Obama and Biden Don’t Measure Up to McCain on Spending and Taxes

Washington, D.C. - The Council for Citizens Against Government Waste Political Action Committee (CCAGW PAC) today compared the abysmal voting records of Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama and Vice Presidential nominee Joe Biden to presumptive Republican nominee John McCain from the Council for Citizens Against Government Waste’s 2007 Congressional Ratings.

“The 2007 Congressional Ratings show that the Democratic nominees for President and Vice-President would spend and tax far more than John McCain,” said CCAGW PAC Chairman Tom Schatz.  “Throughout their careers in the Senate, the two Democrats have demonstrated little regard for the harmful effect a large and cumbersome federal government has on taxpayers’ wallets.  Voters should take into consideration both their low ratings and their numerous earmarks.”

• Sen. Obama’s 2007 rating was 10 percent, making his lifetime score 18 percent.  The 2008 Congressional Pig Book contained 53 earmarks worth $97.4 million for Sen. Obama, including $1,648,850 for the Shedd Aquarium.
• Sen. Biden received the worst possible rating in 2007 with 0 percent, while his lifetime rating is 22 percent.  According to the Pig Book, Sen. Biden had 70 earmarks for a total of $119.7 million in fiscal year 2008, including $246,100 for the Grand Opera House in Wilmington.
• Sen. McCain has a lifetime rating of 88, has never requested nor received a single earmark, and has pledged to veto any spending bill that contains any earmarks.                  

The key word in the election is ‘change,’ but the Obama-Biden ticket only offers more of Washington’s wasteful ways,” said Schatz.  “John McCain has a history of putting the interests of taxpayers ahead of politics by consistently voting to cut wasteful spending, reduce the tax burden, and make government more accountable to taxpayers.  On Election Day, Senators Obama and Biden should be returned to their day jobs and Sen. McCain should be sent to the White House.”

CCAGW PAC is affiliated with the Council for Citizens Against Government Waste, a 501(c)(4) organization.  CCAGW PAC’s mission is to support political candidates who will fight to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse in government and represent the best interests of taxpayers.