Congress Dives to New Lows 

(Washington, D.C.) – The Council for Citizens Against Government Waste (CCAGW) today released its 2004 Congressional Ratings.  Since 1989, CCAGW has tracked roll call votes to separate the good stewards of taxpayer dollars from the politicians who support wasteful programs and pork-stuffed spending bills.  For the 108^th Congress, second session, both Republicans and Democrats were rated at their lowest levels ever.  The entire House had an average of 39 percent and the Senate averaged 40 percent.  The number of Taxpayer Heroes (a score of 80 percent or higher) dropped from 68 in the House in 2003 to 59 in 2004 and in the Senate from 11 to 10.

“In 2004, Congress wasted tax dollars like never before.  Very few members of Congress are working to ease the tax and regulatory burden of a cumbersome, bloated federal government,” CCAGW President Tom Schatz said.

CCAGW rated 40 key votes in the House and 16 key votes in the Senate.  Senate votes ranged from reducing the cost of the highway reauthorization bill by $62 billion to maintaining the moratorium on Internet taxation.  In the House, votes included a 1 percent across-the-board reduction on several appropriations bills and permanently eliminating the marriage tax.  Of special note are the House votes on budget reform. 

“The budget process is in shambles, devoid of accountability, transparency, and enforcement measures,” Schatz continued.  “A vote for the status quo is a clear sign of contentment with the spending explosion in Washington.” 

The average score for Republicans in the House was 63 percent and for House Democrats was 11 percent.  In the Senate, the average was 63 percent for Republicans and 16 percent for Democrats.  All categories are rated lower than the previous year.  

In 2004, two House members attained Superhero status (a score of 100 percent):  Reps. Tom Feeney (R-Fla.) and Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.).  There were no Superheroes in the Senate for the third year in a row.  For Senate Republicans, the high score went to Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) with 94 percent.  The lowest rated Republicans in the Senate were Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) and Lincoln Chafee (R-R.I.) at 31 percent.  In the House, the lowest rated Republicans were Reps. Rodney Alexander (R-La.), Ray LaHood (R-Ill.), and Billy Tauzin (R-La.) at 29 percent.  For House Democrats, the high score of 47 percent went to Rep. Gene Taylor (D-Miss.).  Twenty-four House Democrats, including Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), had a rating of zero.  For Senate Democrats, the highest score went to Sen. Zell Miller (D-Ga.) at 80 percent, while four senators had a rating of zero. 

“Until Congress sets priorities and restrains overall spending, members will continue to get failed ratings for protecting the interests of taxpayers,” Schatz concluded.

CCAGW’s web site features the complete 2004 Congressional Ratings:  Vote descriptions, vote tallies, highest and lowest rated, historical comparisons, and averages by chamber, party, and state delegation.  Visit www.ccagw.org.

The Council for Citizens Against Government Waste is the lobbying arm of Citizens Against Government Waste, the nation's largest nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement in government.