Venice State Reps Earn Passing Grades On Courage Score

VENICE, CA — In its second annual People's Report Card of California, a website that grades California's legislators on how they voted on progressive issues, the Courage Campaign gave Venice's state representatives passing grades.

The website, CourageScore.org, allows constituents to see their state representatives’ “Courage Score” on a scale of 0-100, along with a corresponding letter grade. State Senator Ben Allen received a score of 88, a B, on the report. Venice's other state representative, Assemblywoman Autumn Burke, did not fare as well. She received a score of 79 — a C.

"The Courage Score is a rating of each legislator’s willingness to stand up for their constituents against corporate benefactors and wealthy special interests that dominate California politics," the Courage Campaign said.

The organization tracks and rates elected officials' voting records on a variety of issues, from racial justice to health care, to the environment, to workers’ rights, to consumer protections and others.

Last year was one of the most progressive legislative sessions in the state's history, said Eddie Kurtz, executive director of the Courage Campaign.

“Since last year, we’ve seen California Democrats come together to support some of the most progressive policies ever seen in the United States," he said. "But with Trump and Republicans controlling Washington D.C., now more than ever we need our elected officials continue to deliver on their promises to voters and ensure California is the tip of the spear of the anti-Trump resistance.”

— Photos courtesy of California State Legislature