Hard-charging conservative lawmakers and greater Republican ranks helped to boost pro-Taxpayer Scores for both the House and Senate, but even they had a hard time overcoming the tax-and-spend crowd in Washington, according to the 362,000-member National Taxpayers Union’s (NTU’s) 33rd annual Rating of Congress – the first complete analysis since Republicans took over the House in 2010.
The Taxpayer Score reflects a lawmaker’s commitment to reducing or controlling federal spending, taxes, debt, and regulation. The scorecard, the only one to utilize every roll call vote affecting fiscal policy, was based on 337 House and 234 Senate votes from 2011.
Average Taxpayer Scores did increase from last year: The House average rose from 42 percent to 50 percent, the first time it has managed to reach the halfway mark since 1996. The Senate’s average inched up from 45 percent to 46 percent.
Yet, perhaps most surprising after such great turnover in the 2010 elections, the Republican average Taxpayer Score fell by 10 points in both chambers. Democratic averages rose by 1 percentage point in the Senate and 5 points in the House.
See how NTU ranked your Congressman US Senators here.
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