Rhode Island’s congressional delegation earned top marks for its support for democracy reforms, according to the 2024 Democracy Scorecard released on Monday by Common Cause, a nonpartisan watchdog organization.
“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 President & CEO of Common Cause Virginia Kase Solomón. “The number of members of Congress with perfect scores increased 101% from 2020, with 58 members in 2020 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.”
Since 2016, Common Cause has tracked support and co-sponsorship of democracy related legislation. This year’s scorecard includes ten 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 Transparency Act, and more.
“The 2024 Democracy Scorecard empowers voters with information to hold their leaders in Washington accountable for a government that works for all,” said John Marion, executive director of Common Cause Rhode Island. “All four 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.”
Rhode Island is one of eight states with both U.S. Senators earning perfect scores. The other states include California, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Oregon, and Vermont.
Rhode Island is also one of three delegations scoring ten and above on the 2024 Scorecard.
Rhode Island Members of Congress with perfect scores:
– Senator Jack Reed: 10/10
– Senator Sheldon Whitehouse: 10/10
– Representative Gabe Amo: 13/13
– Representative Seth Magaziner: 13/13
The report found that 58 lawmakers in 2020 had perfect scores on legislation related to voting rights, Supreme Court ethics and other reforms. That number grew to 117 today, including all four members of Rhode Island’s congressional delegation.
“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 President & CEO of Common Cause Virginia Kase Solomón in a news release.
“The number of members of Congress with perfect scores increased 101% from 2020, with 58 members in 2020 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,” Solomón said.
Rhode Island was one of eight states with both U.S. senators earning perfect scores, the report found. Rhode Island is one of eight states with both U.S. Senators earning perfect scores. The other states include California, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Oregon, and Vermont.
To view the 2024 Democracy Scorecard, click here.
Generative artificial intelligence (AI) assisted a What’sUpNewp journalist with the reporting included in this story.
Thank you Ryan!
A perfect score!!
And I particularly liked,”…and break big money’s grip on our politics…”.
It’s a great country!!!
Best
Richie Rich