OGDEN -- A Utah-based conservative group, committed to promoting the principles of limited government and protecting individual rights, has given a Clearfield lawmaker high marks for his work during the 2012 legislative session.
Rep. Curt Oda, R-Clearfield, received a score of 96 percent from Utah GrassRoots, a group that has been grading lawmakers annually since 1992.
The score places Oda third overall in the Utah State Legislature, behind two Utah County Republican representatives who each received "rare" perfect 100 scores.
"It's absolutely good news. They have conservative values," Oda said.
Oda, who is being challenged by Republican Cheryl Phipps at Friday's Davis GOP Convention, said the score is not based on any single bill he sponsored during the session, but is based on his yes or no votes on a series of bills the conservative group found important.
The full report can be viewed at www.utahgrassroots.org.
Oda was one of a handful of lawmakers to receive a score of 90 percent or better, and is the only Top of Utah legislator to appear on this year's Top 10 list.
"His stands fit in well with what we believe is good government," Utah GrassRoots Chairman Don Guymon said.
"(Oda) has always generally been one of our top people," Guymon said of the lawmaker who, over the years of his service in the Legislature, has averaged 80 percent.
The "GrassRoots" group is committed to promoting limited government, the Constitution, a free market economy, family and separation of powers.
Oda, a fourth-term Republican lawmaker, represents the Utah 14th District.
Seven of the top 10 scores went to lawmakers in Utah County, with Rep. Ken Sumsion, R-American Fork, and Rep. Mike Morley, R-Spanish Fork, each receiving a score of 100 percent on this year's GrassRoots report, Guymon said.
The two lawmakers receiving a perfect score is rare, Guymon said.
Weber-Davis Republicans are conservative, Guymon said, but in Utah County elected leaders tend to be a little more conservative.
Gov. Gary R. Herbert received a score of 75 percent, the top score ever received by a governor since GrassRoots began issuing a report, Guymon said.
Since issuing the reports, Guymon said, their group has received a lot of positive feedback from the public, including those lawmakers being scored.
"I think, by and large, they pay attention to our report," Guymon said of lawmakers who on occasion have approached him reciting their score. "I think they care."
Some of the pieces of legislation lawmakers were graded on were House Bill 148 and a House Joint Resolution in which the state demanded the federal government return land under federal control back to the state.
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