Adapted by VDC from a news story by By Elyse Apel, for The Center Square
(The Center Square) – All three of Vermont’s members of Congress received a failing grade on a new report, which examined how their voting records align with “biblical based positions.”
Released by the Christian Employers Alliance and the Institute for Legislative Analysis, both national conservative nonprofits, the “Biblical Business Index” found that Colorado ranked 29th nationally.
Sen. Bernie Sanders was the ‘top finisher’ at 469th place with a 1.49% approval rating. Rep. Becca Balint finished in 511th place with 0.5%. Sen. Peter Welch – a Catholic school grad, no less! – finished tied for 516th, dead last, with 0% approval. Even Rep. Ilhan Omar finished higher.
Taken together, Vermont’s Congressional delegation score is the lowest in the nation. Other states with .000 scorers had other members of Congress who scored higher, creating an overall higher ‘team score’.
Fred McGrath, president of the ILA, discussed the index’s findings with The Center Square.
“The CEA analyses cut through the meaningless campaign rhetoric of politicians and reveal where lawmakers actually stand on the issues utilizing their vote records,” he said. “The new level of transparency the Biblical Business Index provides is designed to help every American – regardless of their religious or political views.”
How does the index work?
To implement the index, the ILA partnered with policy experts and theologians to review every bill in the most recent session of Congress. It then scored every one of the 535 U.S. lawmakers on their alignment with biblical principles, looking specifically at wide-range of policy issues like abortion, gender identity, religious liberty, deregulation, and economic freedom.
Currently, Wyoming’s delegation is ranked first nationally with a 90.65% alignment, while Vermont’s delegation is ranked the worst with just 0.66% alignment.
The CEA plans to work with the ILA to expand the index to all state legislatures, encompassing all 7,400 lawmakers nationwide.
McGrath said CEA and ILA are hopeful the index will be helpful for voters.
“Oftentimes the moral and faith-aligned position on bills can be tricky for lawmakers and their staff to identify due to the extreme complexity of public policy,” he said. “That is why CEA launched the Biblical Business Index … to bring together both policy experts and theologians to help decipher the complex policies and identify the biblically aligned position.”
Redistricting
The index also plays a role in the national conversation surrounding redistricting, which states such as Texas and California have been on the forefront of.
“Each state sends to Washington representatives who reflect the beliefs of its people. That’s why these rankings provide one of the most accurate pictures of where America stands,” said CEA President Margaret Iuculano. “These results underscore why redistricting battles are so critical to the future of our nation.”
Elyse Apel is a reporter for The Center Square covering Colorado and Michigan. A graduate of Hillsdale College, Elyse’s writing has been published in a wide variety of national publications from the Washington Examiner to The American Spectator and The Daily Wire.