Americans for Tax Reform (ATR) praises members of the U.S. House and Senate for voting consistently in the interest of taxpayers.
WASHINGTON – Today, Americans for Tax Reform (ATR) proudly presented 229 Hero of the Taxpayer awards to 183 members of the U.S. House of Representatives and 46 Senators for the first session of the 108 th Congress. ATR is widely considered the most influential taxpayer advocacy organization in the United States .
In order to receive this award, members of Congress must consistently vote with and represent the interests of American taxpayers. ATR records the way the members vote on the eighteen most important bills and issues for taxpayers across the country. Critical votes include permanent Death Tax repeal , the 2003 tax relief plan that reduced tax rates on capital gains and dividend income, and the school choice plan for the District of Columbia . Winners of this award must vote in the interest of American taxpayers at least 85% of the time.
"Mr. Smith comes to Washington and the first thing he must decide is whether to vote with the taxpayers or the spending lobbies who want to steal their money," said taxpayer advocate Grover Norquist, who heads ATR in Washington . "Taxpayers have 229 men and women on their side. Now it\’s time to elect more to strengthen their side of the balance."
Members of Congress may also receive 10 percentage points for signing ATR\’s Taxpayer Protection Pledge, a written promise from candidates and elected officials to taxpayers to oppose efforts to increase taxes. Currently, 217 members of the U.S. House, 42 U.S. Senators and President George W. Bush have signed the Pledge.
ATR has issued its congressional scorecard since 1994, and has granted its awards annually since then. A complete list of Hero of the Taxpayer award recipients, as well as a complete list of votes ATR considered for the awards and their respective explanations, can be viewed on ATR\’s website.