Crapo, Risch Both Named 'Taxpayers' Friend'

Washington, D.C.  - Idaho Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch have earned the rating "Taxpayers' Friend" from the National Taxpayers Union, a nonprofit and nonpartisan citizen group dedicated to lower taxes, limited government and economic freedom.  The group issues annual ratings for the U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives and individual members of both chambers.

Both Crapo and Risch earned an "A" rating, as did Idaho overall.  Other Senate delegations receiving "A" ratings included Oklahoma and Texas.  The National Taxpayers Union (NTU) gave the Senate an overall failing grade as 45 members "earned" an "F" rating on the scorecard of votes.  The NTU says it takes into account every roll call vote affecting fiscal policy, including appropriations, authorization votes, budget resolutions and procedural votes.

"It is disturbing to see nearly half the members of the Senate receive a failing grade, but with Americans facing nearly $18 trillion indebt handed to them by Congress' reckless tax and spend policies, it is a sign of both the lack of fiscal responsibility and the failure to find bipartisan agreement on critical issues like tax reform," said Crapo, a member of the Senate Finance Committee, which oversees tax policy; the Senate Budget Committee, and the "Gang of Six," which sought bipartisan approval for elements of the Simpson-Bowles federal deficit reduction plan.

"I am proud to be named as a "Taxpayers' Friend" another year in a row," said Risch. "Given the historic spending crisis and amount of debt our nation faces, saving money and eliminating waste is always a top priority. The best way to strengthen families, grow businesses and boost our national economy is to let taxpayers keep more of their money."

"With Big Spenders outnumbering Taxpayers' Friends by a nearly four to one ratio in Congress, limited government was definitely item one on the legislative to-do list in 2013," NTU President Pete Sepp noted.  "Going forward, the Senate in particular will have to take a more positive attitude toward getting results for taxpayers in order for our country to overcome the massive debt and tax burdens still holding the economy back."