Press Release

Congressman Mike Conaway today was recognized for his outstanding pro-taxpayer voting record last year. The 362,000-member National Taxpayers Union (NTU), a nonpartisan citizen group, has announced that Conaway is among only a few dozen 2009 “Taxpayers’ Friend Award” recipients out of the entire House of Representatives and Senate.

“Given today’s economic climate, fiscal discipline is more important now than ever,” NTU President Duane Parde said. “Fortunately, taxpayers have a staunch ally in Conaway, to whom National Taxpayers Union is proud to present a ‘Taxpayers’ Friend Award.’”

The award is given to Representatives and Senators who achieve an “A” grade in NTU’s annual Rating of Congress. The Rating, which is based on every roll call vote affecting fiscal policy, assigns a “Taxpayer Score” to each Member of Congress that indicates his or her support for reducing or controlling federal spending, taxes, debt, and regulation. For 2009, a total of 333 House and 227 Senate votes were selected.

“Conaway’s pro-taxpayer score of 93 percent was one of the best in the entire Congress,” Parde continued. “By voting time and again to reduce federal spending, taxes, and debt, Conaway has led by example in the fight to defend overburdened taxpayers across the country.”

Between 2008 and 2009, the average “Taxpayer Score” in the House rose slightly from 36 percent to 38 percent. The Senate’s average increased from 32 percent to 39 percent. In 2009, 55 lawmakers attained scores sufficient to win the “Taxpayers’ Friend Award” (earning at least 90 percent in the House or Senate). Meanwhile, 267 Senators and Representatives captured the title of “Big Spender” for posting “F” grades (scores of 15 percent or less in the House and 16 percent or less in the Senate).

Unlike those of other organizations, NTU’s annual Rating does not simplistically focus on only a handful of equally weighted “key votes.” For this reason, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have praised NTU’s Rating, including the late Sen. (and “Golden Fleece Award” creator) William Proxmire (D-WI).

“If every Member of Congress was as principled as Conaway, current and future generations of Americans could enjoy much lower taxes and a less wasteful government,” Parde concluded. “Hard-working families in the 11^th District of Texas and across the nation owe Mike Conaway a debt of gratitude for his effort on their behalf. Mike Conaway has truly earned the title ‘Taxpayers’ Friend.’

NTU is a nonpartisan, nonprofit citizen group founded in 1969 to work for lower taxes, smaller government, and economic freedom at all levels.

Note: The 2009 Rating and a searchable Rating database dating back to 1992 is available at www.ntu.org. For questions about the Rating, its history, or methodology, please contact NTU Vice President for Policy and Communications Pete Sepp or NTU Communications Manager Rachael Slobodien at (703) 683-5700.