Scores 90 Percent on CCAGW’s Congressional Ratings

Washington, D.C. – The Council for Citizens Against Government Waste (CCAGW) today honored Rep. Tim Walberg (R-Mich.) as a Taxpayer Hero for scoring 90 percent on its 2007 Congressional Ratings.  The average for the entire House was 30 percent, making Rep. Walberg’s achievement that much more impressive.  Since 1991, CCAGW has tracked roll call votes to separate the taxpayer advocates in Congress from those who favor wasteful programs and pork-barrel spending. 

“As one of only 62 representatives with a score of 80 percent or higher, Rep. Walberg deserves to be congratulated for his record of standing up for taxpayers against the Washington waste status quo,” CCAGW President Tom Schatz said.  “Rep. Walberg’s votes to keep spending low and the pork at bay prove that commitment to fiscal discipline is real.”

The 2007 Congressional Ratings cover the voting year 2007, the first session of the 110^th Congress.  CCAGW rated 100 key votes in the House.  Rep. Walberg supported several amendments offered by Reps. John Campbell (R-Calif.), Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), Scott Garrett (R-N.J.) and Jeb Hensarling (R-Texas) that, if successful, would have removed tens of millions dollars in pork-barrel projects from spending bills.  Other votes included the alternative minimum tax and amendments to cut spending across the board by 1 percent.

“Rep. Walberg puts the interests of taxpayers ahead of politics by consistently voting to cut wasteful spending, reduce the tax burden, and make government more accountable to taxpayers,” Schatz continued. 

“The 2007 Congressional Ratings show that many elected officials continue to demonstrate little regard for the harmful effect a large and cumbersome federal government has on taxpayers’ wallets.  Out-of-control spending reigned over Capitol Hill again last year with $17.2 billion in pork, but Rep. Walberg gives taxpayers hope for the future,” Schatz concluded.  

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.