Results of the 2019 Fiscal Responsibility Index, released this week, show Texas lawmakers representing Collin County performed somewhat better than their peers, in what most conservative activists have deemed a disappointing legislative session.

The entirely Republican delegation earned scores that were above the average of their colleagues—Senate Republicans’ average rating was 72 percent, while House Republicans earned an average 60 percent—but the grades were lower than what conservative Collin County voters have come to expect based on lawmakers’ records in previous sessions.

Texans for Fiscal Responsibility’s Index is a tool for taxpayers to measure legislators’ commitment to fiscal responsibility and limited government, using exemplar votes on core budget and free enterprise issues.

This year’s Index was more exhaustive than ever, including 170 votes in the House and 149 votes in the Senate. Every issue and vote included on the Index, as well as the grading methodology, was publicly noted in advance of votes taken on the floor.

Here’s how Collin County lawmakers performed:

State Sen. Angela Paxton (R–McKinney) – Senate District 8
2019 Rating: 75

State Rep. Justin Holland (R–Heath) – House District 33
2019 Rating: 70
2017 Rating: 62
Career Rating: F (2 Terms)

State Rep. Matt Shaheen (R–Plano) – House District 66
2019 Rating: 85
2017 Rating: 100
Career Rating: A (3 Terms)

State Rep. Jeff Leach (R–Plano) – House District 67
2019 Rating: 63
2017 Rating: 95
Career Rating: B (4 Terms)

State Rep. Scott Sanford (R–McKinney) – House District 70
2019 Rating: 63
2017 Rating: 89
Career Rating: B (4 Terms)

State Rep. Candy Noble (R–Lucas) – House District 89
2019 Rating: 69

Erin Anderson

Erin Anderson is a Senior Journalist for Texas Scorecard, reporting on state and local issues, events, and government actions that impact people in communities throughout Texas and the DFW Metroplex. A native Texan, Erin grew up in the Houston area and now lives in Collin County.

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