Washington, DC – {The National Taxpayer’s Union (NTU) has announced that Congressman Todd Akin (R-MO) was one of only a few dozen lawmakers in the House and Senate to win the 2007 "Taxpayers’ Friend Award" from the non-partisan government watchdog organization.
"While many Members of Congress talked about reducing the size of government last year, Congressman Akin backed up those words with votes," NTU President Duane Parde said. "This award proves that Akin is a staunch ally we can count on in our battle to restore fiscal responsibility to Washington."
The award is presented to those Members 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 support for reducing or controlling federal spending, taxes, debt, and regulation.
"Congressman Akin’s pro-taxpayer score was one of the best in the entire House," Parde said. "By consistently voting to reduce federal spending, taxes, and debt, Akin has led by example in the fight to ease the burden on taxpayers everywhere."
"If every Member of Congress had voted as responsibly as Akin did in 2007, Americans could have enjoyed much lower taxes and less waste in government," Parde concluded. "Overburdened taxpayers in Missouri and across the nation owe Akin a debt of gratitude for his hard work on their behalf. He 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 2007 Rating and a searchable Rating database from 1992 to 2006 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 Natasha Altamirano at (703) 683-5700.
