Austin, TX – Twenty-five year incumbent Lamar Smith received the lowest score among Texas Republicans on the National Taxpayers Union’s 33rd Annual Rating of Congress, released last week. Smith received a 71 on the scorecard, which rates members of Congress on their votes related to taxes, spending, debt, and regulatory burdens.
“His score makes it clear he’s just one more big-government politician,” said Richard Morgan, a software engineer and conservative activist running against Smith in the District 21 Republican Primary. “At a time when Congress has a lower approval rating than the IRS, we need someone who will stand on principle and demonstrate a commitment to true fiscal responsibility.”
Smith’s record includes votes for seven debt ceiling increases, TARP, and No Child Left Behind.
“It’s been less than a year since our last debt ceiling crisis, and we’re on path to hit our new debt ceiling again before the end of 2012,” said Morgan. “Our federal spending is higher this year than it was last year, after a $1 trillion spending cut.”
The National Taxpayers Union is not the only conservative scorecard to rank Smith so low. Smith also ranks last among Republicans from Texas in the Heritage Action Scorecard with a score of 60%.
“When two of the most conservative scorecards are in complete agreement that he is the least conservative Republican from Texas, what more proof do you need?” asked Morgan.
But Smith may not be hopeless.
“Since I joined the race, his score has gone up from a 56% to a 60%. I guess we’re making him more conservative,” laughed Morgan.