Twenty members of Congress earned the prestigious “Taxpayers’ Friend Award” for achieving “A” grades in the latest edition of National Taxpayers Union Rates Congress, the organization announced Monday.
The NTU Rates Congress report evaluated every member of Congress on their voting records related to taxes, spending, debt, and regulations during the Second Session of the 118th Congress.
“We measured support for reducing wasteful government spending, opposing higher taxes, and rolling back burdensome regulations that can stifle U.S. economic growth,” said NTU Executive Vice President Brandon Arnold. “We’re proud to provide taxpayers with the most comprehensive, nonpartisan analysis of how their representatives vote on tax and spending issues.”
The scorecard included 39 Senate votes and 130 House votes that significantly affected federal taxes, spending, debt, or regulatory impact, providing the most comprehensive assessment of congressional fiscal voting available to taxpayers.
2024 Taxpayers’ Friend Award Winners:
Senate (9 members):
Sen. Mike Lee (UT) – 96%
Sen. Rand Paul (KY) – 96%
Sen. Ron Johnson (WI) – 93%
Sen. Cynthia Lummis (WY) – 92%
Sen. Tommy Tuberville (AL) – 89%
Sen. Ted Budd (NC) – 89%
Sen. Ted Cruz (TX) – 87%
Sen. John Barrasso (WY) – 87%
Sen. Marco Rubio (FL) – 87%
House (11 members):
Rep. Chip Roy (TX) – 88%
Rep. Tim Burchett (TN) – 87%
Rep. Alex Mooney (WV) – 86%
Rep. Bob Good (VA) – 86%
Rep. Greg Steube (FL) – 86%
Rep. Keith Self (TX) – 86%
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (GA) – 86%
Rep. Matt Rosendale (MT) – 86%
Rep. Andy Biggs (AZ) – 85%
Rep. Eli Crane (AZ) – 85%
Rep. Ralph Norman (SC) – 85%
The federal budget experts on staff at NTU assigned weights to each roll call vote based on its effect on the federal budget, deficits, tax revenues, and the regulatory state. Higher weights are assigned to votes with the most significant fiscal impact, with consideration given to longer-term effects on future fiscal policy. NTU’s sister organization, National Taxpayers Union Foundation, provided analysis to NTU on the policies behind the legislation that was subject to the roll call votes.
Scores are calculated by dividing the weighted total of votes cast for lower spending, lower taxes, or less regulation by the weighted total number of fiscal and regulatory issues on which each member voted. Only actual votes are counted; announced positions and absences are excluded.
NTU is the only free-market organization for taxpayers that unites effective advocacy with useful research about how to limit taxes, spending, and regulation at every level and branch of government—state, federal, administrative, and judicial.
