Club for Growth Releases 2007 RePORK Card [Hunter 26%, Paul 29%, Tancredo 84%]

Club for Growth ^ | 8/9/07

[bnelson44]

Washington - Even though the Democratic majority vowed to return Congress to a path of fiscal responsibility, the 2008 appropriations bills were stuffed with wasteful pork projects. While Representatives John Campbell, Jeff Flake, Jeb Hensarling, Scott Garrett, and David Obey (1 amendment) offered 50 amendments to strip outrageous pork projects from the appropriations bills, only one amendment, offered by Rep. Jeff Flake, passed.

The Club for Growth has compiled a RePORK Card of all members' votes on all 50 anti-pork amendments (see below). "Taxpayers have a right to know which congressmen stand up for them and which stand up for the special interests," said Club for Growth President Pat Toomey. "Unfortunately, the Club for Growth RePORK Card shows that most congressmen care more about lining their buddies' pockets than they care about protecting American taxpayers."

[Reagan Man]

My new Congressman, Doug Lamborn received a 100% rating.

Congrats to a real fiscal conservative.

[cripplecreek]

Mine was endorsed by both the club for growth and Minuteman PAC.

[Gondring]

Lots of shortsightedness in these ratings. for example, $50K of Federal funding for a national project that is receiving $3.5MM in donations is a pretty good investment in something that is a federal project.

[Reagan Man]

Great! Whats his name?

[cripplecreek]

Tim Walberg.

[cripplecreek]

That’s true. While my rep has a top notch record, since getting into congress I see that he’s been seeking money for a park in Lansing.

He’s still a good congressman in my opinion.

[Rick_Michael]

Spending feels good, though!?

[Reagan Man]

Conservatives in the CO 5th district were a bit concerned about replacing our 20 year representative and lifetime 96 rated ACU, Cong Joel Hefley.

The field was filled with many good conservatives. After a tough fight, looks like things are just fine with Cong Lamborn. Both a serious fiscal and social conservative.

[FreeReign]

Paul, 29%?

So much for the proper Constitutional role of the federal government.

[Reagan Man]

Looks like Walberg and Lamborn are two of the candidates endorsed by the Minuteman Pac.LINK

[bnelson44]

Don’t be fooled, he isn’t a fiscal conservative. As far as Ron Paul supporters are concerned: Ron Paul’s campaign is all about legalizing dope.

[chesty_puller]

Ron Paul 29

Mike Burgess (my rep) 71

I am a happy man. After all the floods we had, I'm sure Mike pulled in some goodies, but 71 aint bad.

[Huck]

Scott Garrett, my man right here in NW New Jersey, 100%! Woo-hoo! I am so proud of him.

[Reagan Man]

Another conservative.

Another winner.

[gpapa]

Duncan Hunter received a 26% rating.

[Huck]

Scott Garrett makes me proud. NJ always gets mocked, but up here in NW jerz, it’s solid red county, and Scott’s a local guy. Went to grade school and high school here. Lives here. I hesitate to trust ANY politician, but he really truly seems to be a good egg and I really have enjoyed voting for him every chance I’ve gotten.

[George W. Bush]

Dishonest title.

Hunter was present to vote on 42 of the 50, Paul was present for 41 of 50. But Tancredo was there for only 25 of the fifty.

I didn't check Duncan but RP voted present on many of these, probably didn't have time to read them all. And there was only one Texas project for $300,000 for the Houston zoo so Ron Paul wasn't bringing home any serious bacon for his district or his state delegation in this vote. As for blatant porking, this entire lot combined doesn't even come close to a single $240 million Bridge To Nowhere when we Republicans held the House last year. And RP voted for all 19 of those earmark strikeouts. And Duncan voted for none.

It's a worthy effort but on the scale of runaway big-government, both GOP and Dim, this is more of a blip.

Flake should have gone after the earmarks of the senior committee members in both parties. Now that would have been more instructive.

I'm a member of Club For Growth myself but you should take a look at those rankings. Generally, the members elected by Club For Growth all scored at 35/50 or higher along with some non-Club conservatives. The rest of the conservative faction (including Paul and Hunter) didn't break 30.

Having renewed my membership, I do like the Club but people should realize that like most of these groups, they have press releases to issue and scorecards to collect and such. I found last year's anti-pork earmark-striking votes to be far more compelling. It was those votes that have scared the Dims enough to keep their cravings for pork to a lower level this year.

[jdlucas04]

Check out all the “Blue Dog Democrats.” Heath Shuler scored a 0% and same with the former Sheriff from Indiana. Conservative, what a joke. Even Toby Keith’s guy, Dan Boren scored low.

[Huck]

I just sent Rep. Garrett a quick note:

Rep. Garrett,

Recently saw your excellent score on the club for growth's repork card (http://www.clubforgrowth.org/2007/08/the_2007_club_for_growth_repor.php) and I just wanted to send a quick note expressing how proud i am of your stand on fiscal conservatism.

The GOP abandons true fiscal conservatism at their peril, and not only are you not abandoning it, but you and your colleagues (e.g., Rep Flake, Rep Pence) are on offense, forcing the issue on earmarks. Tremendous work. Thank you so much.

As a self employed person, I am painfully aware of my tax burden. I'm not a rich man. Just a simple, self made man, and I certainly appreciate your representation. It's rare to have the opportunity to vote for someone without any hesitation or without holding your nose, as the saying goes, but I have voted for you enthusiastically, and look forward to doing so again.

Keep up the excellent work. I daresay James Madison would be proud of your efforts.

best regards,
name and address withheld

ps NJ gets knocked pretty hard for it's liberal, often completely screwed up ways. You give a native NJ boy something to be proud of in NJ politics. Thanks again. Keep it up!