Fred Upton's Ratings in 2012

Most major conservative groups have come out with their 2012 ratings of Congress.

American Conservative Union 76% in 2012 (73% life), third from the bottom of Michigan Republicans.
Heritage Action 49% in 2011-12 (last among Michigan Republicans)
Club for Growth 52% in 2012 (54% life) next to last among Michigan Republicans.

The votes scored by ACU where Upton voted the wrong way were

4. Wasteful Spending. H.R. 5326 (Roll Call 207) The House defeated the Pompeo amendment to the Commerce, Justice, State Appropriations bill that would eliminate the Economic Development Administration. ACU has long opposed this agency that uses taxpayer money to pick winners and losers among local projects across the country and sup-ported this amendment. The House defeated this amendment on May 8, 2012, by a vote of 129-279.

6. Wasteful Spending. H.R. 5326 (Roll Call 219) The House defeated the Austin Scott amendment to the Commerce, Justice, State Appropriations Bill that would have killed all funding for the Legal Services Corporation. ACU has long opposed this wasteful program used primarily to expand the welfare state and that a GAO study found to be rife with waste, fraud and abuse. ACU supported this amendment which was defeated on May 9, 2012, by a vote of 122-289.

12. Missile Defense. H.R. 4310 (Roll Call 269) The House defeated the Polis amendment to the Defense Authorization bill that would have cut $400 million from the missile defense program. ACU supports a strong missile defense system for the United States and opposed this amendment. The House defeated the amendment on May 17, 2012, by a vote of 165-252.

16. Science Funding. H.R. 5325 (Roll Call 309) The House defeated the Hultgren amendment to the Energy and Water Appropriations bill that would have reduced increases in funding for renewable energy projects and applied the funds to basic scientific research and deficit reduction. ACU opposes increased funding for industrial policy programs that short-change basic science and supported this amendment. The House defeated the amendment on June 1, 2012 by a vote of 130-256.

17. Davis-Bacon Wage Rate Requirements. H.R. 5325(Roll Call 338) The House defeated the King amendment to the Energy and Water Appropriations bill that would have barred the use of funds to enforce the Davis-Bacon Act. Tat act requires federal projects to pay workers the “prevailing” wage, usually union wage rates well above the local market rate. This requirement adds billions of dollars to the cost of federal projects. ACU opposes this federal mandate and supported this amendment. The House defeated the amendment on June 6, 2012, by a vote of 184-235.

20. Community Development Block Grants. H.R. 5972(Roll Call 434) The House defeated the McClintock amendment to the transportation and Housing and Urban Development Appropriations bill that would have eliminated funding for the $3.4 billion Community Development Block Grant program. This program, unauthorized since 1994, has been used primarily as a federal slush fund or pet projects of local politicians. HUD’s own Inspector General has found this program rife with waste, fraud and abuse. ACU has long opposed this type of wasteful spending and supported this amendment. The House defeated the amendment on June 27, 2013 by a vote of 80-342.