Washington, DC – Congressman Joe Baca (D-Rialto) has received a grade of “A” by TheMiddleClass.org, in its recently released nonpartisan Congressional scorecard.  TheMiddleClass.org is a project of the Drum Major Institute for Public Policy, a non-partisan, non-profit think tank concerned with the increasingly fragile middle-class and social and economic justice.  The Institute released its Congressional Middle-Class Scorecard, evaluating Members of Congress based on their voting records regarding middle-class issues.

Based on his votes on ten key bills affecting the middle-class, Rep. Baca received a grade of “A”, reflecting his continuing commitment to strengthening and expanding the middle-class. 

“Having a secure job, owning your own home, having affordable health care, being able to save for retirement and providing a good education for one’s children are the middle-class values we must fight to protect,” said Rep. Baca. “When these elements of the American dream are expanded to include more Americans, we will be a stronger nation. I thank middleclass.org for their recognition of my work on behalf of middle-class families.”

TheMiddleClass.org scorecard is based on votes that affected the middle-class in 2008.  Some of the issues involved included extending health care to uninsured children, reducing the cost of a college education, increasing consumer product safety, and stopping deceptive lending practices by credit card companies.  On the votes scored by TheMiddleClass.org, Rep. Baca voted for the preservation and expansion of the rights of middle-class Americans.

“Even in these times of economic difficulty, it is important we work to expand protections and services for all Americans,” concluded Rep. Baca.  “I believe that a strong and vibrant middle-class is the heart of our country.  We must continue to take steps to allow poorer citizens a pathway into the middle-class and toward success.”

Rep. Baca has introduced legislation in the 111th Congress with an agenda aimed at protecting and expanding the middle-class.  Some of the bills he has sponsored include the Family Foreclosure Rescue Corporation Act, the America’s Right to Eat Rescue Act, and the TEACH for our Future Act. 

TheMiddleClass.org is a project of the Drum Major Institute. The Institute was founded by Harry Wachtel, lawyer and advisor to Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. during the turbulent years of the civil rights movement.  Its board members include Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Martin Luther King III.  The full scorecard for Congress may be seen at http://themiddleclass.org/.