Washington – After intense negotiations and conference meetings, the new Farm Bill revealed yesterday offers taxpayers little in the way of true reform. The Club for Growth commends President Bush for threatening to veto the legislation and urges all members of Congress to uphold the president’s veto when the time comes.

Supporters of the Farm Bill are touting its many reforms, but most of them are nothing more than window dressing. These same supporters also neglect to mention the large increases in subsidies and the further distortion of the agricultural market that will occur as a result. Some of the bill’s most egregious elements include:

• Increased farm subsidies at a time of record-high farm income
• New subsidies for sugar, fruit, and nut producers
• The new caps on income in order to qualify for subsidies do not go far enough and leave wiggle room for wealthier farmers to continue to collect subsidies.
• Budget gimmicks that hide as much as $10 billion in extra spending so that the real cost of the Farm Bill will be even higher than supporters claim
• A new program that pays farmers for weather-related farm losses, creating incentives to grow the wrong crops on bad land in bad weather and leading to economic distortions and greater conservation pressures
• Severely hampers progress on the DOHA Round for world free trade negotiations
• Tax breaks for race horse owners and timber companies

“Today, Agriculture Secretary Ed Shafer said the president will veto the Farm Bill, and we commend that action,” said Club for Growth President Pat Toomey. “Congress should not be allowed to throw more and more taxpayer dollars at every special interest under the sun and call it ‘reform.’ There is nothing reform-minded about a bill that increases subsidies and tax breaks for special interests, further distorts the agricultural market, and hampers the country’s free trade agenda.”

The Club for Growth will be key-voting the vote on the Farm Bill conference report, urging all members to vote “No.” Key votes are included in our Congressional Scorecard for the 110th Congress. The scorecard provides a comprehensive rating of how well or how poorly each member of Congress supports pro-growth, free-market policies.

Washington - Today, the Club for Growth released its 2007 annual scorecard, awarding the Defender of Economic Freedom award to six senators and forty-nine representatives who scored a 90 or above on the Club's scorecard (see here).

"These top-scoring members of Congress are staunch defenders of American taxpayers," said Club for Growth President Pat Toomey. "Their votes are critical to lowering taxes, cutting wasteful spending, and promoting economic growth for all Americans. The Club for Growth scorecard allows taxpayers to see how their senators and representatives are performing in Congress and find out who is truly fighting for pro-growth, limited-government policies. We hope that support for pro-growth principles will continue to grow, allowing more members to earn this award and more Americans to benefit."

The ratings are based on a comprehensive examination of votes in the House and Senate pertaining to key economic issues, including taxes, wasteful spending, entitlement reform, free trade, and regulation. Each lawmaker is given an economic growth score ranging from 0 to 100, with a score of 100 indicating the highest support for pro-growth policies. The Club is also introducing a searchable database that allows you to search past and current scorecards by party, state, house, and member.

Washington - Anyone who's watched Don Young waste billions of dollars on outrageous pork projects knows the Alaska representative has long disregarded the interests of American taxpayers. Now, Rep. Young is taking his disregard to the next level, proposing a dollar-per-gallon gasoline tax as Americans across the country are being hit with record-high prices at the pump.

Americans are already overtaxed and certainly don't need a new tax on gasoline, especially when commodity prices are rising through the roof. This proposal is all the more egregious when it is all but certain Young will attempt to spend the new tax dollars on wasteful pork projects.

Over his thirty-plus years in Congress, Don Young has accumulated a vast array of pork projects on the backs of American taxpayers. Last year, when Rep. Scott Garrett sought to eliminate money for one of Young's pork projects, Young defended the project, yelling: "You want my money, my money!" Young was also partially responsible for earmarking $223 million for the infamous "Bridge to Nowhere" in Alaska. It is clear that Don Young thinks taxpayer dollars are his to do with as he pleases-the more wasteful the better.

"Don Young's disrespect for taxpayers is all the more insulting when it produces economically harmful policies," said Club for Growth President Pat Toomey. "This is true whether we are talking about Young's insatiable appetite for wasteful pork projects or his desire to impose higher taxes on American taxpayers. In both cases, Young is taking money out of the private sector that would be used to help the economy grow. Taxpayers and the economy would be much better off if Young took a hands-off approach."

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Washington - Today, the Club for Growth PAC released a television ad in California's Fourth Congressional District. The ad buy will run on broadcast television in the Sacramento market and cable systems throughout the Fourth District.

Entitled "Puzzle," the ad seeks to educate voters about Doug Ose's liberal record when he served in Congress. Ose is currently running millions of dollars in ads but he is leaving out the most important pieces of the puzzle, including his votes to waste billions of tax dollars on wasteful pork projects. These projects include The Cowgirl Hall of Fame in Texas, peanut competitiveness, and an indoor rainforest in Iowa. Ose also voted for a Democrat budget and huge new entitlement spending-votes he conveniently neglects to mention in his own ads.

"Apparently, Doug Ose thinks taxpayers should be paying for a Cowgirl Hall of Fame and an indoor rainforest-he just doesn't want taxpayers to know about it," said Club for Growth Executive Director David Keating. "But taxpayers deserve to know about the crucial differences between big-spending Doug Ose and conservative stalwart Tom McClintock. If elected, Doug Ose will continue to waste taxpayer dollars just like he did when he served in Congress initially. Tom McClintock will fight against the wasteful spenders just like he has done throughout his time in the California Legislature."

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Club for Growth PAC-Endorsed Candidate Steve Scalise Wins in Louisiana

Washington – Tonight, Club for Growth PAC-endorsed candidate Steve Scalise won his special general election in Louisiana’s First Congressional District with over 70 percent of the vote.

State Senator Steve Scalise is a true economic conservatives. Over more than a decade in the State Legislature, Scalise helped lead the fight against tax increases and wasteful spending, even when they came from his own party.

“Tonight, taxpayers in Louisiana can be happy to know they are sending a conservative stalwart to Congress,” said Club for Growth President Pat Toomey. “We are confident Steve Scalise will work tirelessly to fight for lower taxes, an end to wasteful spending, and limited government. Taxpayers could certainly use a conservative like Steve Scalise down in Washington.”

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Washington – The Club for Growth commended John McCain for vowing to veto the Farm Bill if elected president.

When asked about the Farm Bill today at a campaign event in Iowa, Senator McCain was unambiguous: “I do not support it. I would veto it. I would do that because I believe the subsidies are unnecessary and I do not believe we should have tariffs against imported products.”

Without any real reform, the current Farm Bill deal merely perpetuates the old system of rewarding special interests on the backs of American taxpayers. In an era of record-high farm incomes, there is no reason why Congress should be throwing taxpayer dollars at wealthy farmers and horse racers.

“In an election year where farm states like Iowa might prove crucial, McCain’s promise to veto the Farm Bill in favor of stronger economic growth is an act of political courage rarely seen in politics,” said Club for Growth President Pat Toomey. “The current Farm Bill is a travesty that throws billions of taxpayer dollars at a smorgasbord of special interests. American taxpayers would be better off if more politicians would echo McCain’s threat on this issue. We encourage Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama to follow his lead.”

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Washington – Hillary Clinton talks about changing Washington, but it is clear the New York Senator has no intention of making good on her word. When it comes to keeping the congressional pork factory churning, Senator Clinton is one of Washington’s biggest culprits.

The proof is in the pork: News reports reveal that Hillary Clinton has requested a whopping $2.3 billion in earmarks for the Fiscal Year 2009. This staggering number is nearly triple the largest amount of pork projects received by any Senator this year.

“Although Hillary Clinton joined Barack Obama and John McCain in voting for a one-year earmark moratorium this year, it is clear the move was nothing more than political showmanship,” said Club for Growth President Pat Toomey. “Senator Clinton was happy to support earmark reform when she knew the bill would not pass, but when it comes to being a leader on the issue Senator Clinton is nowhere to be found.”

“Hillary Clinton defends these projects as critical to New York, but she doesn’t explain why taxpayers across the country should be forced to fund her pork projects without so much as a vote or why she thinks she knows how to spend their money better than they do. After the United States Senate rejected her request for $1 million for a hippie museum last year, one would think Senator Clinton would have learned her lesson.”

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Washington – The Club for Growth condemned the Farm Bill deal as a disaster for taxpayers and urged all members of Congress to vote against the bill.

Last week, the House and Senate conferees released the details of a Farm Bill deal and it doesn’t look promising. The bill perpetuates much of the waste and misuse of taxpayer dollars contained in the previous farm bills. Despite promises of reform, the Farm Bill deal contains no meaningful reform of wasteful farm subsidies and piles on additional spending. These include:

• Billions of dollars in direct payments to farmers earning record-high incomes during the biggest commodity boom in decades
• No limit on on-farm income in order to qualify for subsidies. This means taxpayers will continue to fund subsidies to wealthy farmers.
• A $4 billion spending boost above the current baseline for conservation programs
• $10.3 billion in new spending on nutrition
• New tax breaks for Cellulosic ethanol and timber industries
• A continuation of ethanol subsidies that contribute to sky-rocketing food prices while we restrict imports of low-cost ethanol precursors
• Ongoing incentives to grow the wrong crops on bad land in bad weather, only leading to economic distortions and greater conservation pressures
• These egregious farm subsidies prevent any meaningful progress on the DOHA Round for world free trade negotiations
• A $350 million tax break for race horse owners

“This current Farm Bill deal is an insult to taxpayers across America,” said Club for Growth President Pat Toomey, “including many farmers who see their tax dollars going to the wealthiest farmers. The expiration of the 2002 Farm Bill presented Congress with the perfect opportunity to institute real reforms. Instead, Congress has decided to pile on the waste and special-interest giveaways. The White House has rightly threatened to veto the Farm Bill in its current form and we urge President Bush to follow through on his threat. If ever there was a bill worthy of being vetoed, it is the taxpayer-funded monstrosity known as the Farm Bill.”

Washington - Today, the Club for Growth PAC released a radio ad (MP3 file) on Sacramento radio in California's Fourth Congressional District.

The ad seeks to set the record straight about Doug Ose's liberal voting record in Congress. Doug Ose is running ads claiming to be a conservative, but when he served in Congress, Doug Ose voted for billions of dollars in wasteful pork spending, including the Cowgirl Hall of Fame, peanut competitiveness, and an indoor rainforest in Iowa. Ose also voted for a Democratic budget and against Republican budgets. He even voted to make it easier to tax the Internet. That's a liberal record, no matter what his ads say.

"Doug Ose is trying to pull the wool over voters' eyes, but he can't hide his liberal, big-spending record," said Executive Director David Keating. "Voters in California's Fourth Congressional District deserve to know the truth about how Doug Ose voted when he was in Congress. If voters are looking for a conservative candidate who will fight to protect their tax dollars-that person is not Doug Ose; it's Tom McClintock."

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Washington – The Club for Growth PAC endorsed Republican Representative Paul Broun in Georgia’s Tenth Congressional District.

Although Rep. Broun has only been in Congress nine months, he has already shown himself to be a conservative stalwart on economic issues. He received a 100% on the Club for Growth’s RePORK Card, voting against all pork projects for which he was present, and has recently taken a self-imposed moratorium on earmarks. Broun is also a strong supporter of tax cuts, limited government, and free market policies.

“In his short time in Congress, Paul Broun has proven himself to be a valuable member of the Republican Caucus and the Republican Study Committee,” said Club for Growth President Pat Toomey. “He has stood steadfast against wasteful government spending and big-government initiatives even if it meant voting against his Party. The Club for Growth PAC will do whatever it takes to help Rep. Broun earn a full term.”

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Washington - The Club for Growth PAC will release an ad tomorrow in Louisiana's Sixth Congressional District. The $100,000 ad buy will run on broadcast television in the Baton Rouge market.

Entitled "Liberal Majority," the ad demonstrates just how liberal Don Cazayoux's record really is on economic issues. When Cazayoux was in the State Legislature, he voted for a slew of higher taxes, including higher income taxes, higher taxes on groceries, and even a hospital tax. If elected, Cazayoux will only increase Nancy Pelosi's majority in the House of Representatives, thereby helping Pelosi in her efforts to raise taxes. A vote for Don Cazayoux is a vote for Nancy Pelosi's liberal majority.

"In the special election on May 3rd, voters in Louisiana's Sixth Congressional District will have a choice between two very different kinds of candidates," said Club for Growth President Pat Toomey. "On the one hand, you have Dan Cazayoux with a track record of voting for tax hike after tax hike. And then you have Woody Jenkins who has never voted for a tax increase during his time in the Legislature and has worked faithfully to protect Louisiana taxpayers. It is clear which candidate will work to protect American taxpayers in Congress."

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Washington – In a huge victory for taxpayers tonight, Club for Growth PAC-endorsed candidate, Chris Hackett, won the Republican nomination in Pennsylvania’s Tenth Congressional.

“From the beginning, it was clear that Chris Hackett was the true conservative in this race,” said Club for Growth President Pat Toomey. “When few politicians in Washington are willing to stand up to wasteful government spending, Chris Hackett signed an anti-pork pledge and vowed to protect American taxpayers. Chris Hackett is exactly the kind of leader Pennsylvania voters can be proud of. ”

In contrast, Democratic Representative Chris Carney has a record of voting for outrageous wasteful spending. Just this year, Carney voted to spend taxpayer’s hard-earned money on a mule and packers museum in California; a Lobster Institute in Maine; a zoo in Texas; a ballet theatre in New York City; a prison museum in Kansas; and many other wasteful pork projects.

“The contrasts between Chris Hackett and Democratic Chris Carney are clear,” Mr. Toomey continued. “Chris Hackett is committed to fighting against wasteful government spending and tax increases. Chris Carney is committed to wasting taxpayer dollars and raising taxes. We are confident Chris Hackett will win in the general election just like he won tonight.”

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Washington – Today, Senator Jim DeMint offered an amendment on the Senate floor to strike new earmarks from the 2005 Highway Bill and prohibit spending increases for earmarks already contained in the Highway Bill. The motion to kill the amendment passed 78-18. Club for Growth President Pat Toomey issued the following statement on Minority Leader Mitch McConnell’s opposition to Senator DeMint’s important reform:

“The Club for Growth is very disappointed by Senator McConnell’s vote against Senator DeMint’s effort to save taxpayers money. As the leader of the Republican Caucus, it is his responsibility to set an example for the rest of the Caucus. Four weeks ago, we were pleased to see Senator McConnell support a one-year moratorium on earmarks for the Fiscal Year 2009, also offered by Senator DeMint. His previous support made his opposition today all the more disappointing. In the future, we hope Senator McConnell will lead the way in the Senate in the fight against wasteful government spending and for genuine earmark reform.”

Washington – A congressional candidate in Pennsylvania’s Tenth Congressional District, is siding with Nancy Pelosi, Howard Dean, and John Kerry on the important issue of Social Security—and he is not the Democrat. Although Dan Meuser claims to be an economic conservative, it is clear that Meuser sides with liberal Democrats on Social Security reform rather than the vast majority of Republicans.

In a new mailer, Meuser attacks his primary opponent Chris Hackett for supporting personal retirement accounts as part of Social Security reform. Meuser uses scare tactics to make people think personal accounts would reduce people’s benefits. This is blatantly dishonest and exactly the kind of demagoguery we normally hear from liberal Democrats. The truth is, personal Social Security accounts will actually increase workers’ benefits and give them more choice and freedom in their retirement years. Under the current system, their payroll taxes are spent by the government and never accumulate savings.

To make matters worse, Dan Meuser does not offer an alternative plan for reforming Social Security. Social Security is going broke. By 2017, the system will start running out of money, and the government will not be able to pay the promised benefits to seniors. The Democratic alternatives are to raise taxes and cut benefits. Since Meuser likes Nancy Pelosi’s position on Social Security so much, does he also support raising Social Security taxes and cutting benefits?

“Chris Hackett has taken the responsible view of reforming a program that is unsustainable and needs to be fixed,” said Club for Growth President Pat Toomey. “This is the position held by President Bush, Senator John McCain, and most Republicans in Congress. In contrast, Dan Meuser is taking a page right out of Nancy Pelosi’s liberal playbook, using half-truths to try to scare senior citizens into voting for him. If anything is frightening, it is the thought of Dan Meuser siding with the liberal Democrats in Congress.”

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Washington – Senator McCain’s economic speech today offers real hope that a McCain administration would promote strong pro-growth policies on government spending, taxes, trade, and entitlement reform. At the same time, a few of his proposals, like his HOME plan, leave something to be desired. Club for Growth President Pat Toomey issued the following statement:

“Senator McCain deserves a lot of credit for many of the policies and positions he spoke about today. His support for free trade and his consistent support for cutting government spending are welcome respites from the economically debilitating populism we are accustomed to hearing from the Democratic candidates.”

“Particularly noteworthy are McCain’s tax policies. Not only did he take the Democrats to task for supporting a record tax increase, he went further, proposing a cut in the corporate tax from 35% to 25%; first-year expensing of new equipment and technology; and an optional flat tax. If implemented, these measures will stimulate strong economic growth in this country, making American businesses more competitive and reducing the inefficiency and waste that result from the current tax code.”

“Unfortunately, McCain’s HOME plan puts American taxpayers on the hook for new government-backed mortgages to homeowners who made poor decisions. Though McCain declared his aversion to government bailouts just a week ago, this new plan is exactly that. Furthermore, the HOME plan appears to give government the right to rewrite contractual agreements between lenders and borrowers, a measure that would surely undermine confidence in American contracts in general and result in further contraction in available credit.”

“Other elements of McCain’s economic plan, such as his proposal to reform our unemployment insurance system, hold much promise, but we await the specifics of these plans.”

“In the tax policies he put forth today, Senator McCain demonstrates an appreciation for the burden taxpayers face and the potential for increased economic growth when government interference in the private sector is restricted to a minimum. We encourage Senator McCain to apply these same principles across the board, especially when dealing with the current housing crisis.”

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