Q: Every conservative knows abut the Repork Card. What are some of the other tools that the Club for Growth uses to spread its message of fiscal conservatism?
The Club for Growth uses a number of other tools. For example, we issue an annual congressional scorecard that grades congressional members on how they voted on a number of important economic issues. Last year, our scorecard includes votes on government spending, taxes, free speech, regulatory issues, free trade, and property rights. Members receive scores ranging from 0 to 100 with a score of 100 indicating the highest support for pro-growth policies. Last year, three senators and six representatives received perfect scores. You can check out last year's scorecard here, and we hope to release the 2007 congressional scorecard soon.
During the year, we also send all congressional members "key vote" alerts when a particularly important economic vote is coming up with an explanation of the issue and what is the pro-growth position.
Over the past year, we have tackled a number of other important issues. We organized a petition in support of free trade and in opposition to tariffs on China. We got this idea from a petition organized in 1930 protesting the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act, signed by President Herbert Hoover, imposing massive tariffs on a wide swath of industries. Since the 1930 petition was signed by 1,028 economists across the country, we also gathered 1,028 signatures from economists, including four Nobel Prize winners, and ran the petition as a full page ad in the Wall Street Journal. We also held a press conference publicizing the petition.
We have also been very involved in the presidential race, issuing white papers on each of the major candidates. These papers provide readers with a comprehensive report of the economic records of the various candidates. These white papers, which can be viewed on our website, were instrumental on helping voters and the media discern which candidates truly represent economic conservative values.
These are just a couple of things we have done over the past year. We hope to continue to play a major role in the presidential race and continue to educate the public and members of congress about the importance of pro-growth policies.
Q: Do you believe that earmark reform is an issue that will resonate with American voters this November? Why or why not?
Yes. Grassroots conservatives are fed up with ridiculous wasteful spending that goes on in Congress and you are beginning to see that grassroots sentiment reflected in congressional activity. Last year, only eighteen congressional members eschewed earmarks. Only two months into the new year, a growing number of congressmen are taking an earmark moratorium, with the list currently at twenty-five House members and six Senators, including Rep. Henry Waxman, the first House Democrat to reject earmarks. The Club for Growth maintains a list of these congressmen, updated as appropriate, which you can see here. It is clear that congressional members are beginning to realize that this is an issue that is important to voters.
Q: What is the Club's position on the Fair Tax proposal of Gov. Huckabee?
The Club has not taken a position on the Fair Tax versus other reform proposals. We believe that the current tax system is too burdensome and too complicated and badly in need of reform. Both the Flat Tax and the Fair Tax would be a drastic improvement over the current system.
Q: Will the Club for Growth limit its influence to the national races or will they take an active role in some state legislative races?
The Club for Growth only gets involved in national races. There are state chapters across the country that take an active role in state legislative races.
Q: What can the Club for Growth do to help highlight state tax reform proposals? For example, here in Minnesota, Gov. Pawlenty is putting together a "21st Century Tax Reform Commission" because our tax code is perfectly set up for a "1960's economy & demographic."
The Club for Growth focuses on national issues. Our state chapters operate independently and often get involved in the kind of state proposals you're talking about.
When I read that CFG has state chapters, I checked their website to see if Minnesota had a chapter. When I didn't find a state chapter listing page, I called them for more information. The young lady I spoke with said that CFG didn't have a Minnesota chapter. However, she said that CFG often agreed with the work that Phil Krinkie & the Taxpayers League of Minnesota does.
I can't say that I'm surprised by that information but it's good hearing it nonetheless.
