Club For Growth Releases 2011 Scorecard

Senators DeMint, Coburn, Paul, Johnson and Lee receive perfect scores in 2011

Washington, DC – - Today, the Club for Growth released its 2011 Congressional Scorecard, which ranks the voting behavior of members of Congress based on issues relating to limited government and economic growth.

To view the Club for Growth's 2011 Congressional Scorecard and all prior Scorecards, click here, or go to: www.ClubForGrowth.org/Projects

“The Club for Growth applauds those members of Congress who fought tooth and nail for economic freedom in 2011,” said Club for Growth President Chris Chocola. “The Club for Growth’s 2011 Scorecard is intended to help our members and the general public differentiate between those who talk a good game about economic growth, and those who actually vote for pro-growth policy. Defenders of economic freedom are hard to find, but we hope that those who are currently serving redouble their efforts to save America from fiscal ruin in 2012.”

This year, 45 members of Congress will receive the Club for Growth’s Defender of Economic Freedom Award. Beginning with last year's scorecard, The Club for Growth required Representatives and Senators to not only score 90 or better on votes cast in a year, but to also have a lifetime score or “LifeScore” of at least 90.

Highlights from the Club for Growth's 2011 Congressional Scorecard:

• Five United States Senators received perfect scores in 2011: Jim DeMint (SC), Tom Coburn (OK), Rand Paul (KY), Ron Johnson (WI), and Mike Lee (UT) – all of whom also qualify for the Defender of Economic Freedom Award.

• Senators Pat Toomey (PA), Marco Rubio (FL), Dan Coats (IN), Kelly Ayotte (NH), Jon Kyl (AZ), and Jim Inhofe (OK) had 2011 scores and LifeScores high enough to qualify for the Defender of Economic Freedom Award

• 34 house members who received scores of 90 percent or better in 2011 also had LifeScores of 90 or better to qualify for the Defender of Economic Freedom Award.

• Nine members of Congress received 100 percent ratings in 2011. Of those, two are incumbents who also have 100 percent LifeScores: Jeff Flake (AZ-06) and Doug Lamborn (CO-05). Three freshmen Republicans received 100 percent ratings in 2011: Raul Labrador (ID-01), Justin Amash (MI-03), and Tim Huelskamp (KS-01).

• Four members of Congress received 100 percent ratings in 2011 who do not have 100 percent LifeScores – but all four have LifeScores of either 98 or 99 percent: Jason Chaffetz (UT-03), Jim Jordan (OH-04), Tom Graves (GA-09), and Trent Franks (AZ-02).

• Two Senate Democrats scored zero in 2011: Senator Robert Casey (PA) and Senator Sherrod Brown (OH). 25 scored below 10 percent

• 78 House Democrats scored lower than ten percent, and six scored zero percent