ACU Honors the Best and Brightest Members of the 109th Congress, First Session

ALEXANDRIA, VA— The American Conservative Union, the nation’s oldest and largest grassroots conservative lobbying organization, today honored the 50 best and brightest members of the 109th Congress, First Session, as determined by a 100 percent score in ACU’s 2005 “Rating of Congress.”

In a ceremony at the Capitol Hill Club, ACU’s chairman, David A. Keene, recognized 12 Senators and 38 Members of the House for their voting-based commitment to ideological conservatism.

“As many increasingly question what conservatism means today—especially in the face of an exploding and encroaching federal government—these rock-solid conservatives held fast to ACU’s core values of fiscal discipline and limited government,” said Keene. “Unmoved by shifting poll numbers and the Potomac temptations to make headlines and put power over principle, these men and women deserve our respect, our admiration, and our votes.”

ACU has rated every member of Congress since 1971. The purpose of the “Rating” is to inform the public, in as unbiased a method as possible, exactly where individual members stand on the major issues.

Senators who received ACU’s 2005 “Best and Brightest” award are as follows:

Congressmen who received ACU’s 2005 “Best and Brightest” award are as follows:

W. Todd Akin (R-MO) J. Gresham Barrett (R-SC) Bob Beauprez (R-CO) Rob Bishop (R-UT) Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) John Boehner (R-OH) Jo Bonner (R-AL) John Campbell (R-CA) Chris Cannon (R-UT) Tom Cole (R-OK) Virginia Foxx (R-NC) Trent Franks (R-AZ) Scott Garrett (R-NJ) Phil Gingrey (R-GA) J. Dennis Hastert (R-IL) J.D. Hayworth (R-AZ) Jeb Hensarling (R-TX) Peter Hoekstra (R-MI) John Hostettler (R-IN)

Bobby Jindal (R-LA) Steve King (R-IA) John Kline (R-MN) Donald Manzullo (R-IL) Patrick McHenry (R-NC) Cathy McMorris (R-WA) John Mica (R-FL) Marilyn Musgrave (R-CO) Randy Neugebauer (R-TX) Charlie Norwood (R-GA) Mike Pence (R-IN) Joseph Pitts (R-PA) Pete Sessions (R-TX) John Shadegg (R-AZ) Bill Shuster (R-PA) John Sullivan (R-OK) Thomas Tancredo (R-CO) Mac Thornberry (R-TX) Joe Wilson (R-SC)

Archives of ACU’s ratings are available at www.acuratings.org.