Seventeen Legislators Receive Defenders of the American Dream&" Award

State Representatives Carl Isett (R-Lubbock) Ken Paxton (R-McKinney) and Sen. Dan Patrick (R-Houston) all each received A-plus grades in a newly-released taxpayers’ legislative report card. 

“Three legislators were at the top of the class with A-plus ratings while 17 legislators received A’s” said Peggy Venable AFP-Texas director.  “These legislators voted consistently for free enterprise and taxpayer protections and will receive the AFP Defending the American Dream award.” 

This is the second year Americans for Prosperity-Texas has rated legislative votes and issued the taxpayer’s legislative report cards. 

Top award winners in the Texas House include Representatives Leo Berman (R-Tyler) Betty Brown (R-Athens) Fred Brown (R-Bryan) Byron Cook (R-Corsicana) Dan Flynn (R-Canton) Dan Gattis (R-Georgetown) Rick Hardcastle (R-Vernon) Bryan Hughes (R-Marshall) Phil King (R-Weatherford) Larry Phillips (R-Sherman) Debbie Riddle (R-Houston) Joe Straus (R-San Antonio) Robert Talton (R-Pasadena) and Corbin Van Arsdale (R-Houston). 

“We congratulate and thank these legislators as champions for taxpayers” said Venable.
“We appreciate their leadership in keeping taxes low while fulfilling the appropriate role of government.”

“While these legislators protected taxpayers fourteen legislators got F’s” said Venable.  “Those legislators failed to protect taxpayers’ interests.”

“Citizens deserve to know how legislators voted on issues that are important to taxpayers” said Venable.

Forty-six house members received a grade of “B” and were designated “Friend of the Taxpayer.”  In determining the grades 21 House votes and 17 Senate votes taken during the 80th Texas Legislative session were scored.  The votes were selected based on AFP’s mission to support the principles of entrepreneurship and fiscal and regulatory restraint and taxpayer protections.