Isakson Honored with 'Taxpayers' Friend' Award for Strong Commitment to Reducing Taxes, Federal Debt

Isakson Gets an ‘A’ Rating from Nonpartisan Group

Feb 25, 2010

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator and Senate candidate Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., today received the “Taxpayers’ Friend Award” from the National Taxpayers Union for his voting record in 2009. The award is given to members of Congress who consistently vote to control federal spending and reduce the burden on American taxpayers.

“I am very proud to receive this honor from the National Taxpayers Union, because I agree with them that we must take large and immediate steps to stop out-of-control federal spending,” Isakson said. “As a businessman, I more than recognize that the way the government is operating is not only unsustainable, it is a recipe for disaster and failure.”

The non-partisan National Taxpayers Union annually publishes a rating of Congress that is considered the most comprehensive scorecard available on federal tax, spending and regulatory issues. During 2009, Isakson was one of only 55 lawmakers who received an “A” and was eligible for the “Taxpayers’ Friend Award.” The rating is based on every roll call vote affecting fiscal policy and assigns a “Taxpayer Score” to all members of Congress indicating their commitment to reducing or controlling federal spending, taxes, debt and regulation. The group analyzed 333 House and 227 Senate votes for 2009.

“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 Senator Isakson, to whom National Taxpayers Union is proud to present a ‘Taxpayers’ Friend Award.’”

Isakson has a longstanding record of being a good steward of taxpayer dollars. Since he was elected to Congress in 1999, Isakson has returned over $2.2 million of his annual Congressional office budget allotment to the Treasury. Additionally, Isakson will return an estimated $460,000 of his Senate office budget allotment for fiscal year 2009 once final expenses have been completed.

Isakson is committed to trying to pass legislation to curb federal spending and to demand more accountability from programs that receive federal dollars. Isakson is a co-sponsor of a constitutional amendment that would allow the President to use the line-item veto to either eliminate or reduce appropriations in any bill passed by the Congress. The amendment would also require Congress to balance the federal budget.

Isakson also has introduced legislation to reform the federal budget process by converting it from an annual spending process to a two-year cycle, with one year for appropriating federal dollars and the other year devoted solely to mandatory oversight of federal programs.