Washington, DC - Today, the Club for Growth released its 2010 Congressional Scorecard, which ranks the voting behavior of members of Congres based on economic growth issues. The Club also added a new feature to the Club for Growth Scorecard: each member of Congress is now assigned a new liftetime rating or a "LifeScore", so that Club Members can determine who has been a consistent advocate for Economic Freedom throughout their career in Congress.
To view the Club for Growth's 2010 Congressional Scorecard and all prior Scorecards, click here, or go to: http://clubforgrowth.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=0485d6c76337588f24c3cdbd1&id=cdff9c0eb5&e=5737d411be
"The Club for Growth values principle over political expediency," said Club for Growth President Chris Chocola. "Our new 'LifeScore' will educate citizens on who has consistently defended economic freedom and pushed pro-growth policies in Congress. Club Members want their elected leaders to vote on the side of economic freedom every time, not just at election time."
With the additon of LifeScore, The Club for Growth has revised the criteria to receive the Club's Defender of Economic Freedom award. In past years, awards were given to anyone who scored 90 or better. Beginning with this year's scorecard, The Club for Growth required Representatives and Senators to not only score 90 or better on votes cast in 2010, but to also have a LifeScore of at least 90.
Highlights of the Club for Growth's 2010 Congressional Scorecard:
- Two United States Senators received perfect scores: Jim DeMint (SC), and Tom Coburn (OK)
- Senator Jim DeMint is the only Senator to have a 100 percent LifeScore
- Five Congressmen have 100 percent LifeScores: Jeff Flake (AZ-06), Tom McClintock (CA-04), Doug Lamborn (CO-05), Paul Broun, (GA-10), and Jeb Hensarling (TX-05)
- Senators Jon Kyl (AZ), Jim Inhofe (OK), and Jim Risch (ID) had 2010 scores and LifeScores high enough to qualify for the Defender of Economic Freedom award
- Thirty House members who received scores of 90 percent or better in 2010 also had LifeScores of 90 or better to qualify for the Defender of Economic Freedom award. Seventeen of those also had scores of 100 percent in 2010
- 24 Senate Democrats scored zero, including one Independent who caucuses with the Democrats. 47 scored below 10 percent
- 195 out of 255 House Democrats scored lower than ten percent, and 128 scored zero percent
