The higher the score, the more conservative the legislator, according to his analysis.

"We were shocked," said Muth of results that showed Titus and other Democratic senators voted more conservatively than some Republicans.

Muth said some of the results showed more regional than ideological differences. Democratic senators' scores were affected by votes against bills sought by Northern Nevada Republicans that would have placed local tax increase questions before voters.

"It wasn't for philosophical reasons," Muth said. "It was regional. The south wasn't going to let the north try to raise taxes."

Titus seemed to welcome Muth's assessment of her voting record.

"It puts a hole in the thinking of people who say I'm pro-tax and too liberal for Nevada," she said. "All these rural counties were against taxes during the election campaign, then they went to their legislators and asked for tax increases. They wanted it both ways."

Muth noted how legislators voted on tax increases, government regulation and bills he considered government intrusion into business and personal matters.

Sen. Steven Horsford, D-Las Vegas, who replaced Titus as minority leader, received a 46 score, also better than Raggio. Sen. Randolph Townsend, R-Reno, and Sen. Dennis Nolan, R-Las Vegas, scored of 36.

Muth said Republicans have only themselves to blame if they received low scores.

Two Republican lawmakers did receive the overall highest scores in the Senate. Sens. Bob Beers and Barbara Cegavske, both R-Las Vegas, received scores of 68, making them the most conservative members.

In the Assembly, the top scores of 80 were earned by Republicans Bob Beers of Henderson, Ty Cobb of Reno and James Settelmeyer of Gardnerville.

Former Assembly Minority Leader Garn Mabey, R-Las Vegas, received a 60 score, equal to Heidi Gansert of Reno who replaced him as minority leader.

The differences between the two parties was more pronounced in the Assembly. Eighteen Democrats received the lowest scores of 20. They included David Parks and Morse Arberry, both of Las Vegas, and Sheila Leslie of Reno.

Assembly Speaker Barbara Buckley and Majority Leader John Oceguera, both D-Las Vegas, received scores of 24.

By contrast, the 40 score received by Assemblyman Pete Goicoechea, R-Eureka, was the lowest Republican score in the Assembly.

Muth is president of Citizen Outreach and the former executive director of the American Conservative Union and former national chairman of the Republican Liberty Caucus. He operates chuckmuth.com, a blog on which he comments on Nevada politics.

Contact Capital Bureau Chief Ed Vogel at evogel@reviewjournal.com or 775-687-3901.