Washington- Congressman Joe Pitts (PA-16) was awarded today with the “Taxpayers’ Friend Award” from the 362,000-member National Taxpayers Union (NTU). The nonpartisan citizen group today announced that Rep. Pitts was one of only a few dozen lawmakers in the House and Senate to win the 2007 award for a voting record that puts the taxpayers first.  Rep. Pitts earned a score of 87 of a possible 100.
 
“While many Members of Congress talked about reducing the size of government last year, Joe Pitts backed up those words with votes,” NTU President Duane Parde said. “This award proves that Representative Pitts is a staunch ally we can count on in our battle to restore fiscal responsibility to Washington.”

Congressman Pitts’ statement follows:

“I am pleased to be named a taxpayer friend by the National Taxpayers’ Union.  I can think of few awards that are more important to a public official.  Every time I cast a vote, I remember the money we are spending in Washington comes from the hard earned dollars of the American people.”

Background

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 or her support for reducing or controlling federal spending, taxes, debt, and regulation.  True “high performers” in Congress are always rare.  In 2007, 52 lawmakers earned scores sufficient to win the Taxpayers’ Friend Award (at least 85 percent in the House and 80 percent in the Senate).  Meanwhile, more than 260 Members captured the title of “Big Spender” for scoring 16 percent or less in the House and 14 percent or less in the Senate.

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.

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