94 2009 California School Employees Association - Positions 40% 2008 California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO - Positions 95% 2007 California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO - Positions on Workplace Rights 85 2006 California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO - Positions on Workplace Rights 100 2005 California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO - Positions 100% 2005 California School Employees Association - Positions 100%

Legislative Branch

2008-2011 Global Exchange - Percent Loyalty to Finance, Insurance, Real Estate Lobby 0%

Liberal

2011-2012 Irregular Times/Progressive Patriots/That's My Congress - Liberal Action Score 67% 2011-2012 Irregular Times/Progressive Patriots/That's My Congress - Conservative Action Score 6% 2011-2012 Irregular Times/Progressive Patriots/That's My Congress - Net Congressional Score 81% 2011 National Journal - Liberal on Economic Policy Score 87% 2011 National Journal - Conservative Composite Score 10% 2011 National Journal - Liberal Composite Score 91% 2011 National Journal - Conservative on Foreign Policy Score 0% 2011 National Journal - Liberal on Foreign Policy Score 88% 2011 National Journal - Liberal on Social Policy 80% 2011 National Journal - Conservative on Economic Policy Score 13% 2011 National Journal - Conservative on Social Policy Score 20% 2009 Capitol Weekly - Positions 91% 2008 Capitol Weekly - Positions on Liberal Issues 100

Marriage, Family, and Children

2011 The Children's Health Fund - Positions (House Only) 100% 2008 Children's Advocacy Institute - Positions 96% 2007-2008 Capitol Resource Institute - Positions 6% 2007 Children's Advocacy Institute - Positions on Child and Youth Issues 88 2006 Children's Advocacy Institute - Positions on Child and Youth Issues 92 2005 Children's Advocacy Institute - Positions on Child and Youth Issues 95

Military Personnel

2011 Fleet Reserve Association - Positions 100% 2011 Women's Action for New Directions (WAND) and-WILL - Positions (House Only) 85

Senior Citizens

2011 Alliance for Retired Americans - Positions 100% 2010 Congress of California Seniors - Positions 95% 2009 Congress of California Seniors - Positions 83% 2007 California Alliance for Retired Americans - Positions on Senior & Retirement Issues 100 2007 Congress of California Seniors - Positions on Senior & Retirement Issues 100 2006 California Alliance for Retired Americans - Positions on Senior & Retirement Issues 100 2006 Congress of California Seniors - Positions 100 2005 California Alliance for Retired Americans - Positions 100% 2005 Congress of California Seniors - Positions 100%

Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity

2010 Equality California - Positions 100% 2009 Equality California - Positions on LGBT Rights 100%

Social

2012 Catholic Advocate - Positions 0% 2012 Family Research Council - Positions 0% 2012 NETWORK, A National Catholic Social Justice Lobby - Positions 100% 2011 Family Research Council - Positions 10% 2011 Secular Coalition for America - Positions 57% 2008-2011 Global Exchange - Percent Loyalty to Finance, Insurance, Real Estate Lobby 0% 2007-2008 Friends Committee on Legislation of California - Positions 95% 2005 Jericho - Positions 100%

Technology and Communication

2012 TechCrunch/CrunchGov - Positions on Technology Industry 25%

Unemployed and Low-Income

2011 Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law - Positions 100%

Veterans

2011 Vietnam Veterans of America - Positions 100%

Women

2011 Federally Employed Women - Positions 100% 2009 California National Organization for Women - State Assembly Score 85% 2007 California National Organization for Women - Positions on Women's Rights 95 2006 California National Organization for Women - Positions on Women's Rights 100 2005 American Association of University Women of California - Positions 100% 2005 California National Organization for Women - Positions 100%

How to Interpret these Evaluations

Project 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 issues 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.

Most performance evaluations are displayed in a percentage format. However, some organizations present their ratings in the form of a letter grade or endorsement based on voting records, interviews, survey results and/or sources of campaign funding. For consistency and ease in understanding, Project Vote Smart converts all scores into a percentage when possible. Please visit the group's website or call 1-888-VOTESMART for more specific information.