Meghan Hughes (202-224-5972) or Kevin Bishop (864-250-1417)

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today was recognized for his outstanding pro-taxpayer voting record last year.  The 362,000-member National Taxpayers Union (NTU), a nonpartisan citizen group, announced that Graham is one of fifteen Senators who earned the ‘Taxpayers’ Friend Award’ for his votes in the U.S. Senate. 

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

The award is given to 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 Senator that indicates his or her support for reducing or controlling federal spending, taxes, debt, and regulation. For 2009, a total of 227 Senate votes were selected. 

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

Between 2008 and 2009, the average ‘Taxpayer Score’ in the House rose slightly from 36 percent to 38 percent. The Senate’s average increased from 32 percent to 39 percent.  

In 2009, only 55 lawmakers out of the 535 in the Senate and House attainted scores sufficient to win the “Taxpayers’ Friend Award” (earning at least 90 percent in the House or Senate). Meanwhile, 267 Senators and Representatives captured the title of ‘Big Spender’ for posting ‘F’ grades (scores of 15 percent or less in the House and 16 percent or less in the Senate). 

“If every Member of Congress were as principled as Lindsey Graham, current and future generations of Americans could enjoy much lower taxes and a less wasteful government,” Parde concluded. “Hard-working families in South Carolina and across the nation owe Lindsey Graham a debt of gratitude for his effort on their behalf.  Senator Graham has truly earned the title ‘Taxpayers’ Friend.’” 

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 2009 Rating and a searchable Rating database dating back to 1992 is available at www.ntu.org.

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