Bob Goodlatte recognized as friend of taxpayers

Press Release: GOODLATTE AWARDED TAXPAYERS’ FRIEND AWARD FROM NATIONAL TAXPAYERS UNION

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Bob Goodlatte was awarded the Taxpayers’ Friend Award from the National Taxpayers Union (NTU), for his outstanding pro-taxpayer voting record last year. NTU, which has 362,000 members, is a nonpartisan citizen group.

“I am honored to receive the “Taxpayers’ Friend” award from the National Taxpayers Union, and to be part of the solution to fighting government waste,” stated Goodlatte. “Cutting wasteful government spending, voting for lower taxes, and fighting to reduce the bloated bureaucracy in Washington have been my top priorities since arriving in Congress.”

The award is given to Representatives and Senators who achieve an “A” grade in NTU’s annual Rating of Congress. 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 2009, a total of 333 House and 227 Senate votes were selected.

“Given today’s economic climate, fiscal discipline is more important now than ever,” NTU President Duane Parde said. “Fortunately, taxpayers have a staunch ally in Rep. Bob Goodlatte, to whom National Taxpayers Union is proud to present a ‘Taxpayers’ Friend Award.’”

Mr. Parde continued, “Congressman Goodlatte’s pro-taxpayer score of 90 percent was one of the best in the entire Congress. By voting time and again to reduce federal spending, taxes, and debt, Bob has led by example in the fight to defend overburdened taxpayers across the country.”

In 2009, 55 lawmakers attained scores sufficient to win the “Taxpayers’ Friend Award” (earning at least 90 percent in the House or Senate). Congressman Goodlatte was the only Member from Virginia to earn an “A” rating.