Graves, Loudermilk net high marks from conservative group

The ACU rates members of Congress annually on votes taken during the session.

Northwest Georgia’s U.S. Rep. Tom Graves, R-Ranger, is among the federal lawmakers recognized by the American Conservative Union with an award for conservative excellence.

The ACU rates Congress annually on issues voted on during the session. Graves received a score of 96 percent, as did neighboring 11th District Rep. Barry Loudermilk, R-Cassville.

“As a conservative, I believe in individual liberty, free markets and limited government,” Graves said in a statement. “Working with the Trump administration and like-minded members of Congress, we’re enacting policies that hold true to these values, such as cutting taxes, slashing unnecessary regulations, protecting life and rebuilding our military.”

Graves missed getting 100 percent when he voted against an ACU-supported measure that would have abolished the Environmental Protection Agency’s criminal enforcement division. The proposed budget amendment failed, 178-227.

Loudermilk was downgraded for his opposition to a measure that would have allowed another round of military base realignments and closures. The measure failed, 175 to 248.

Still, ACU Chairman Matt Schlapp called them “strong defenders of conservative principles” helping to “rollback harmful regulations, create jobs, and protect the sanctity of life.”

Sen. David Perdue also was recognized with a score of 88 percent but Sen. Johnny Isakson did not make the 80-percent cutoff for an ACU award.

Georgia’s two Republican senators differed only on one roll call vote. Isakson’s score was downgraded to 77 percent for his opposition to an amendment to the tax reform bill. The proposal from Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky, would have increased the tax cut to $2.5 trillion from $1.5 trillion and failed 7 to 93.