Abortion Issues

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2003  Senator Lightford supported the interests of the Illinois Planned Parenthood Council 100 percent in 2003.

2002  Senator Lightford supported the interests of the Illinois Federation for Right to Life 25 percent in 2002.

2001  Senator Lightford supported the interests of the Illinois Planned Parenthood Council 100 percent in 2001.

Agriculture Issues

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2005  Senator Lightford supported the interests of the Illinois Farm Bureau 69 percent in 2005.

Budget, Spending and Taxes

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2001-2002  Senator Lightford supported the interests of the National Taxpayers United of Illinois 0 percent in 2001-2002.

1999  Senator Lightford supported the interests of the National Taxpayers United of Illinois 0 percent in 1999.

Business and Consumers

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2007-2008  Senator Lightford supported the interests of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce 27 percent in 2007-2008.

2007-2008  Senator Lightford supported the interests of the Illinois National Federation of Independent Business 25 percent in 2007-2008.

2006  Senator Lightford supported the interests of the Illinois National Federation of Independent Business 20 percent in 2006.

2005-2006  Senator Lightford supported the interests of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce 36 percent in 2005-2006.

2004  Senator Lightford supported the interests of the Illinois Prosperity Project 66 percent in 2004.

2003-2004  Senator Lightford supported the interests of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce 0 percent in 2003-2004.

2003  Senator Lightford supported the interests of the Illinois Prosperity Project 12 percent in 2003.

2002  Senator Lightford supported the interests of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce 44 percent in 2002.

2001-2002  Senator Lightford supported the interests of the Illinois National Federation of Independent Business 43 percent in 2001-2002.

2001-2002  Senator Lightford supported the interests of the Illinois Prosperity Project 67 percent in 2001-2002.

1999-2000  Senator Lightford supported the interests of the Illinois National Federation of Independent Business 25 percent in 1999-2000.

Civil Liberties and Civil Rights

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2007-2008  Based on a point system, with points assigned for actions in support of or in opposition to Applied Research Center's position, Senator Lightford received a rating of 87.

2007  In 2007 Illinois Civil Justice League gave Senator Lightford a rating of 20.

2006  Based on a point system, with points assigned for actions in support of or in opposition to Applied Research Center's position, Senator Lightford received a rating of 95.

Conservative

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2007  Based on a point system, with points assigned for actions in support of or in opposition to United Republican Fund of Illinois's position, Senator Lightford received a rating of 10.

Environmental Issues

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2007  Based on a point system, with points assigned for actions in support of or in opposition to Illinois Environmental Council's position, Senator Lightford received a rating of 86.

2007  Based on a point system, with points assigned for actions in support of or in opposition to Illinois League of Conservation Voters's position, Senator Lightford received a rating of 100.

2005  Senator Lightford supported the interests of the Illinois Environmental Council 83 percent in 2005.

2004  Senator Lightford supported the interests of the Illinois Environmental Council 75 percent in 2004.

2003  Senator Lightford supported the interests of the Illinois Environmental Council 90 percent in 2003.

Government Reform

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2008  Based on a point system, with points assigned for actions in support of or in opposition to Independent Voters of Illinois's position, Senator Lightford received a rating of 69.

2005-2006  Senator Lightford supported the interests of the Independent Voters of Illinois 80 percent in 2005-2006.

2005  Senator Lightford supported the interests of the Illinois Public Interest Research Group 58 percent in 2005.

2003-2004  Senator Lightford supported the interests of the Illinois Public Interest Research Group 89 percent in 2003-2004.

2003-2004  Senator Lightford supported the interests of the Independent Voters of Illinois 87 percent in 2003-2004.

Gun Issues

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2006  Based on lifetime voting records on gun issues and the results of a questionnaire sent to all state legislative candidates in 2006, the National Rifle Association Political Victory Fund assigned Senator Lightford a grade of F (with grades ranging from a high of A+ to a low of F).

2002  Based on lifetime voting records on gun issues and the results of a questionnaire sent to all state legislative candidates in 2002, the National Rifle Association Political Victory Fund assigned Senator Lightford a grade of C (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 Lightford a grade of F (with grades ranging from a high of A+ to a low of F).

Housing and Property Issues

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2003-2006  Senator Lightford supported the interests of the Housing Action Illinois 94 percent in 2003-2006.

2003-2005  Senator Lightford supported the interests of the Housing Action Illinois 82 percent in 2003-2005.

2003-2004  Senator Lightford supported the interests of the Housing Action Illinois 88 percent in 2003-2004.

Labor

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2007  Based on a point system, with points assigned for actions in support of or in opposition to Illinois AFL-CIO's position, Senator Lightford received a rating of 100.

2005-2006  Based on a point system, with points assigned for actions in support of or in opposition to Tooling & Manufacturing Association's position, Senator Lightford received a rating of 35.

2005  Senator Lightford supported the interests of the Illinois AFL-CIO 86 percent in 2005.

2004  Senator Lightford supported the interests of the Illinois AFL-CIO 100 percent in 2004.

2003  Senator Lightford supported the interests of the Illinois AFL-CIO 98 percent in 2003.

2001  Senator Lightford supported the interests of the Illinois AFL-CIO 89 percent in 2001.

1999  Senator Lightford supported the interests of the Illinois AFL-CIO 94 percent in 1999.

Social Issues

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2008  In 2008 Citizen Action Illinois gave Senator Lightford a grade of 100.

2007  Based on a point system, with points assigned for actions in support of or in opposition to Citizen Action Illinois's position, Senator Lightford received a rating of 87.5.

2003  Senator Lightford supported the interests of the Citizen Action Illinois 92 percent in 2003.

2002  Senator Lightford supported the interests of the Illinois Family Institute 50 percent in 2002.

1999-2004  Senator Lightford supported the interests of the Illinois Churches in Action - ILLCAAAP 100 percent in 1999-2004.

1999-2000  Senator Lightford supported the interests of the Illinois Churches in Action - ILLCAAAP 0 percent in 1999-2000.

1998-1999  Senator Lightford supported the interests of the Illinois Churches in Action - ILLCAAAP 0 percent in 1998-1999.

Transportation Issues

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2005-2006  Based on a point system, with points assigned for actions in support of or in opposition to Automotive Parts and Service Association of Illinois's position, Senator Lightford received a rating of 15.

2003  Senator Lightford supported the interests of the Automotive Parts and Service Association of Illinois 10 percent in 2003.

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.