A majority of Republican legislators in Montana stand to the left-of-center based upon their voting records, according to an analysis called Taxpayer's Advisory Bulletin (TAB) compiled by the Montana Conservatives organization.

"As a result, state government continues to grow in size, cost and intervention in our lives" because "virtually every Democrat has a consistent far left, Big Government voting record," according to Roger Koopman and Scott Orr, former state legislators who head Montana Conservatives.

The survey shows once again that "not only do all Democrats vote for Big Government and the destruction of our individual rights, but so do the majority of elected Republicans," they said.

This is the fourth session of the Montana State Legislature which TAB has analyzed by a methodology that poses the question, "Does this legislation increase or decrease the presence of government in our lives?"

Within the survey, overall only 5 percent of Senate Democrats and six percent of House Democrats demonstrated a conservative leaning, while 45 percent of Senate Republicans and 47 percent of House Republicans were left-leaning.

As a result, all four sessions of the Montana State Legislature has had "a strong liberal to liberal-leaning bias, even when Republicans are in the majority," concluded the study. "The more liberal Republicans have the effect of shifting the balance of power well to the left of center," Koopman said.

The overall rating of the 2011 legislature was 32 percent conservative, 68 percent liberal, even while the GOP held a 96-54 majority. A total of 109 of the 150 legislators had voting records on the liberal side of the spectrum.

The survey examined 149 votes of the 2011 Montana Legislature, "covering all major issue areas from a conservative, constitutional, limited government perspective."

"Votes for larger, more powerful, more intrusive and more expensive government are interpreted as ‘liberal' or leftist positions. Votes for smaller government, lower taxes, fewer regulations and more individual and economic freedom are interpreted as ‘conservative' positions. Other traditional conservative positions include government transparency, competitive free markets, states rights, firearms freedom, civil/constitutional liberties and educational choice," Koopman and Orr said.

Jim Peterson, of Buffalo, emerged in the survey as the most liberal Republican senator in Montana, with a score of 16 percent. The higher the score the more conservative. Other leading "liberal" Republican senators were Taylor Brown, Huntley, 18; Llew Jones, Conrad, 23; Alan Olson, Roundup, 28; and Dave Lewis, Helena, 28.

Greg Hinckle, of Thompson Falls, emerged as the most conservative Republican senator with a score of 83. He was followed by Art Wittich, Bozeman, 79; Jon Sonju, Kalispell, 77; Ed Walker, Billings, 74; Joe Balyeat, Bozeman, 72; and Chas Vincent, Libby, 71. Jeff Essman, Billings, who recently withdrew his Montana gubernatorial candidacy, had a score of 47 percent.

The most conservative Democrat senators in Montana are Steve Gallus, Butte, 15; and Jonathan Windy Boy, Box Elder, 15. In the House, the most liberal Republican is Gary MacLaren, Victor, 8.

Other most liberal of Republicans in the House emerged as Liz Bangerter, Helena, 8; Duane Ankney, Colstrip, 10; Rob Cook, Conrad, 14; Lila Evans, Browning, 16; Max Yates, Butte, 17; Harry Klock, Harlowton, 17; and Jesse O'Hara, Great Falls, 17.

The most conservative of House Republicans is Krayton Kerns, Laurel, with a score of 99. Others who ranked among the most conservative of House Republicans are Dan Skattum, Livingston 92; Dan Kennedy, Billings, 90; Bob Wagner, Harrison, 90; James Knox, Billings, 84; Carey Smith, Billings, 83; and Jerry Bennett, Libby, 83.

The most conservative of Democrats in the House are Bob Mehlhoff, Great Falls, 9; and Carolyn Pease-Lopez, Billings, 9.

Former Rep. Roger Koopman, R-Bozeman, and Scott Orr, R-Libby, are the founders of the Montana Conservative Alliance.