Abortion Issues

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2007-2008  Based on a point system, with points assigned for actions in support of or in opposition to NARAL Pro-Choice Wisconsin's position, Senator Darling received a rating of 100.

2007-2008  Based on a point system, with points assigned for actions in support of or in opposition to Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin's position, Senator Darling received a rating of 50.

2007-2008  Based on a point system, with points assigned for actions in support of or in opposition to Wisconsin Right to Life's position, Senator Darling received a rating of 67.

2006  Based on a point system, with points assigned for actions in support of or in opposition to Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin's position, Senator Darling received a rating of 17.

2005-2006  Senator Darling supported the interests of the Wisconsin Right to Life 79 percent in 2005-2006.

2005  Based on a point system, with points assigned for actions in support of or in opposition to Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin's position, Senator Darling received a rating of 0.

2004  Senator Darling supported the interests of the NARAL Pro-Choice Wisconsin 40 percent in 2004.

2003-2004  Senator Darling supported the interests of the Wisconsin Right to Life 100 percent in 2003-2004.

2001-2002  Senator Darling supported the interests of the Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin 50 percent in 2001-2002. Points for significant non-voting actions were added to or subtracted from percentages calculated from voting records. Thus, the rating may be less than 0 or greater than 100.

2001-2002  Senator Darling supported the interests of the Wisconsin Right to Life 50 percent in 2001-2002.

1999-2000  Senator Darling supported the interests of the Wisconsin Right to Life 100 percent in 1999-2000.

1997-1998  Senator Darling supported the interests of the Wisconsin Right to Life 100 percent in 1997-1998.

Agriculture Issues

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2005-2006  On the votes used to calculate its ratings, the Wisconsin Farm Bureau attaches more value to those votes it considers more important and awards bonus points for additional legislative activity. For 2003-2004 the Wisconsin Farm Bureau gave Senator Darling a rating of 55.

2001-2004  On the votes used to calculate its ratings, the Wisconsin Farm Bureau attaches morevalue to those votes it considers more important and awards bonus points for additional legislative activity. For 2001-2004 the Wisconsin Farm Bureau gave Senator Darling a rating of 95.

1995-1996  On the votes used to calculate its ratings, the Wisconsin Farm Bureau attaches more value to those votes it considers more important and awards bonus points for additional legislative activity. For 1998, the Wisconsin Farm Bureau gave Senator Darling a rating of 80.

Animal Rights and Wildlife Issues

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2009-2010  On the votes used to calculate its ratings, the Wisconsin Voters for Companion Animals calculated recorded votes and gave bonus points for additional legislative activity for companion animal legislation. For the 2009-2010 legislative session Senator Darling earned a rating of 100.

Budget, Spending and Taxes

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2005-2006  Based on a point system, with points assigned for actions in support of or in opposition to Americans For Prosperity's position, Senator Darling received a rating of 100.

Business and Consumers

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2010  Senator Darling supported the interests of the Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce 75 percent in 2010.

2009  Senator Darling supported the interests of the Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce 100 percent in 2009.

2007-2008  In 2007-2008 Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce gave Senator Darling a rating of 100 percent.

2007-2008  Based on a point system, with points assigned for actions in support of or in opposition to The Wisconsin Prosperity Project's position, Senator Darling received a rating of 90.

2007-2008  Senator Darling supported the interests of the Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce 92 percent in 2007-2008.

2007-2008  Based on a point system, with points assigned for actions in support of or in opposition to Wisconsin National Federation of Independent Business's position, Senator Darling received a rating of 83.

2005-2006  Based on a point system, with points assigned for actions in support of or in opposition to Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce's position, Senator Darling received a rating of 100.

2005-2006  Senator Darling supported the interests of the The Wisconsin Prosperity Project 100 percent in 2005-2006.

2005-2006  Senator Darling supported the interests of the Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce 100 percent in 2005-2006.

2005-2006  Senator Darling supported the interests of the Wisconsin National Federation of Independent Business 91 percent in 2005-2006.

2003-2004  Senator Darling supported the interests of the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce 100 percent in 2003-2004.

2003-2004  Senator Darling supported the interests of the The Wisconsin Prosperity Project 100 percent in 2003-2004.

2003-2004  Senator Darling supported the interests of the Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce 100 percent in 2003-2004.

2003-2004  Senator Darling supported the interests of the Wisconsin National Federation of Independent Business 90 percent in 2003-2004.

2001-2002  Senator Darling supported the interests of the Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce 100 percent in 2001-2002.

2001-2002  Senator Darling supported the interests of the Wisconsin National Federation of Independent Business 80 percent in 2001-2002.

1999-2000  Senator Darling supported the interests of the Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce 87 percent in 1999-2000.

1999-2000  Senator Darling supported the interests of the Wisconsin National Federation of Independent Business 83 percent in 1999-2000.

1997-1998  Senator Darling supported the interests of the Wisconsin National Federation of Independent Business 88 percent in 1997-1998.

Civil Liberties and Civil Rights

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2006  Based on a point system, with points assigned for actions in support of or in opposition to ACLU of Wisconsin's position, Senator Darling received a rating of 0.

2004  Senator Darling supported the interests of the Fair Wisconsin 0 percent in 2004.

Education

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2005-2006  Senator Darling supported the interests of the Wisconsin Association of School Boards 17 percent in 2005-2006.

2003-2004  Senator Darling supported the interests of the Wisconsin Association of School Boards 50 percent in 2003-2004.

Environmental Issues

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2009-2010  Senator Darling supported the interests of the Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters 50 percent in 2009-2010.

2007-2008  Based on a point system, with points assigned for actions in support of or in opposition to Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters's position, Senator Darling received a rating of 85.

2005-2006  Based on a point system, with points assigned for actions in support of or in opposition to Sierra Club - John Muir Chapter's position, Senator Darling received a rating of 14.

2005-2006  Senator Darling supported the interests of the Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters 39 percent in 2005-2006.

2003-2004  Senator Darling supported the interests of the Clean Wisconsin Action Fund 8 percent in 2003-2004.

2003-2004  Senator Darling supported the interests of the Sierra Club - John Muir Chapter 8 percent in 2003-2004.

2003-2004  Senator Darling supported the interests of the Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters 11 percent in 2003-2004.

2001-2002  Senator Darling supported the interests of the Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters 50 percent in 2001-2002.

1999-2000  Senator Darling supported the interests of the Clean Wisconsin 69 percent in 1999-2000.

1997-1998  Senator Darling supported the interests of the Clean Wisconsin 56 percent in 1997-1998.

1995-1996  On the votes that Clean Wisconsin considered to be the most important in 1995-1996, Senator Darling voted their preferred position 20 percent of the time.

Family and Children Issues

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2007  Based on a point system, with points assigned for actions in support of or in opposition to Wisconsin Family Action's position, Senator Darling received a rating of 50.

Gun Issues

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2008  Based on lifetime voting records on gun issues and the results of a questionnaire sent to all Congressional candidates in 2008, the National Rifle Association Political Victory Fund assigned Senator Darling a grade of A (with grades ranging from a high of A+ to a low of F).

2004  Based on lifetime voting records on gun issues and the results of a questionnaire sent to all state legislative candidates in 2004, the National Rifle Association Political Victory Fund assigned Senator Darling a grade of A (with grades ranging from a high of A+ to a low of F).

2000  Based on lifetime voting records on gun issues and the results of a questionnaire sent to all state legislative candidates in 2000, the National Rifle Association Political Victory Fund assigned Senator Darling a grade of C- (with grades ranging from a high of A+ to a low of F).

Labor

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2007-2008  Based on a point system, with points assigned for actions in support of or in opposition to Wisconsin AFL-CIO's position, Senator Darling received a rating of 45.

2007-2008  Based on a point system, with points assigned for actions in support of or in opposition to Wisconsin Professional Police Association's position, Senator Darling received a rating of 70 percent.

2005-2006  Senator Darling supported the interests of the Wisconsin AFL-CIO 29 percent in 2005-2006.

2005-2006  Based on a point system, with points assigned for actions in support of or in opposition to Wisconsin Professional Police Association's position, Senator Darling received a rating of 8.

2003-2004  Senator Darling supported the interests of the Wisconsin AFL-CIO 20 percent in 2003-2004.

2001-2002  Senator Darling supported the interests of the Wisconsin AFL-CIO 27 percent in 2001-2002.

1999-2000  Senator Darling supported the interests of the Wisconsin AFL-CIO 29 percent in 1999-2000.

1997-1998  Senator Darling supported the interests of the Wisconsin AFL-CIO 29 percent in 1997-1998.

Social Issues

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2007-2008  Based on a point system, with points assigned for actions in support of or in opposition to League of Wisconsin Municipalities's position, Senator Darling received a rating of 0.

2003-2004  Senator Darling supported the interests of the League of Wisconsin Municipalities 100 percent in 2003-2004.

How to Interpret these Evaluations: (Back to top) Project Vote Smart collects performance evaluations from special interest groups who provide them, regardless of issue or bias. If you have any comments concerning performance evaluations or know of a group that provides ratings not included here, please contact us at ratings@vote-smart.org. Keep in mind that ratings done by special interest groups are biased. They 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, 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.