Washington, D.C. – The Council for Citizens Against Government Waste (CCAGW) today released its 2007 Congressional Ratings.  Since 1991, CCAGW has examined roll-call votes to separate the taxpayer advocates in Congress from those who favor wasteful programs and pork-barrel spending. 

The 2007 Congressional Ratings cover the voting year 2007, or the first session of the 110^th Congress.  CCAGW rated 100 key votes in the House.  The entire House averaged 30 percent – a 1 point increase from 2006.  House Republicans averaged 60 percent, up 14 percentage points from their grade of 46 percent in 2006; House Democrats averaged 5 percent, down 4 percentage points from their 9 percent score in 2006.   House votes included 50 amendments relating to pork-barrel spending in the appropriations and authorizing bills, amendments to cut spending across the board by 1 percent and 0.5 percent, and the expansion of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).

There were three Taxpayer Super Heroes with a score of 100 percent: Reps.  Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), Jeb Hensarling (R-Texas), and F. James Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.).  Taxpayer Heroes are members who scored between 80 and 99 percent.  The total number of Heroes in the House increased from 39 in 2006 to 59 in 2007.  On the lower end of the scale, there were two House members, both Democrats, who received a score of zero in 2007.  In 2006, there were nine members with a zero rating.

CCAGW used 35 key votes in the Senate, including votes to secure a one-year adjustment for the alternative minimum tax (AMT), ethics and lobbying reform, and earmark-related amendments.  The entire Senate had an average rating of 36 percent – an 8 point decrease from 2006.  Senate Republicans averaged 67 percent; Senate Democrats averaged 5 percent.  There were no Taxpayer Super Heroes in the Senate for the second year in a row.  However, Sens. Richard Burr (R-N.C.), Jim DeMint (R-S.C.), and John Ensign (R-Nev.) came close with scores of 97 percent.  On the other end of the scale, 13 senators, all Democrats, had a zero rating.

“CCAGW’s 2007 Congressional Ratings reflect some positive trends.  For example, in the House in 2007, an average of 89 members voted for earmark-related amendments, compared to an average of 68 in 2006.  However, in spite of a growing recognition that earmarks are a problem, Congress still spends more than is necessary ” CCAGW President Tom Schatz said.  “Taxpayers would be wise to hang onto their wallets and demand that Congress refocus its priorities and cut wasteful spending.”

CCAGW’s website features the complete 2007 Congressional Ratings, including vote descriptions, scorecards for the House and Senate, 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.