AUSTIN – Americans for Prosperity-Texas released its 2009
Legislative Report Card to taxpayers today with the help of
Santa Claus, who read the names of legislators who made the
“Nice” list by earning an A for the 81st Texas
Legislative Session and those who made the “Naughty”
list by earning a D or F.
“A number of legislators earned good grades this year. As
result of their work, Texas is doing relatively well,”
said AFP State Director Peggy Venable. “Texas remains the
beacon of fiscal sanity in this country because of the
leadership of these legislators. Our legislative leaders
–Governor Rick Perry, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, and Speaker
Joe Straus, along with all of those legislators who earned high
marks – deserve recognition for steering Texas in the
right direction.”
“Taxpayers have one thing on their Christmas list
– less government and more liberty – and Santa
made his list accordingly,” said Venable.
Grades for AFP’s Report Card were determined on a
numerical basis based by the legislators’ votes on key
issues which relate to AFP’s mission statement and
AFP-Texas’ “Defending the American Dream
Agenda” (see it at http://www.afptx.org). AFP tallied
votes on issues ranging from fiscal responsibility and limiting
government growth, to appraisal reform.
Santa announced today that four State Senators and 44 State
Representatives earned a coveted spot on the
“Nice” list, including six House members who
earned A+ grades. Those on the ill-fated “Naughty”
list include 17 State Senators (three D’s and 14
F’s) and 27 State Representatives (22 D’s and five
F’s). The complete listing of numerical grades and the
votes considered are available on the AFP-Texas website.
“Legislators who rated well used fiscal restraint in
spending, and that will serve Texans well in the future as
Congress is cramming more unfunded mandates to the
states,” Venable said. “Even Santa has tightened
his belt in these tough economic times, so we commend Texas
legislators who have done the same.”
“What better time than the holidays to let citizens know
which legislators protected their constituents’
pocketbook and liberty in the 2009 legislative session,”
Venable continued, “and which legislators were generous
with other people’s money and used it to grow
government.”
Legislators who received A’s on the AFP-Texas report card
voted in a manner which promoted individual liberty, lower taxes
and fewer onerous regulations.
“It is no coincidence that we are releasing our state
legislative report card list this week, as Congress is poised to
pass one of the most expensive and expansive pieces of
legislation in my lifetime,” Venable said. “We are
bankrupting our children and grandchildren.”
“Texas is doing well as the No. 1 state in the country
for business relocation, for having more Fortune 500 companies
than any other state, and thanks to sound fiscal and regulator
policies, Texas has created more jobs than all other states in
the country combined,” said Venable.
AFP is encouraging legislators on the “Naughty”
list to adopt the principles of AFP’s Defending the
American Dream Agenda if they want to continue to see Texas in
the No. 1 spot in the nation. They are being encouraged to read
the AFP-Texas booklet “Keeping Texas Competitive,
Prosperity in the Lone Star State.”
“Government doesn't provide prosperity –
businesses do,” said AFP-Texas Advisory Board chairman
Ben Streusand from Houston.
“As Congress has put us over $12 trillion dollars in
debt, it is appropriate to recognize that Texas has a strong
economy as result of those in leadership who have followed the
right course,” Streusand added.
To see the full report card, including the legislators who made
the “Naughty” list, visit www.afptx.org.
Americans for Prosperity (AFP) is a nationwide organization of
citizen leaders committed to advancing every individual’s
right to economic freedom and opportunity. AFP believes reducing
the size and scope of government is the best safeguard to
ensuring individual productivity and prosperity for all
Americans. AFP educates and engages citizens in support of
restraining state and federal government growth, and returning
government to its constitutional limits. AFP has more than
800,000 members, including members in all 50 states, and 24
state chapters. For more information, visit
www.americansforprosperity.org
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