Watchdog group endorses Toomey for U.S. Senate

The Council for Citizens Against Government Waste Political Action Committee has formally announced its endorsement of former U.S. Rep. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) in the race for U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania.

From a CCAGWPAC press release:

"Pat Toomey is a proven leader in supporting limited government and eliminating excessive spending," said CCAGWPAC Chairman Tom Schatz. "Pat Toomey's voting record as a three-term member of the U.S. House of Representatives demonstrates that he will always represent the best interests of the taxpayers.

He was recognized by the Council for Citizens Against Government Waste (CCAGW) as a 'Taxpayer Hero' with a lifetime rating of 95 percent for his three terms in the House of Representatives and was a 'Taxpayer Super Hero' in 2001 for receiving a perfect score of 100 percent. With this type of record, taxpayers can take comfort that if elected to the U.S. Senate, Pat Toomey will continue to work to eliminate waste, fraud, and mismanagement in government.

On the other hand, Pat Toomey's opponent, Rep. Joe Sestak (D-Pa.) received a CCAGW vote rating of zero percent in 2009 and has a lifetime CCAGW rating of 5 percent.

These ratings reflect the fact that Rep. Sestak supports pork-barrel earmarks and wasteful government spending as well as tax increases. These policies have not resulted in creating jobs or helped to improve the U.S. economy."

On May 11, 2010, Rep. Toomey signed CCAGW's "No Pork Pledge," meaning he will not request any earmarks if he is elected to the Senate. In contrast, Rep. Sestak secured wasteful pork-barrel earmarks for 99 projects worth nearly $102 million from fiscal years 2008-2010. CCAGW this week will be challenging Rep. Sestak to renounce his earmark addiction and sign the "No Pork Pledge."

"Rep. Toomey has a demonstrated ability to lead Congress to improve the future economic outlook. America needs leaders who say 'no' to wasteful spending and the ongoing pork-fest in Washington. Pat Toomey will work to cut the record budget deficit and reduce taxes, which will improve the lives of every Pennsylvanian and all taxpayers," concluded Schatz.

For more about CCAGWPAC, which supports political candidates who will fight to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse in government and represent the best interests of taxpayers, visit the group's Web site at www.ccagwpac.org