Congressional Ratings and Awards

1. Ergonomics Rule. (Roll Call #33, 7 Mar.) The House passed a resolution disapproving President Clinton's 11th-hour workplace regulations. YES was a vote FOR taxpayers.

2. Marriage Tax Reduction. (Roll Call #75, 29 Mar.) The House passed a bill cutting taxes by $400 B over 10 years by doubling and expanding married couples' deductions and the child tax credit. YES was a vote FOR taxpayers.

3. Death Tax Relief. (Roll Call #84, 4 Apr.) The House passed a bill cutting taxes on estates by $186 B over 10 years. YES was a vote FOR taxpayers.

4 & 5. Tax Limitation Amendment. (Roll Call #87, 25 Apr.) The House failed to get the two-thirds vote needed for a constitutional amendment requiring a supermajority of Congress to raise taxes. For ATR, this vote is important enough to double weight. YES was a vote FOR taxpayers.

6. Fiscal 2002 Budget. (Roll Call #104, 9 May) The House adopted spending and revenue targets for the next 10 years, including $1.3 trillion in tax cuts, a $100 B stimulus package, and a cap on discretionary spending of $661 B, of which half would be for defense. YES was a vote FOR taxpayers.

7. Tax Cuts. (Roll Call #118, 16 May) The House passed a bill cutting all income tax rates and making other tax cuts totaling $958.3 billion over 11 years. YES was a vote FOR taxpayers.

8. School Vouchers. (Roll Call #135, 23 May) The House rejected an amendment that would help students in failing or dangerous schools to attend private schools, including religious schools. YES was a vote FOR taxpayers.

9. Faith-Based Initiatives. (Roll Call #254, 19 July) The House passed a bill allowing religious organizations to provide social services without abandoning their religious character and expanding tax breaks for charitable giving. YES was a vote FOR taxpayers.

10. China Trade. (Roll Call #255, 19 July) The House rejected a resolution denying the president's request for normal trade relations with China. NO was a vote FOR taxpayers.

11. Social Security Report. (Roll Call #273, 25 July) The House defeated an amendment stopping the president's Social Security Commission from making its final report. NO was a vote FOR taxpayers.

12. Fuel Economy Standards. (Roll Call #311, 1 Aug.) The House rejected an amendment that would have applied stringent passenger car mileage requirements to light trucks and sport utility vehicles, thus forcing more Americans into smaller, lighter, more dangerous cars. NO was a vote FOR taxpayers.

13. Alaskan Oil. (Roll Call #316, 1 Aug.) The House adopted an amendment limiting oil and gas drilling operations in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to 2,000 acres of total surface area, thus assuring passage of the president's energy proposal. YES was a vote FOR taxpayers.

14. Medical Savings Accounts. (Roll Call #328, 2 Aug.) The House adopted an amendment lifting restrictions on MSAs, thus allowing more Americans to use these money-saving alternatives to traditional health insurance. YES was a vote FOR taxpayers.

15. Patients' Rights. (Roll Call #332, 2 Aug.) The House passed a bill providing additional protections to patients in health maintenance organizations (HMOs), including appeals procedures for those denied care. These protections were added without the kind of regulation that would have driven HMOs out of business and reduced patient choice. YES was a vote FOR taxpayers.

16. "Fast-Track." (Roll Call #481, 6 Dec.) The House passed a bill giving the president authority to negotiate trade agreements with foreign countries. Agreements would have to be ratified by Congress under expedited procedures, without amendment. YES was a vote FOR taxpayers.

17. Election Reform. (Roll Call #488, 12 Dec.) The House rejected a motion designed to federalize election law in the 50 states, stripping away many protections against voter fraud used in the states. NO was a vote FOR taxpayers.

18. Economic Stimulus. (Roll Call #509, 19 Dec.) The House passed a bill stimulating the economy by cutting individual and business taxes by $90 B in 2002, extending unemployment benefits, and providing and health insurance tax credit. YES was a vote FOR taxpayers.

19 & 20. The Taxpayer Protection Pledge. ATR counts double the willingness of Members of Congress to sign a formal pledge that they will oppose any effort to raise taxes.