<http://www.ntu.org>
*For Immediate Release Apr 9, 2009* Taxpayer Group's Nonpartisan Scorecard Shows Highest-Ever Number of "Big Spenders" in Congress (Alexandria, Va.) -- Growing along with the nation's federal deficit is the number of Members of Congress receiving the lowest pro-taxpayer scores, according to the National Taxpayers Union's (NTU) 30th annual Rating of Congress. The scorecard, the only one to utilize every roll call vote affecting tax, spending, and regulatory issues, was based on 286 votes -- 182 in the House and 104 in the Senate -- in the second session of the 110th Congress (all of 2008). "As Democrats move further to the left and Republicans move increasingly toward a mushy center, taxpayers suffer," NTU President Duane Parde said. "Our 2008 Rating shows both a declining number of Representatives and Senators receiving high pro-taxpayer scores and a record number of lawmakers earning failing grades." *Major findings:* - In 2008, only 48 lawmakers attained scores sufficient for a significantly "curved" grade of "A" (at least 80 percent in the House and 76 percent in the Senate) and hence were eligible for the "Taxpayers' Friend Award" -- a drop from the 52 who earned top grades in 2007. - A record 267 Senators and Representatives captured the title of "Big Spender" for posting "F" grades (25 percent or less in the House and 15 percent or less in the Senate). - Between 2007 and 2008, the average "Taxpayer Score" in the House rose slightly from 35 percent to 36 percent, while the Senate's average dropped by five points, from 37 percent to 32 percent. *The Best: * - For the sixth consecutive year, Rep. Jeff Flake (R-AZ) was the top scorer in the House with a 98 percent rating -- tying Rep. Ron Paul's (R-TX) record of six first-place finishes from 1979 through 1984. - Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC) captured first place in the Senate for the third year in a row with a 96 percent rating. - Among state delegations, Nebraska Representatives turned in the highest average score (67 percent), while Oklahoma and Wyoming both topped out in the Senate at 80 percent. *The Worst: * - Rep. John Larson (D-CT) received the lowest score in the House with a 2 percent rating. - Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) was the biggest spender in the Senate, also with a 2 percent rating. - New Jersey posted the worst state average in the Senate with 2 percent. Rhode Island bottomed out in the House with a state average of 7 percent. For more, visit our NTU Rates Congress home page<http://ga1.org/ct/bdX8jbd1iXxh/rating_homepage> . Read the entire press release here<http://ga1.org/ct/61X8jbd1iXxi/rating_pr> . Search our online database <http://ga1.org/ct/b1X8jbd1iXxy/rating_database>(scores from 1992-2008 are available). See who won Taxpayer Friend awards in the House<http://ga1.org/ct/b7X8jbd1iXxn/friend_house>and Senate <http://ga1.org/ct/bpX8jbd1iXx8/friend_senate>. ------------------------------ Let your friends see how their Members of Congress scored. Forward this message to them today! Tell-a-friend!<http://ga1.org/join-forward.html?domain=ntu_action&r=j7X8jbdqB15c> If you received this message from a friend, you can sign up for NTU's Taxpayer Action Center <http://ga1.org/ntu_action/join.html?r=j7X8jbdqB15cE>. If you would like to unsubscribe from NTU's Taxpayer Action Center, or update your account settings, please click here<http://ga1.org/ntu_action/smp.tcl?nkey=xdbubsx417n6tx77&;>or respond to this email with "REMOVE" as the subject line. National Taxpayers Union 108 N. Alfred St. Alexandria, VA 22314 <http://www.convio.com> --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ Thanks for being part of "PoliticalForum" at Google Groups. For options & help see http://groups.google.com/group/PoliticalForum * Visit our other community at http://www.PoliticalForum.com/ * It's active and moderated. Register and vote in our polls. * Read the latest breaking news, and more. -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
