Club for Growth

The 2007 Congressional Scorecard - House

House Vote 9 - PAYGO
Vote on a House rule that would, among other things, enact PAYGO rules. The pro-growth vote was "nay" because this rule would make it harder to pass tax cuts. Passed 280-152. January 05, 2007.

House Vote 18 - Minimum Wage Hike
Vote on increasing the minimum wage from its current level of $5.15/hour to $7.25/hour over two years. The pro-growth vote was "nay" since the minimum wage is a market-distorting price control on labor. Passed 315-116. January 10, 2007.

House Vote 23 - Medicare Prescription Drug Price Controls
Vote on requiring the Health and Human Services (HHS) Department to negotiate drug prices with drug companies under the Medicare Part D program. The pro-growth vote was "nay" because price negotiations invariably result in government-imposed price controls that would stifle pharmaceutical innovations that create well-paying jobs and save and enhance lives. Passed 255-170. January 12, 2007.

House Vote 118 - Card Check
Vote on a bill that would allow unions to bypass secret ballot elections if a majority of eligible employees consent. The pro-growth vote is "nay" because secret ballots are a cornerstone of democracy that needs to be fervently protected. If secret ballots are removed, unions can intimidate employees into voting against their self-interest. Passed 241-185. March 01, 2007.

House Vote 196 - Amtrak Funding
Vote on Sessions amendment that would defund the 10 least-profitable long-distance Amtrak routes. The pro-growth vote is "yea" because taxpayers shouldn't be funding an inefficient, government-run monopoly. Failed 130-299. March 27, 2007.

House Vote 211 - GOP Alternative Budget
Vote on the Ryan substitute amendment that would lower the growth rate on discretionary spending, provide for a $279 billion reduction in mandatory spending, and make the 2001 and 2003 Bush tax cuts permanent. The pro-growth vote was "yea" because the alternative to this responsible budget was the Democratic proposal which increased spending and allowed the Bush tax cuts to expire. Failed 160-268. March 29, 2007.

House Vote 244 - CEO Pay
Vote on a bill that would require public companies to allow shareholders to vote on a non-binding resolution that assessing pay packages for top executives. The pro-growth vote was "nay" because this would have unwisely interfered private sector corporate bylaws. Passed 269-134. April 20, 2007.

House Vote 378 - Affordable Housing Fund
Vote on the Bachus amendment that would defund an affordable housing fund. The pro-growth vote was "nay" because the proposed fund would have been used to finance pro-spending activist groups. Failed 148-269. May 17, 2008.

House Vote 404 - Price Gouging
Vote on Rush motion that would criminalize "price gouging" on fuels in areas that experience an "energy emergency." The pro-growth vote was "nay" because "price gouging" isn't defined in this proposal and it could lead to price controls and shortages. Passed 284-141.

House Vote 488 - Davis-Bacon Waiver
Vote on a Rogers amendment that would prevent projects funded in this bill from having to comply with Davis-Bacon requirements. The pro-growth vote is "yea" because Davis-Bacon requires wages to be paid at a "prevailing" union rate, which is almost always higher than the market rate. This forces taxpayers to pay more than is necessary. Failed 145-277. June 15, 2007.

House Vote 522 - Across-the-Board Cut
Vote on a Jordan amendment that would reduce funding for the Energy-Water appropriations bill by $1.3 billion. The pro-growth vote was "yea" because a reduction in discretionary spending is badly needed after years of unprecedented growth. Failed 129-301. June 20, 2007.

House Vote 537 - Across-the-Board Cut
Vote on Jordan amendment that would reduce funding for the State-Foreign Ops appropriations bill by $3 billion. The pro-growth vote was "yea" because a reduction in discretionary spending is badly needed after years of unprecedented growth. Failed 129-301. Failed 152-268. June 21, 2007.

House Vote 546 - Across-the-Board Cut
Vote on Jordan amendment that would reduce funding for the Legislative Branch appropriations bill by 4 percent. The pro-growth vote was "yea" because a reduction in discretionary spending is badly needed after years of unprecedented growth. Failed 129-301. June 22, 2007.

House Vote 570 - Across-the-Board Cut
Vote on a Jordan amendment that would reduce funding for the Interior-Environment appropriations bill by 4.3 percent. The pro-growth vote was "yea" because a reduction in discretionary spending is badly needed after years of unprecedented growth. Failed 150-281. June 27, 2007.

House Vote 597 - Ban Earmarks
Vote on the Campbell amendment that would defund 148 earmarks from the bill. The pro-growth vote was "yea" because earmarks circumvent the normal budget process, lead to wasteful spending, and are subject to broad abuse by members. Failed 48-372. June 28, 2007.

House Vote 599 - The Fairness Doctrine
Vote on the Pence amendment that would defund the implementation of the "Fairness Doctrine." The pro-growth vote was "yea" because the Fairness Doctrine impedes free speech that is vital for our country. Passed 309-115. June 28, 2007.

House Vote 600 - Across-the-Board Cut
Vote on a Jordan amendment that would reduce funding for the Financial Services appropriations bill by 8.9 percent. The pro-growth vote was "yea" because a reduction in discretionary spending is badly needed after years of unprecedented growth. Failed 149-276. June 28, 2007.

House Vote 680 - Across-the-Board Cut
Vote on a Jordan amendment that would reduce funding for the Labor-HHS appropriations bill by 4.6 percent. The pro-growth vote was "yea" because a reduction in discretionary spending is badly needed after years of unprecedented growth. Failed 136-288. July 19, 2007.

House Vote 708 - Across-the-Board Cut
Vote on a Jordan amendment that would reduce funding for the Transportation-HUD appropriations bill by $3.2 billion. The pro-growth vote was "yea" because a reduction in discretionary spending is badly needed after years of unprecedented growth. Failed 133-292. July 24, 2007.

House Vote 739 - Across-the-Board Cut
Vote on a Jordan amendment that would reduce funding in the Commerce-Justice-Science appropriations bill by 3 percent. The pro-growth vote was "yea" because a reduction in discretionary spending is badly needed after years of unprecedented growth. Failed 138-282. July 26, 2007.

House Vote 746 - Farm Bill Rule
Vote on this rule that would provide for the consideration of the Farm Bill. The pro-growth vote was "nay" because this rule added $4 billion tax hike that would have impeded innovation and capital formation in the economy. Passed 222-202. July 26, 2007.

House Vote 747 - Farm Bill Alternative
Vote on the Kind amendment that would cap subsidies for farmer earning over $250,000 in adjusted gross income. The pro-growth vote is "yea" because it would reform the subsidy program overall, leading to fewer subsidies paid. Also, the savings would partially be used to reduce the deficit. Failed 117-309. July 26, 2007.

House Vote 756 - Farm Bill Passage
Vote on the Farm Bill, which would authorize approximately $286 billion for commodity subsidies, nutritional assistance, and other spending programs. The pro-growth vote was "nay" because the bill had no meaning subsidy reforms. It still allows wealthy farmers to collect market-distorting and trade-distorting subsidies paid for by taxpayers. The bill also included an unnecessary $4 billion tax hike. Passed 231-191. July 27, 2007.

House Vote 808 - Across-the-Board Cut
Vote on a Jordan amendment that would reduce spending for the Agriculture appropriations bill by 5.5 percent. The pro-growth vote was "yea" because a reduction in discretionary spending is badly needed after years of unprecedented growth. Failed 146-284. August 2, 2007.

House Vote 832 - Energy Regulation Bill
Vote on passage of a bill that would set new energy regulations. The pro-growth vote is "nay" because the bill would greatly distort energy markets and add burdensome regulations and mandates. Passed 241-172. August 4, 2007.

House Vote 835 - Energy Tax
Vote on passage of the bill, which was a companion proposal to the Energy bill, would raise taxes on oil and gas companies. The pro-growth vote was "nay" because the tax hike would reduce incentives to produce energy and burden consumers. Passed 221-189. August 4, 2007.

House Vote 884 - TRIA Reauthorization
Vote on the bill that would reauthorize the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act (TRIA) for 15 years. The pro-growth vote was "nay" because the bill would crowd out private insurers, leading the government to be the sole provider of terrorism risk insurance. Passed 312-110. September 19, 2007.

House Vote 906 - State Children's Health Insurance
Vote on a proposal that would extend and expand the State Children's Health Insurance Program. The pro-growth vote was "nay" because this proposal would greatly expand government intervention in health care. Passed 265-159. September 25, 2007.

House Vote 921 - National Flood Insurance Program
Vote on a proposal that would expand the NFIP to include more people. The proposal would also offer a new product that would insure against "wind" damage. The pro-growth vote was "nay" because this program would crowd out the private insurance market for these products. Passed 263-146. September 27, 2007

House Vote 959 - Death Tax Repeal
Vote on a motion that would permanently repeal the Death Tax. The pro-growth vote was "yea" because the Death Tax whose extremely high rates inhibit economic growth. Failed 196-212. October 10, 2007.

House Vote 982 - S-CHIP Veto Override
Vote on overriding President Bush's veto of the S-CHIP reauthorization bill. The pro-growth vote was "nay" because this proposal would greatly expand government intervention in health care. Failed 273-156. October 18, 2007.

House Vote 1040 - Water Resources Development Veto Override
Vote on overriding President Bush's veto of the Water Resources Development Act. The pro-growth vote was "nay" because this bill was stuffed with pork projects and because the total price tag was over 400% larger than the President's initial request. Passed 361-54. November 6, 2007.

House Vote 1060 - Peru Free Trade Agreement
Vote on a proposal that would implement a free trade agreement between the United States and Peru. The pro-growth vote was "yea" because freer trade leads to more economic freedom, more competition, and lower prices for consumers. Passed 285-132. November 8, 2007.

House Vote 1081 - Alternative Minimum Tax
Vote on a bill that would provide for a one-year AMT patch for millions of taxpayers. The pro-growth vote is a "nay" because the bill would finance the patch with a increase capital gains. Passed 216-193. November 9, 2007.

House Vote 1171 - Omnibus Appropriations Bill
Vote on the proposal that would providing funding for most parts of the discretionary federal budget. The pro-growth vote was "nay" because the bill was stuffed with pork, was over the President's spending limit, and because it used accounting gimmicks to artificially reduce the bill's cost. Passed 253-154. December 17, 2007.

House Vote 1177 - Energy Bill
Vote on the proposal that would increase and expand Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards and require 36 billion gallons of biofuels to be produced and used domestically by 2022. The pro-growth vote was "nay" because the CAFÉ standards and the biofuel regulations increase costs and distort the market for cars and fuel. The bill also proposed a tax increase. Passed 314-100. December 18, 2007.

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