Taxpayer Watchdog Group Names Four Florida Reps "Taxpayer Heroes"

WASHINGTON--(Business Wire)--
The Council for Citizens Against Government Waste (CCAGW) today honored four
Members of Congress from Florida as Taxpayer Heroes in its 2008 Congressional
Ratings;Connie Mack IV with 91 percent, Jeff Miller with 94 percent, Cliff
Stearns with 92 percent, C.W. Bill Young with 81 percent. The average for the
entire House was 35 percent, which makes their achievements that much more
impressive. Since 1989, CCAGW has tracked roll call votes to separate the
taxpayer advocates in Congress from those who favor wasteful programs and
pork-barrel spending.

The 2008 Congressional Ratings cover the voting year 2008, the second session of
the 110th Congress. CCAGW rated 48 key votes in the House and 42 in the Senate.

"Reps. Mack, Miller, Stearns, and Young can always be counted upon to put the
interests of taxpayers ahead of politics. They consistently vote to cut wasteful
spending, reduce the tax burden, and make government more accountable to
taxpayers," said CCAGW President Tom Schatz. "The 2008 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, leading to a record
$1.6 trillion deficit in fiscal year 2009, and an $11.8 trillion national debt.
These members of Congress`s votes give taxpayers hope for the future and
taxpayers in their districts should count themselves lucky. We commend them,"
concluded Schatz. House Democrats scored an average of 6 percent; House
Republicans scored an average of 70 percent. In the Senate, the average for
Democrats was 4 percent, and Republicans averaged 72 percent.

CCAGW`s website, www.ccagw.org, features the complete 2008 Congressional
Ratings, including vote descriptions, scorecards for the House and Senate, and
averages by chamber, party, and state delegation. In 2007, there were three
House members with a perfect score. In 2008, there were 59 "Taxpayer Heroes"
with a grade of 80 percent or above, the same as in 2007. The big difference was
in the number of members with a perfectly abysmal score of zero. In 2007, there
were only two House members with a zero rating. In 2008, however, the number of
members with a score of zero skyrocketed to 34; a 1,600 percent increase and an
indication of growing partisanship as all of them are Democrats.

In 2006 and 2007, there were no "Taxpayer Super Heroes" (scoring 100 percent) in
the Senate, and, unfortunately, that did not change for 2008. There were,
however, a total of 14 "Taxpayer Heroes," one fewer than the 15 in 2007. The two
highest scores were achieved by Senators Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) and Jim DeMint
(R-S.C.) at 98 percent. There were 17 senators with a score of zero, compared to
13 in 2007.

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.

CCAGW
Leslie K. Paige, 202-467-5334

Copyright Business Wire 2009