The Club for Growth urges all members of Congress to vote "NO" on the $700 billion "compromise" bailout bill. A vote is expected later this morning. This key vote will be part of our 2008 Congressional Scorecard.

This bill is an unprecedented disaster for taxpayers.

Thanks to House Republicans like Reps. Jeb Hensarling, Mike Pence, and Paul Ryan, this bill has been stripped of the most offensive anti-growth provisions, but it is still a fundamentally bad bill. It increases the federal debt by hundreds of billions of dollars, rewards bad behavior made by failing banks, and creates a moral hazard going forward. The free market is designed to give profits for success and bankruptcies for failure. This bill changes that framework and will create costly and unintended consequences that will harm our economy in the future.

Our Congressional Scorecard for the 110th Congress provides a comprehensive rating of how well or how poorly each member of Congress supports pro-growth, free-market policies and will be distributed to our members and to the public.

The Club for Growth urges all Senators to vote "YES" on the DeMint amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (S. 3001). A vote is expected later this afternoon. This key vote will be part of our 2008 Congressional Scorecard.

This amendment would strike out Section 1002 of the bill, which states that earmarks in committee reports should have the force of law.

Earlier this year, President Bush issued an executive order directing his agencies to ignore committee reports since they don't have the force of law. The decision was made to stop, in part, the abusive practice of shielding earmarks from public scrutiny and from preventing attempts to strike earmarks from legislation. Nothing about Section 1002 serves as a benefit to the American public. Short of banning all earmarks, they should be fully disclosed and included in a bill's text.

Our Congressional Scorecard for the 110th Congress provides a comprehensive rating of how well or how poorly each member of Congress supports pro-growth, free-market policies and will be distributed to our members and to the public.

The Club for Growth urges all members of the House to vote "NO" on the Comprehensive American Energy Security and Consumer Protection Act (H.R. 6899). A vote is expected later this afternoon. This key vote will be part of our 2008 Congressional Scorecard.

This bill is loaded with a massive tax hike on oil and gas companies that will pass through to the consumer, resulting in higher prices at the pump. It also includes big government subsidies, mandates, and regulatory restrictions that do not allow for complete access to the Outer Continental Shelf.

The moratorium on drilling in the Outer Continental Shelf expires at the end of the year, yet supporters of this bill want to continue that ban on nearly 90% of OCS through this proposal. Along with the tax hikes and the subsidies for alternative fuels, there is nothing pro-growth about this proposal. In addition, we recently learned that an undisclosed, non-germane $2 billion earmark was inserted into this bill in complete violation of House rules. It should be vigorously voted down.

Our Congressional Scorecard for the 110th Congress provides a comprehensive rating of how well or how poorly each member of Congress supports pro-growth, free-market policies and will be distributed to our members and to the public.

The Club for Growth urges all members of Congress to vote "NO" on any bill that includes funding for the loan program designed to bail out automakers. This key vote will be part of our 2008 Congressional Scorecard.

On the face of it, this bailout is fiscally irresponsible. But even worse, it would continue a very dangerous trend of socializing the risks inherent in a free economy. After Bear Stearns, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, it is past time to stop making taxpayers pay for business failures. Politicians should not tax people's earnings for the purpose of investing in politically connected special interests. Rather, businesses should raise their funds the old fashioned way-by persuading investors to voluntarily invest their savings.

This loan program sends a dangerous moral hazard signal to the market. If the government continues to bail out suffering companies, it will create an environment where the private sector takes unnecessary risks knowing that taxpayers could be on the hook for any losses. Supporters of the bailout may contend that a loan program is necessary because Congress is forcing higher costs on the industry through higher CAFÉ standards. But the solution is not to compound a bad mistake with another bad mistake. Instead, the government should de-authorize the loan program and remove burdensome CAFÉ standards.

Our Congressional Scorecard for the 110th Congress provides a comprehensive rating of how well or how poorly each member of Congress supports pro-growth, free-market policies and will be distributed to our members and to the public.

The Club for Growth urges all Senators to vote "NO" on the highway fund bailout bill (H.R. 6532). This vote will be included in our annual Congressional Scorecard.

In 2005, Congress spent over $24 billion on pet projects when it passed that year's highway bill. Canceling low priority projects and using the money to fill in the shortfall is a far more fiscally responsible solution. This bailout bill should be vigorously defeated.

Our Congressional Scorecard for the 110th Congress provides a comprehensive rating of how well or how poorly each member of Congress supports pro-growth, free-market policies and will be distributed to our members and to the public.

The Club for Growth urges all House members to sign the discharge petition for the No More Excuses Energy Act of 2007 (H.R. 3089), sponsored by Rep. Mac Thornberry. This key vote will be part of our 2008 Congressional Scorecard.

This bill would vastly increase production of domestic energy supplies, providing much needed downward pressure on energy prices.

While this bill isn't perfect, it does allow for drilling in ANWR, the Outer Continental Shelf, for onshore natural gas, and provides for more nuclear plant licenses. Inaction on the part of the House to address this issue has forced members to circulate this discharge petition. If it is signed by a sufficient number, the resulting legislation would significantly relieve the supply constraints imposed by our own federal government.

Our Congressional Scorecard for the 110th Congress provides a comprehensive rating of how well or how poorly each member of Congress supports pro-growth, free-market policies and will be distributed to our members and to the public.

You can view a list of current signers to the petition here.

Washington – Today, perennial anti-porkers Reps. Jeff Flake (AZ-06) and John Campbell (CA-48) will be unveiling an amendment to strip all pork projects out of the FY 2009 Military Construction-VA Appropriations Bill (HR 6599). The Club for Growth urges all members of Congress to support the amendment. We will be key-voting this amendment to be included in our congressional scorecard.

The $72.7 billion MilCon bill contains 103 member-requested earmarks worth $622 million. While many of these earmarks may be worthwhile, they are not subject to competitive bidding and oversight. In addition, the bill’s price tag is 14 percent larger than last year’s appropriations bill and 5 percent larger than the President’s request. “Supporting the Flake-Campbell amendment will constitute less than a 1 percent reduction in the bill’s total price,” said Club for Growth President Pat Toomey. “Surely Congress can muster up the courage to cut spending by less than 1 percent.”

The Flake-Campbell amendment marks the first anti-pork amendment of the FY 2009 appropriations season and will be included in the Club for Growth’s 2009 RePORK Card. Last year, the Club for Growth issued a RePORK Card, grading each congressman on his commitment to eliminating pork. Last year, only sixteen members received a perfect score of one-hundred percent. Hopefully, that number will increase this year. At the very least, we expect the 41 House members who have sworn off earmarks to support the Flake-Campbell amendment.

“With federal spending ballooning by the minute, Congress should be cutting back not spending more,” Mr. Toomey added. “If Democrats and Republicans want to live up to their promises of fiscal responsibility, they can start by voting for the Flake-Campbell amendment. We commend Reps. Flake and Campbell for introducing this important amendment, and urge all of congressional members to follow in the footsteps of these two taxpayer heroes.”

The Club for Growth urges all House members to vote "NO" on the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (H.R. 1108). A vote in the House is expected sometime this week. This key vote will be part of our 2008 Congressional Scorecard.

This bill would give the FDA broad legal authority to regulate tobacco products. This new authority raises several objectionable concerns. It also would be financed with a tax charged against tobacco companies.

This bill gives sweeping control of the tobacco market to the FDA. Our concerns include, but are not limited to, the unspecified manner in which this new authority would be funded. Currently, it is believed that a new tax, worth over $5 billion over ten years, would be charged against the tobacco companies. Also, the bill provides various exemptions (menthol cigarettes, the growing of tobacco) that were created not out of fairness, but in order to secure passage. This is not a good way to legislate. It also places additional restrictions on the sale of modified-risk cigarettes that would open up the door to lobbying abuses. And it dangerously meddles with the freedom of speech rights associated with advertising.

The preferred method is for the free market, through price discovery and the open flow of information, to address the tobacco industry rather than all the distortions and abuses associated with government regulations.

Our Congressional Scorecard for the 110th Congress provides a comprehensive rating of how well or how poorly each member of Congress supports pro-growth, free-market policies and will be distributed to our members and to the public.

The House approved the bill, 326-102, on July 30, 2008.

The Club for Growth urges all Senators to vote "NO" on the Advancing America's Priorities Act (S. 3297). A vote in the Senate is expected later today. This key vote will be part of our 2008 Congressional Scorecard.

This bill is a hodgepodge of 35 different bills totaling more than $11 billion in new spending. At the very least, this bill deserves a deliberate debate and should be amendable. According to the latest news reports, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid will allow neither.

This bill contains such questionable programs like $17 million for the prevention of the interstate sale of monkeys, $1.5 billion for the largest earmark in the country that could force tax hikes in the DC metro area, and a greenhouse in Maryland. And yet, there will be no time to debate this bill or offer amendments to strike certain provisions of the bill or to offset its overall cost with cuts in spending elsewhere in the budget. Contrary to its name, this bill does not advance our country's priorities. Instead, it forces special interest goodies through the Senate without any meaningful consideration about its merits. We strenuously urge all Senators to oppose this bill.

Our Congressional Scorecard for the 110th Congress provides a comprehensive rating of how well or how poorly each member of Congress supports pro-growth, free-market policies and will be distributed to our members and to the public.

The Club for Growth urges members of the House to vote "NO" on the highway fund bailout bill (H.R. 6532). Floor consideration is scheduled for Wednesday. This vote will be included in our annual Congressional Scorecard.

In 2005, Congress spent over $24 billion on pet projects when it passed that year's highway bill. Canceling low priority projects and using the money to fill in the shortfall is a far more fiscally responsible solution. This bailout bill should be vigorously defeated.

Our Congressional Scorecard for the 110th Congress provides a comprehensive rating of how well or how poorly each member of Congress supports pro-growth, free-market policies and will be distributed to our members and to the public.

The Club for Growth urges members of the House to vote "NO" on the American Housing Rescue and Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2008 (H.R. 3221). Floor consideration is scheduled for Wednesday or Thursday. This vote will be included in our annual Congressional Scorecard.

While the details of the bill are not yet finalized, it's clear that it will bail out irresponsible borrowers, lenders, and investors. It will also turn state and local governments into landlords, provide an unprecedented FHA loan guarantee, and put taxpayers on the hook for billions of dollars by rescuing Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

This bill creates a moral hazard that could wreak havoc on the economy in the future. It doesn't punish bad behavior, and it expands the government's role in the private sector when the very opposite should occur. The real debate should be about how to truly privatize Freddie and Fannie and make them subject to the laws and regulations that other mortgage lenders follow.

Our Congressional Scorecard for the 110th Congress provides a comprehensive rating of how well or how poorly each member of Congress supports pro-growth, free-market policies and will be distributed to our members and to the public.

The Club for Growth urges all Senators to vote "NO" on the Dodd/Shelby substitute amendment (#4983) to the Housing Bill (H.R. 3221). This key vote will be part of our 2008 Congressional Scorecard.

This bill amounts to a massive bailout that would create adverse consequences and provide no pro-growth solutions.

The bailout creates the moral hazard of rescuing an industry that made poor lending decisions. It also creates another moral hazard, allowing people to purposely default their loans so that they can become eligible for a FHA-backed mortgage. And since a person can't be denied coverage because of a low credit score, taxpayers could be on the hook for billions of dollars in defaulted mortgages. This could ultimately lead to higher taxes that would only worsen the housing situation even more. The bill would also create a huge special-interest slush fund making it easier for lobbyists and lawmakers to fund organizations who support anti-growth policies.

Our Congressional Scorecard for the 110th Congress provides a comprehensive rating of how well or how poorly each member of Congress supports pro-growth, free-market policies and will be distributed to our members and to the public.

The Club for Growth urges members of the House to vote "NO" on the Federal Price Gouging Prevention Act (H.R. 6346), sponsored by Rep. Bart Stupak. This vote will be included in our annual Congressional Scorecard.

This bill seeks to prohibit the sale of gasoline at prices that are "unconscionably excessive" or that take "unfair advantage" of consumers. But it is a dangerous and arbitrary proposal. Nowhere in the bill are "unconscionably excessive" and "unfair advantage" even defined, thus guaranteeing untold litigation resulting from this ambiguity.

More importantly, it simply fails to consider the textbook effects of supply and demand. In a free economy, high prices are the reflection of higher demand relative to supply. Any effort to artificially depress prices will inevitably lead to decreasing supplies and can eventually lead to rationing, both of which severely inhibit economic growth.

Our Congressional Scorecard for the 110th Congress provides a comprehensive rating of how well or how poorly each member of Congress supports pro-growth, free-market policies and will be distributed to our members and to the public.

UPDATE: The House passed this bill, 276-146.

The Club for Growth urges Members of the U.S. House to vote "NO" on the AMT Patch (H.R. 6275). A floor vote is expected later this week, at the earliest. This key vote will be part of our 2008 Congressional Scorecard.

Although this bill provides a necessary one-year AMT patch that prevents a looming $61.5 billion tax hike, it also contains an equal amount in anti-growth tax hikes on a number of things, including carried interest, oil and gas companies, and foreign companies operating in the United States.

One of these tax hikes is on "carried interest" charged by various investment firms. In effect, this tax increase would reduce the incentive to provide much needed capital necessary for expanding growth, jobs, and innovation. The tax hikes on oil and gas companies will suppress supply, making high energy costs even higher. The tax on foreign companies will have a similar effect. It will result in higher prices for the consumer, which could stifle production, reducing job growth and innovation.

Our Congressional Scorecard for the 110th Congress provides a comprehensive rating of how well or how poorly each member of Congress supports pro-growth, free-market policies and will be distributed to our members and to the public.

UPDATE: The House passed it 233-189.

The Club for Growth urges all Senators to vote "NO" on the Lieberman-Warner-Boxer Climate Security bill (S. 3036). This includes, but is not limited to, voting "NO" on the final cloture vote. This key vote will be part of our 2008 Congressional Scorecard.

This proposal would result in a massive new tax on American consumers caused by the most pervasive new regulations on the U.S. economy since the New Deal.

The Heritage Foundation recently reported that this bill will cause economic losses to reach anywhere between $1.7 trillion and $4.8 trillion by the year 2030. This bill would also allow the government to redistribute billions of dollars by granting valuable emission credits to politically-motivated groups.

This bill is an unambiguous example of a high-tax, crippling regulatory anti-growth bill. It should be vigorously opposed.

Our Congressional Scorecard for the 110th Congress provides a comprehensive rating of how well or how poorly each member of Congress supports pro-growth, free-market policies and will be distributed to our members and to the public.