Nation's Largest Taxpayer Group Honors Broun with "Taxpayers' Friend Award"

Press Release

Congressman Broun was recently recognized for his outstanding pro-taxpayer voting record as National Taxpayers Union (NTU), a nonpartisan citizen advocacy group, announced that Congressman Paul Broun is among the distinguished recipients of the "Taxpayers' Friend Award" for 2013.

"With so many remaining doubts that our economy has completely turned a corner, it's never been more important for Washington to change direction on fiscal policy," NTU President Pete Sepp said. "Fortunately, the taxpayers of Georgia's 10th Congressional District could count on Congressman Paul Broun to help put our nation on a saner path. Day in and day out, Congressman Broun earned the title of 'Taxpayers' Friend.'"

Since 1979, NTU has acknowledged Representatives and Senators who achieve top scores in their annual Rating of Congress with the "Taxpayers' Friend Award."

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. For 2013, a total of 253 House and 90 Senate votes were selected.

"Congressman Broun's pro-taxpayer score of 86% percent was one of the best in the entire Congress," Sepp continued. "By casting principled votes for limited government time and again, Congressman Broun has led by example in the fight to defend overburdened taxpayers across the country."

In NTU's 2013 Rating, the average "Taxpayer Score" in the House remained at the rounded level of 51 percent. Thus, for the third year in a row the House mean has managed to reach the halfway mark -- a feat never before achieved on NTU's Rating. The Senate's average was nearly the same as last year, rising one point to 41 percent - but the bigger story might be their woeful 17 percent median score.

For the first session of the 113th Congress, 58 lawmakers attained scores sufficient for an "A" grade (a minimum score of 83 percent in the House and 90 percent the Senate) and therefore won the "Taxpayers' Friend Award." Yet, a startling 204 Senators and Representatives were tagged with the title of "Big Spender" for posting "F" grades (24 percent or less in the House and 16 percent or less in the Senate). The record of 267 was reached in both 2008 and 2009.

--- Sepp concluded: "By working to reduce federal spending, taxes, and debt, Congressman Broun proved to be one of the most effective advocates for taxpayers in his state as well as throughout the nation."

---"If every Member of Congress voted as carefully as Congressman Broun, current and future generations of Americans could enjoy much lower taxes and a less wasteful government," Sepp concluded. "Hard-working families in Georgia's 10th district and across the nation owe Congressman Broun a debt of gratitude for his effort on their behalf. Congressman Broun has truly earned the title "Taxpayers' Friend.'"

National Taxpayers Union, "The Voice of America's Taxpayers", is a nonpartisan, nonprofit citizen group founded in 1969 to work for lower taxes, smaller government, and economic freedom at all levels. Note: The 2013 Rating and a searchable Rating database from 1992 to 2013 is available at ntu.org. For questions about the Rating, its history, or methodology, please contact NTU Communications Manager Doug Kellogg at (703) 299-8698.

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