Ranked by the American Conservative Union

The American Conservative Union (ACU) just released its annual ratings of Congress. The ACU rating is widely regarded as the “gold standard,” the definitive conservative assessment of the federal legislative branch. Below are the 10 most conservative active senators, based on their 2006 (109th Congress, 2nd Session) ratings. The entire ratings report is available at www.acuratings.org.

10. Elizabeth Dole (R.-N.C.)
2006 ACU rating: 96%
Lifetime ACU rating: 91%
Years of Service: 4

9. Michael Enzi (R.-Wyo.)
2006 ACU rating: 96%
Lifetime ACU rating: 91%
Years of Service: 10

8. John Cornyn (R.-Tex.)
2006 ACU rating: 96%
Lifetime ACU rating: 94%
Years of Service: 4

7. Saxby Chambliss (R.-Ga.)
2006 ACU rating: 96%
Lifetime ACU rating: 94%
Years of Service: 12

6. Jim Bunning (R.-Ky.)
2006 ACU rating: 96%
Lifetime ACU rating: 95%
Years of Service: 20

5. John Thune (R.-S.D.)
2006 ACU rating: 100%
Lifetime ACU rating: 87%
Years of Service: 8

4. John Ensign (R.-Nev.)
2006 ACU rating: 100%
Lifetime ACU rating: 94%
Years of Service: 12

3. Tom Coburn (R.-Okla.)
2006 ACU rating: 100%
Lifetime ACU rating: 98%
Years of Service: 8

2. Jim DeMint (R.-S.C.)
2006 ACU rating: 100%
ACU rating: 98%
Years of Service: 8

1. James Inhofe (R.-Okla.)
2006 ACU rating: 100%
Lifetime ACU rating: 98%
Years of Service: 20