Since 1989, the Council for Citizens Against Government Waste (CCAGW) has examined roll call votes to help identify which members of Congress have defended taxpayer interests and which have backed away from their promises of fiscal responsibility. The Congressional Ratings separate the praiseworthy from the profligate by evaluating important tax, spending, transparency, and accountability measures. CCAGW applauds those members of Congress who stand up for taxpayers and ignore the temptation of satisfying local and special interests. However, those who support a big-government agenda should be prepared to face the consequences of their spendthrift behavior.

CCAGW’s 2024 Congressional Ratings, for the second session of the 118th Congress, score 36 votes in the House of Representatives and eight in the Senate. By comparison, CCAGW rated 66 votes in the House of Representatives and 16 in the Senate for the first session of the 118th Congress.

CCAGW rates members on a 0-100 percent scale. Members are placed in the following categories: 0-19 percent, Hostile; 20-39 percent, Unfriendly; 40-59 percent, Lukewarm; 60-79 percent, Friendly; 80-99 percent, Taxpayer Hero; and 100 percent, Taxpayer Super Hero.

CCAGW also analyzed ratings based on party affiliation.

The averages were: Senate Republicans – 76 percent, down 9 percentage points from 85 percent in 2023; Senate Democrats, including Independents – 5 percent, up 3 percentage points from 2 percent in 2023. House Republicans – 80 percent, up 6 percentage points from 74 percent in 2023; House Democrats – 4 percent, up 2 percentage points from 2 percent in 2023.

CCAGW congratulates the members who stood by taxpayers and championed fiscal responsibility throughout the second session of the 118th Congress and encourages the constituents of non-Taxpayer Heroes to demand better results from their elected officials.