4 Michigan lawmakers get an ‘A+’ on Common Cause democracy scorecard

U.S. Capitol | Susan J. Demas

More than half-dozen Michigan congressional Democrats received either a perfect or near-perfect score for supporting voting rights, while three Republican members were given zeroes.

That’s according to Common Cause, a nonpartisan government watchdog, which recently released its 2024 “Democracy Scorecard,” recording every member of Congress’ support for voting rights, Supreme Court ethics and other reforms. 

This year’s scorecard includes 10 legislative items in the U.S. Senate and 13 in U.S. House, including the Freedom to Vote Act, John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, the Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal and the Transparency Act, among others.

Four members of Congress from Michigan had perfect scores: U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D-Bloomfield Twp.) with a 10/10,  and U.S. Reps. Debbie Dingell (D-Detroit), Dan Kildee (D-Flint) and Rashida Tlaib (D-Detroit), who each scored 13/13. Meanwhile, U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Lansing) scored 9/10, while U.S. Reps. Hillary Scholten (D-Grand Rapids) and Shri Thanedar (D-Detroit) scored 12/13. U.S. Reps. Elissa Slotkin (D-Holly) and Haley Stevens (D-Livonia) both received an 11/13.

On the other end of the scale, three GOP congressional members scored perfect zeroes: Reps. Bill Huizenga (R-Zeeland), John Moolenaar (R-Caledonia), and Tim Walberg (R-Tipton), who all scored 0/13. U.S. Rep. Jack Bergman (R-Watersmeet) had a 1/13, U.S. Rep. Lisa McClain earned a 2/13 and U.S. Rep. John James (R-Shelby Twp.) received a 2/13.

 “Our 2024 Democracy Scorecard shows a surge of support in Congress for reforms that strengthen the right to vote, take back the Supreme Court, and break big money’s grip on our politics,” said Virginia Kase Solomón, president and CEO of Common Cause. “The number of Members of Congress with perfect scores increased 100% from 2020, with 58 members in our 2020 Scorecard to 117 today. As we see the wealthy and well-connected try and influence our politics and our very livelihoods, we must demand our leaders deliver on the people’s pro-democracy agenda.”   

Common Cause notes that the first year of the 118th Congress was the least-productive first year of any Congress for nearly 100 years, a trend that has continued. As of August 15, only 78 standalone bills have become law, representing 0.5% of the total number of bills introduced. By comparison, about two percent of bills became law in the 116th and 117th Congress, and about three percent of bills became law in the 114th and 115th Congress. 

“With such dysfunction, it is not surprising that 78 percent of Americans disapprove of Congress, while only 16 percent approve, according to a July 2024 Gallup poll,” said the organization.

Since 2016, Common Cause has tracked support and co-sponsorship of democracy related legislation, according to Quentin Turner, executive director of Common Cause Michigan. 

“Four of Michigan’s members of Congress earned a perfect score for their support for pro-democracy legislation. With this year’s pivotal election, we must drive these key reforms to the top of the agenda, so everyone is afforded an accountable government, no matter what state we call home,” said Turner.