Since 1989, the Council for Citizens Against Government Waste (CCAGW) has examined roll call votes to help identify which members of Congress stand up for the taxpayers’ interests and which fail to deliver on campaign promises of fiscal responsibility. The ratings separate the praiseworthy from the profligate by evaluating important tax, spending, transparency and accountability measures. CCAGW applauds those members of Congress who cling to their waste-cutting mission in the face of a recalcitrant spendthrift majority. However, those who turn a blind eye to the needs of taxpayers and forge ahead with their big-government agendas deserve to have a negative spotlight cast upon them.

CCAGW’s 2010 Congressional Ratings score 46 votes in the House and 62 votes in the Senate. By comparison, in 2009, CCAGW rated 120 votes in the House and 74 votes in the Senate. The decrease in the number of votes scored in 2010 is due to the stalemate that characterized the second half of the 111th Congress, as members of Congress did all they could to avoid taking politically difficult votes in the aftermath of the notorious 2009 stimulus, cap-and-tax, and healthcare votes.

CCAGW rates members on a 0 to 100 percent scale. Members are placed in the following categories: 0-19% Hostile; 20-39% Unfriendly; 40-59% Lukewarm; 60-79% Friendly; 80-99% Taxpayer Hero; 100% Taxpayer Super Hero.