For Immediate Release – October 31, 2008
Contact: Phil Kerpen or Ed Frank, (202) 349-5880

Congressional Performance on Taxpayer Issues Below Average

WASHINGTON – When it came to core free-market issues, the average U.S. lawmaker did not even vote with taxpayers half of the time on key votes, according to the grassroots free-market group Americans for Prosperity (AFP), which released its 110th Congress Scorecard today. The Scorecard is based on 18 roll call votes in the House and 17 roll call votes in the Senate that include votes against tax hikes, in favor of fiscal discipline, against undue regulation, and for free trade. The full scorecard is available online at www.AmericansforProsperity.org. CLICK HERE.

“Citizens who want to know whether their federal legislators ‘made the grade’ on taxpayer issues can consult our Key Vote Scorecard, which grades lawmakers on their efforts to restrain the growth of government,” said AFP President Tim Phillips. “Unfortunately, on average, lawmakers voted more often in favor of big-government special interests than with taxpayers’ interests. Our scorecard is a useful tool for citizens to see how their individual lawmakers stack up, and where there is need for improvement.”

AFP identified 18 key Senate votes and 17 key House votes that would have a significant positive or negative impact on the growth of government. Among those were votes on misguided proposals to eliminate the secret ballot in union organizing elections, expand the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, implement a cap-and-trade regulatory regime, and hike taxes on domestic oil producers. On the flip side, AFP also scored votes on proposals to implement earmark reform measures, permanently repeal the death tax, and preserve the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts.

Four Senators earned high enough scores – 90 percent or above – to receive an “A” grade and nine more received a perfect 100 percent score for a grade of “A+.” On the other end of the scale, 42 Senators received flunking grades, including 32 lawmakers who received an “F-” grade for voting against taxpayers on every key vote. In the U.S. House, 53 Representatives received perfect “A+” grades and 61 earned scores of 90 percent or above to qualify for an “A.” Flunking grades were awarded to 226 House lawmakers, including 178 “F-” grades for zero scores.

On average, House Republicans performed better than Senate Republicans, achieving average scores of 84 percent to 75.2 percent, respectively. Averages for Democratic lawmakers in both the House and the Senate were low enough to receive flunking grades – 2 percent and 5.8 percent, respectively. Independent Democrats Joe Lieberman (Conn.) and Bernie Sanders (Vt.) had an average score of 8.8 percent.

“We applaud those lawmakers who took a bold stand for free-market principles,” Phillips concluded. “These lawmakers are true citizen advocates that deserve our respect and thanks. With their help we will continue to defend the American free enterprise system against vicious big-government attacks.”

CLICK HERE.

Americans for Prosperity (AFP) is the nation’s premier grassroots organization committed to advancing every individual’s right to economic freedom and opportunity. AFP believes reducing the size and scope of government is the best safeguard to ensuring individual productivity and prosperity for all Americans. AFP educates and engages citizens in support of restraining state and federal government growth, and returning government to its constitutional limits. Americans for Prosperity does not endorse candidates for public office. For more information, visit www.americansforprosperity.org

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