Senator Mark Begich's Special Interest Group Ratings

Biographical

Full Name: Mark Begich
Current Office: U.S. Senate - Jr, Democratic
First Elected: 11/04/2008
Last Elected: 11/04/2008
Next Election: 2014
Gender: Male
Family: Wife: Deborah; 1 Child: Jacob
Birth Date: 03/30/1962
Birth Place: Anchorage, AK
Home City: Anchorage, AK
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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 NARAL Pro-Choice America - Positions 100% 2011 National Right to Life Committee - Positions 0% 2010 NARAL Pro-Choice America - Positions 100% 2010 Planned Parenthood - Positions 100% 2009-2010 National Right to Life Committee - Positions 0% 2009 NARAL Pro-Choice America - Positions 100% 2009 National Right to Life Committee - Positions 0%

Agriculture and Food

2011 American Farm Bureau Federation - Positions 60% 2009-2010 American Farm Bureau Federation - Positions 50% 2009-2010 National Farmers Union - Positions 100%

Animals and Wildlife

2011 The Humane Society Legislative Fund - Positions 100% 2010-2011 Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund - Positions 100% 2009-2010 Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund - Positions 67% 2009-2010 The Humane Society Legislative Fund - Positions 22% 2009 Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund - Positions 50% 2009 The Humane Society Legislative Fund - Positions 17%

Budget, Spending and Taxes

2011 Alliance for Retired Americans - Positions 100% 2011 National Journal - Liberal on Foreign Policy Score 65% 2011 National Journal - Conservative on Foreign Policy Score 33% 2011 National Journal - Liberal on Social Policy 52% 2011 National Journal - Conservative on Economic Policy Score 38% 2011 National Journal - Conservative on Social Policy Score 48% 2011 National Journal - Liberal on Economic Policy Score 62% 2011 National Taxpayers Union - Positions on Tax and Spending 13% 2010 Citizens Against Government Waste - Positions 12% 2010 National Taxpayers Union - Positions on Tax and Spending 13% 2009 Alliance for Retired Americans - Lifetime Score 100% 2009 Alliance for Retired Americans - Positions 100% 2009 Citizens Against Government Waste - Positions 4% 2009 National Taxpayers Union - Positions 7%

Business and Consumers

2012 National Electrical Contractors Association - Positions 77% 2011-2012 Irregular Times/Progressive Patriots/That's My Congress - Liberal Action Score 56% 2011-2012 Irregular Times/Progressive Patriots/That's My Congress - Conservative Action Score 19% 2011-2012 Irregular Times/Progressive Patriots/That's My Congress - Net Congressional Score 69% 2011 National Federation of Independent Business - Positions 44% 2011 National Retail Federation - Positions 28% 2011 National Small Business Association - Positions 50% 2011 National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association - Positions 50% 2011 The National Lumber and Building Material Dealers Association - Positions 50% 2011 United States Chamber of Commerce - Positions 55% 2010 The National Lumber and Building Material Dealers Association - Positions 60% 2010 United States Chamber of Commerce - Positions 27% 2009-2010 American Council of Engineering Companies - Positions 83% 2009-2010 Associated General Contractors of America - Positions 30% 2009-2010 International Warehouse Logistics Association - Positions 28% 2009-2010 Irregular Times/Progressive Patriots/That's My Congress - Regressive Action Score 23 2009-2010 Irregular Times/Progressive Patriots/That's My Congress - Net Congressional Score 63% 2009-2010 Irregular Times/Progressive Patriots/That's My Congress - Progressive Action Score 48% 2009-2010 National Association of Manufacturers - Positions 15% 2009-2010 National Retail Federation - Positions 22% 2009-2010 National Small Business Association - Positions (Senate Only) 50% 2009-2010 National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association - Positions 60% 2009-2010 Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council - Positions 22% 2009 United States Chamber of Commerce - Positions 57%

Campaign Finance and Elections

2008-2011 Global Exchange - Percent Loyalty to Finance, Insurance, Real Estate Lobby 20%

Civil Liberties and Civil Rights

2012 Open Doors USA - Positions 50% 2011-2012 American Civil Liberties Union - Positions 75% 2011-2012 Irregular Times/Progressive Patriots/That's My Congress - Net Congressional Score 69% 2011-2012 Irregular Times/Progressive Patriots/That's My Congress - Liberal Action Score 56% 2011-2012 Irregular Times/Progressive Patriots/That's My Congress - Conservative Action Score 19% 2009-2010 American Civil Liberties Union - Positions 93% 2009-2010 Arab American Institute - Positions 38% 2009-2010 Human Rights Campaign - Positions 88% 2009-2010 Irregular Times/Progressive Patriots/That's My Congress - Regressive Action Score 23 2009-2010 Irregular Times/Progressive Patriots/That's My Congress - Net Congressional Score 63% 2009-2010 Irregular Times/Progressive Patriots/That's My Congress - Progressive Action Score 48% 2009-2010 Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights - Positions 100% 2009-2010 National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) - Positions 95% 2009 American Library Association - Positions 33% 2009 Irregular Times/Progressive Patriots/That's My Congress - Regressive Action Score 22% 2009 Irregular Times/Progressive Patriots/That's My Congress - Progressive Action Score 44% 2009 National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) - Positions 90%

Conservative

2012 American Conservative Union - Lifetime Score 5% 2012 American Conservative Union - Ratings of Congress 4% 2011-2012 Heritage Action for America - Positions 6% 2011 American Conservative Union - Positions 0% 2011 American Conservative Union - Lifetime Score 5% 2011 Concerned Women for America - Positions 8% 2011 Eagle Forum - Positions 20% 2011 National Journal - Liberal on Social Policy 52% 2011 National Journal - Liberal on Foreign Policy Score 65% 2011 National Journal - Liberal Composite Score 68% 2011 National Journal - Conservative Composite Score 32% 2011 National Journal - Conservative on Foreign Policy Score 33% 2011 National Journal - Liberal on Economic Policy Score 62% 2011 National Journal - Conservative on Social Policy Score 48% 2011 National Journal - Conservative on Economic Policy Score 38% 2011 The Club for Growth - Positions 11% 2011 The John Birch Society - Positions (Spring-Summer) 70% 2011 The John Birch Society - Positions (Summer-Fall) 20% 2011 The New American - Positions on Conservative Issues 20% 2010 American Conservative Union - Lifetime Score 8% 2010 American Conservative Union - Positions 4% 2010 Eagle Forum - Positions 0% 2010 National Journal - Liberal on Economic Policy Score 56% 2010 National Journal - Conservative on Foreign Policy Score 0% 2010 National Journal - Conservative Composite Score 35% 2010 National Journal - Liberal on Social Policy 63% 2010 National Journal - Liberal on Foreign Policy Score 47% 2010 National Journal - Conservative on Economic Policy Score 43% 2010 National Journal - Liberal Composite Score 65% 2010 National Journal - Conservative on Social Policy Score 35% 2010 The Club for Growth - Positions 3% 2010 The John Birch Society - Positions (May 2010 - September 2010) 0% 2009-2010 Americans for Prosperity - Positions 12% 2009-2010 Campaign for Working Families - Positions 0% 2009-2010 Christian Coalition of America - Positions 0% 2009-2010 Concerned Women for America - Positions 6% 2009-2010 The John Birch Society - Positions (Full Session) 8% 2009-2010 The John Birch Society - Positions (November 2009 - June 2010) 10% 2009 American Conservative Union - Lifetime Score 12% 2009 American Conservative Union - Positions 12% 2009 Campaign for Working Families - Positions 0% 2009 Eagle Forum - Positions 7% 2009 Heritage Alliance - Positions 15% 2009 National Journal - Composite Conservative Score 34% 2009 National Journal - Conservative on Social Policy Score 41% 2009 National Journal - Conservative on Foreign Policy Score 0% 2009 National Journal - Conservative on Economic Policy Score 37% 2009 National Journal - Composite Liberal Score 66% 2009 Republican Liberty Caucus - Economic Liberties Score 22% 2009 Republican Liberty Caucus - Positions on Personal Liberties 50% 2009 The Club for Growth - Positions 6% 2009 The John Birch Society - Positions (January 2009 - June 2009) 11% 2009 The John Birch Society - Positions (Full Year) 11% 2009 The John Birch Society - Positions (June 2009 - November 2009) 10%

Education

2011 National Association for College Admission Counseling - Positions 100% 2011 National Education Association - Positions A 2010 Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) - Positions 100% 2009-2010 National Association for College Admission Counseling - Positions 100% 2009-2010 National Education Association - Positions A 2009 National Education Association - Positions on Public Education Teaching Profession Issues A

Employment and Affirmative Action

2009 Women Employed - Positions 100%

Environment

2011-2012 Irregular Times/Progressive Patriots/That's My Congress - Net Congressional Score 69% 2011-2012 Irregular Times/Progressive Patriots/That's My Congress - Conservative Action Score 19% 2011-2012 Irregular Times/Progressive Patriots/That's My Congress - Liberal Action Score 56% 2011 Environment America - Positions 81% 2011 League of Conservation Voters - Positions 91% 2011 League of Conservation Voters - Lifetime Score 83% 2010 League of Conservation Voters - Positions 71% 2010 League of Conservation Voters - Lifetime Score 78% 2009-2010 Irregular Times/Progressive Patriots/That's My Congress - Net Congressional Score 63% 2009-2010 Irregular Times/Progressive Patriots/That's My Congress - Regressive Action Score 23 2009-2010 Irregular Times/Progressive Patriots/That's My Congress - Progressive Action Score 48% 2009-2010 League of Conservation Voters - Positions 78% 2009 Environment America - Positions 75% 2009 League of Conservation Voters - Positions 82% 2008-2011 Global Exchange - Percent Loyalty to Finance, Insurance, Real Estate Lobby 20%

Federal, State and Local Relations

2009 The National Lumber and Building Material Dealers Association - Positions 50%

Foreign Affairs

2011 Citizens for Global Solutions - Global Issues Score 64% 2011 Friends Committee on National Legislation - Positions 60% 2011 National Journal - Conservative on Economic Policy Score 38% 2011 National Journal - Liberal on Foreign Policy Score 65% 2011 National Journal - Conservative on Foreign Policy Score 33% 2011 National Journal - Liberal on Economic Policy Score 62% 2011 National Journal - Conservative on Social Policy Score 48% 2011 National Journal - Liberal on Social Policy 52% 2011 Peace Action West - Positions 42% 2010 American Security Council Foundation - Positions 10% 2010 Peace Action - Positions 73% 2010 Peace Action West - Positions 73% 2009-2010 ACT! for America - Positions 50% 2009-2010 Council for a Livable World - Positions 100% 2009-2010 Washington Report on Middle East Affairs (WRMEA) - Positions 38% 2009 American Security Council Foundation - Positions 30% 2009 Friends Committee on National Legislation - Positions 50% 2009 Latin America Working Group - Positions 50% 2009 Peace Action West - Positions 67% 2009 Resolve Uganda - Lifetime Score 50%

Government Operations

2011 Alliance for Retired Americans - Positions 100% 2010 Citizens Against Government Waste - Positions 12% 2009 Alliance for Retired Americans - Lifetime Score 100% 2009 Alliance for Retired Americans - Positions 100% 2009 Citizens Against Government Waste - Positions 4%

Guns

2012 Gun Owners of America - Key Votes Alignment on Gun Rights - Federal Vote Scorecard - 112th Congress 2nd Session 0% 2012 Gun Owners of America - Ratings on Gun Rights - Elected to 113th Congress [12/2012] 33% 2011 Gun Owners of America - Key Votes Alignment on Gun Rights - Federal Vote Scorecard - 112th Congress, First Session 0% 2010 Gun Owners of America - Congressional Ratings on Gun Rights [04/2010] 36% 1991-2009 Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence - Lifetime Score (U.S. Senate) 0%

Health and Health Care

2011 AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) Advocacy Association - Positions 33% 2011 American Nurses Association - Positions 100% 2011 Association of University Centers on Disabilities - Positions 100% 2010 American Public Health Association - Positions 80% 2009-2010 Alzheimer's Impact Movement - Positions 67% 2009-2010 American Hospital Association - Positions 33% 2009-2010 National Breast Cancer Coalition - Positions 100% 2009-2010 Saint Joseph Health System - Positions 100% 2009 American Nurses Association - Positions 0% 2009 American Public Health Association - Positions 100% 2009 American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology - Positions 100% 2009 Association of University Centers on Disabilities - Positions 42% 2009 The Children's Health Fund - Positions 100%

Immigration

2009-2013 NumbersUSA [Americans for Better Immigration] - Positions - Overall (Feb 11, 2013) 1% 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 - Reduce Illegal Immigration Rewards (Feb 11, 2013) 0% 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) 5% 2009-2010 American Immigration Lawyers Association - U.S. Senate Score 80% 2009-2010 Federation for American Immigration Reform - Positions 7% 2007-2010 National Latino Congreso/William C. Velásquez Institute - Positions 100%

Labor Unions

2011-2012 United Food & Commercial Workers - Positions 0% 2011 American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) - Positions 89% 2011 Federally Employed Women - Positions 100% 2011 International Brotherhood of Boilermakers - Positions 100% 2010 American Federation of Government Employees - Positions 93% 2010 American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) - Positions 100% 2010 American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees (AFSCME) - Positions 100% 2010 Federally Employed Women - Positions 80% 2010 International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers - Positions 100% 2009-2010 Communications Workers of America - Positions 100% 2009-2010 International Brotherhood of Teamsters - Positions 100% 2009-2010 International Foodservice Distributors Association - Positions 0% 2009-2010 Service Employees International Union (SEIU) - Positions 90% 2009 American Federation of Government Employees - Positions 100% 2009 American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) - Lifetime Score 100% 2009 American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) - Positions 100% 2009 American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees (AFSCME) - Positions 100% 2009 Federally Employed Women - Positions 60% 2009 International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers - Positions 100% 2009 International Brotherhood of Boilermakers - Positions 100% 2009 Service Employees International Union (SEIU) - Positions 100% 2009 Women Employed - Positions 100%

Legislative Branch

2008-2011 Global Exchange - Percent Loyalty to Finance, Insurance, Real Estate Lobby 20%

Liberal

2011-2012 Irregular Times/Progressive Patriots/That's My Congress - Liberal Action Score 56% 2011-2012 Irregular Times/Progressive Patriots/That's My Congress - Conservative Action Score 19% 2011-2012 Irregular Times/Progressive Patriots/That's My Congress - Net Congressional Score 69% 2011 National Journal - Liberal on Social Policy 52% 2011 National Journal - Conservative on Social Policy Score 48% 2011 National Journal - Liberal on Economic Policy Score 62% 2011 National Journal - Liberal Composite Score 68% 2011 National Journal - Conservative on Foreign Policy Score 33% 2011 National Journal - Liberal on Foreign Policy Score 65% 2011 National Journal - Conservative on Economic Policy Score 38% 2011 National Journal - Conservative Composite Score 32% 2010 Americans for Democratic Action - Positions 85% 2010 National Journal - Conservative Composite Score 35% 2010 National Journal - Liberal on Economic Policy Score 56% 2010 National Journal - Liberal on Social Policy 63% 2010 National Journal - Liberal on Foreign Policy Score 47% 2010 National Journal - Liberal Composite Score 65% 2010 National Journal - Conservative on Economic Policy Score 43% 2010 National Journal - Conservative on Social Policy Score 35% 2010 National Journal - Conservative on Foreign Policy Score 0% 2009-2010 Irregular Times/Progressive Patriots/That's My Congress - Progressive Action Score 48% 2009-2010 Irregular Times/Progressive Patriots/That's My Congress - Regressive Action Score 23 2009-2010 Irregular Times/Progressive Patriots/That's My Congress - Net Congressional Score 63% 2009 Americans for Democratic Action - Positions 100% 2009 Irregular Times/Progressive Patriots/That's My Congress - Regressive Action Score 22% 2009 Irregular Times/Progressive Patriots/That's My Congress - Progressive Action Score 44% 2009 National Journal - Liberal on Economic Policy Score 61% 2009 National Journal - Composite Liberal Score 66% 2009 National Journal - Liberal on Social Policy Score 57% 2009 National Journal - Composite Conservative Score 34% 2009 National Journal - Liberal on Foreign Policy Score 55%

Marriage, Family, and Children

2010 Vote Kids - Positions 92% 2009-2010 American Family Association - Positions 0% 2009-2010 Children's Defense Fund - Positions 89% 2009 The Children's Health Fund - Positions 100% 2009 Vote Kids - Positions 92%

Military Personnel

2011 Fleet Reserve Association - Positions 100% 2009 Fleet Reserve Association - Positions 100% 2009 Military Officers Association of America - Positions 100%

National Security

2010 American Security Council Foundation - Positions 10% 2009 American Security Council Foundation - Positions 30% 2001-2010 Keep America Safe - Positions 29%

Senior Citizens

2011 Alliance for Retired Americans - Positions 100% 2009-2010 Alzheimer's Impact Movement - Positions 67% 2009 Alliance for Retired Americans - Positions 100% 2009 Alliance for Retired Americans - Lifetime Score 100%

Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity

2009-2010 Human Rights Campaign - Positions 88%

Social

2012 Catholic Advocate - Positions 0% 2012 Family Research Council - Positions 0% 2012 NETWORK, A National Catholic Social Justice Lobby - Positions 83% 2011 Family Research Council - Positions 0% 2010 Liberty Central - Positions on Conservative Issues F 2009-2010 ACT! for America - Positions 50% 2009-2010 Family Research Council - Positions 0% 2009-2010 NETWORK, A National Catholic Social Justice Lobby - Positions 100% 2009-2010 Secular Coalition for America - U.S. Senate Score 92% 2009 National Association of Social Workers - Positions 100% 2009 NETWORK, A National Catholic Social Justice Lobby - Positions 90% 2009 Population Connection - Committee Votes Score 100% 2008-2011 Global Exchange - Percent Loyalty to Finance, Insurance, Real Estate Lobby 20% 2007-2010 National Latino Congreso/William C. Velásquez Institute - Positions 100%

Trade

2009-2010 International Foodservice Distributors Association - Positions 0% 2009-2010 USA Engage - Positions 50%

Unemployed and Low-Income

2011 Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law - Positions 100% 2010 Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law - Positions 86% 2009 Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law - Positions 93

Veterans

2011 Vietnam Veterans of America - Positions 100% 2010 Disabled American Veterans - U.S. Senate Score 100%

Women

2011 Federally Employed Women - Positions 100% 2010 Federally Employed Women - Positions 80% 2009 Federally Employed Women - Positions 60% 2009 Women Employed - Positions 100%

Foreign Affairs

2010 American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association - Positions 38%

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.