Changes

title=Legislative Session: 82 (R) General Appropriations Bill|publisher=Texas Legislature Online|accessdate=March 21, 2014}}</ref>​

title=Legislative Session: 82 (R) General Appropriations Bill|publisher=Texas Legislature Online|accessdate=March 21, 2014}}</ref>​

Sheets in 2013 again supported passage of the biennial Texas budget.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legis.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=83R&Bill=SB1|title=Legislative Session: 83 (R) General Appropriations Bill|publisher=Texas Legislature Online|accessdate=March 21, 2014}}</ref> Having recovered from the downturn in the economy, Texas lawmakers were not faced with the same budget austerity issues in 2013 and were able to restore some of the funding cuts made in 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/05/27/us-usa-texas-budget-idUSBRE94Q01Q20130527|title=Texas budget|publisher=Reuters|accessdate=March 21, 2014}}</ref> In 2013, Sheets also supported passage of an amendment to the Texas Constitution to provide funding to develop water resources.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legis.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=83R&Bill=SJR1|title=Legislative Session: 83 (R) Proposing a constitutional amendment providing for the creation of the State Water Implementation Fund for Texas and the State Water Implementation Revenue Fund for Texas to assist in the financing of priority projects in the state water plan|publisher=Texas Legislature Online|accessdate=March 21, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://stateimpact.npr.org/texas/2013/05/22/lawmakers-approve-funding-for-texas-water-plan-setting-up-statewide-vote-in-november/|title=Lawmakers Approve Funding For Texas Water Plan, Setting Up Statewide Vote, May 22, 2013|publisher=National Public Radio|accessdate=March 21, 2014}}</ref>​

Sheets in 2013 again supported passage of the biennial Texas budget.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legis.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=83R&Bill=SB1|title=Legislative Session: 83 (R) General Appropriations Bill|publisher=Texas Legislature Online|accessdate=March 21, 2014}}</ref> Having recovered from the downturn in the economy, Texas lawmakers were not faced with the same budget austerity issues in 2013 and were able to restore some of the funding cuts made in 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/05/27/us-usa-texas-budget-idUSBRE94Q01Q20130527|title=Texas budget|publisher=Reuters|accessdate=March 21, 2014}}</ref> In 2013, Sheets also supported passage of an amendment to the Texas Constitution to provide funding to develop water resources.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legis.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=83R&Bill=SJR1|title=Legislative Session: 83 (R) Proposing a constitutional amendment providing for the creation of the State Water Implementation Fund for Texas and the State Water Implementation Revenue Fund for Texas to assist in the financing of priority projects in the state water plan|publisher=Texas Legislature Online|accessdate=March 21, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://stateimpact.npr.org/texas/2013/05/22/lawmakers-approve-funding-for-texas-water-plan-setting-up-statewide-vote-in-november/|title=Lawmakers Approve Funding For Texas Water Plan, Setting Up Statewide Vote, May 22, 2013|publisher=National Public Radio|accessdate=March 21, 2014}}</ref>​

Sheets in 2013 supported the ban on [[abortions]] after five months of [[gestation]]; the measure passed the House, 96-49. He also supported companion legislation to increase medical and licensing requirements of abortion providers.<ref name=votingrecords>{{cite web|url=https://votesmart.org/candidate/key-votes/117472/kenneth-sheets#.UyuVL8tOUfg|title=Kenneth Sheets' Voting Records|publisher=votesmart.org|accessdate=March 21, 2014}}</ref> These issues brought forth an unsuccessful [[filibuster]] in the [[Texas State Senate]] by [[Wendy Davis (politician)|Wendy R. Davis]] of [[Fort Worth, Texas|Fort Worth]], who in 2014 was the Democratic nominee for [[governor of Texas|governor]] against the successful Republican candidate, [[Greg Abbott], a former state attorney general.<ref>{{cite news|title=Filibuster in Texas Senate Tries to Halt Abortion Bill|author=M. Fernandez|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/26/us/politics/senate-democrats-in-texas-try-blocking-abortion-bill-with-filibuster.html|newspaper=''[[The New York Times]]''|date=June 25, 2013|accessdate=March 9, 2014}}</ref> In 2011, Sheets supported two other anti-abortion measures. One forbids state funding of agencies which perform abortions. The other requires that a woman undergo a  sonogram before procuring an abortion. This legislation is based on the view that a woman could change her mind about an abortion once she witnesses the development of the unborn child through the latest technology.<ref name=votingrecords/>​

Sheets in 2013 supported the ban on [[abortions]] after five months of [[gestation]]; the measure passed the House, 96-49. He also supported companion legislation to increase medical and licensing requirements of abortion providers.<ref name=votingrecords>{{cite web|url=https://votesmart.org/candidate/key-votes/117472/kenneth-sheets#.UyuVL8tOUfg|title=Kenneth Sheets' Voting Records|publisher=votesmart.org|accessdate=March 21, 2014}}</ref> These issues brought forth an unsuccessful [[filibuster]] in the [[Texas State Senate]] by [[Wendy Davis (politician)|Wendy R. Davis]] of [[Fort Worth, Texas|Fort Worth]], who in 2014 was the Democratic nominee for [[governor of Texas|governor]] against the successful Republican candidate, [[Greg Abbott], a former state attorney general.<ref>{{cite news|title=Filibuster in Texas Senate Tries to Halt Abortion Bill|author=M. Fernandez|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/26/us/politics/senate-democrats-in-texas-try-blocking-abortion-bill-with-filibuster.html|newspaper=''[[The New York Times]]''|date=June 25, 2013|accessdate=March 9, 2014}}</ref> In 2011, Sheets supported two other anti-abortion measures. One forbids state funding of agencies which perform abortions. The other requires that a woman undergo a  sonogram before procuring an abortion. This legislation is based on the view that a woman could change her mind about an abortion once she witnesses the development of the unborn child through the latest technology.<ref name=votingrecords/>​

Sheets sponsored but did not vote on final passage on the bill to prohibit the state government from engaging in the enforcement of federal regulations of firearms. He co-sponsored the measure to allow concealed handgun licensees to carry weapons on public college campuses. He voted to reduce the time required to obtain a concealed-carry permit.<ref name=votingrecords/>​

Sheets sponsored but did not vote on final passage on the bill to prohibit the state government from engaging in the enforcement of federal regulations of firearms. He co-sponsored the measure to allow concealed handgun licensees to carry weapons on public college campuses. He voted to reduce the time required to obtain a concealed-carry permit.<ref name=votingrecords/>​

 

===Interest group ratings===​

==Interest group ratings==

 

Though he was considered a [[conservative]] representative, Sheets' [[interest group]] ratings are somewhat inconsistent. [[Phyllis Schlafly]]'s [[Eagle Forum]], formerly managed in Texas by [[Cathie Adams]], a former interim  state chairman of the Texas Republican Party, rated Sheets 87 percent favorable in 2013 but only 36 percent in his first year in office in 2011. The[Young Conservatives of Texas gave him a cumulative score in 2013 of 70 percent. The Texas League of Conservation Voters rated him 79 percent in 2013; the [[Sierra Club]], 57 percent in 2011.<ref name=ratings/> The [[interest group]], Texans for Fiscal Responsibility, founded by Michael Quinn Sullivan, rated Sheets 68 percent in 2013 but 100 percent in 2011, when it named him an Empower Texans "Taxpayer Champion."<ref name=votesmart/>

Though he was considered a [[conservative]] representative, Sheets' [[interest group]] ratings are somewhat inconsistent. [[Phyllis Schlafly]]'s [[Eagle Forum]], formerly managed in Texas by [[Cathie Adams]], a former interim  state chairman of the Texas Republican Party, rated Sheets 87 percent favorable in 2013 but only 36 percent in his first year in office in 2011. The[Young Conservatives of Texas gave him a cumulative score in 2013 of 70 percent. The Texas League of Conservation Voters rated him 79 percent in 2013; the [[Sierra Club]], 57 percent in 2011.<ref name=ratings/> The [[interest group]], Texans for Fiscal Responsibility, founded by Michael Quinn Sullivan, rated Sheets 68 percent in 2013 but 100 percent in 2011, when it named him an Empower Texans "Taxpayer Champion."<ref name=votesmart/>