As it does every two years, NFIB Oregon has issued its voting record on the Legislature, grading lawmakers on their votes on key issues they see as helpful or harmful for small businesses. Nationally, the group is notably conservative in its leanings – between 1990 and 2022, it donated $725,551 to Democratic candidates and party committees versus $11,972,074 to Republican candidates and party committees.
So, with that backdrop in mind, here’s how the group rated our district’s statehouse electeds, both are Democrats: Rep. Dan Rayfield scored a 33% from NFIB Oregon, and Sen. Sara Gelser Blouin a 50%. Our district’s congressional representative, Val Hoyle is also a Democrat, and NFIB scored her at only 20% favorable.
NFIB rated both of Oregon’s U.S. Senators, Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, with zeros – both are Democrats.
What NFIB says about their ratings
The voting record released on Tuesday is for the 2023 and 2024 sessions of the Oregon State Legislature and measured lawmakers on their votes on seven issues of importance to NFIB members’ abilities to own, operate, and grow their small businesses. The typical NFIB member employs between one and nine people and reports gross sales of about $500,000 a year.
On this voting record, five state senators and 21 state representatives racked up perfect, 100% pro-small-business voting records. The lowest score for a senator was 33% and for a state representative, 14%. The voting record has brief descriptions of the seven bills and every lawmaker’s vote on them.
“Every elected official claims to be a friend of small business,” said Anthony Smith, state director for NFIB in Oregon, “but our voting record holds lawmakers accountable for the way they actually vote on small business issues. We notify them of designated Key Votes and track how each legislator votes. We make this information available so our members can see for themselves whether their state senators and representatives are honestly supporting Oregon’s small businesses – or if it’s all just talk.”
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