CCAGW Releases 2007 Congressional Ratings

WASHINGTON--(Business Wire)--
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 110th 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.

Council for Citizens Against Government Waste
Leslie K. Paige, 202-467-5334
or
Alexa Moutevelis, 202-467-5318

Copyright Business Wire 2008