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10. Sen. John McCain (R.-Ariz.)
Joined Lincoln Chafee as the only two GOP senators to oppose the 2001 Bush tax cuts. Wants to be President. Adopted Democrats' class-war rhetoric in arguing against those tax cuts on the Senate floor: "I cannot, in good conscience, support a tax cut in which so many of the benefits go to the most fortunate among us, at the expense of middle-class Americans who most need tax relief" (May 26, 2001).
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9. Sen. Lincoln Chafee (R.-R.I.)
One of only two Senate Republicans (with John McCain) to vote against the Bush tax cuts in 2001. Unlike McCain, has also been a proponent of big-government programs and higher federal spending.
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8. Sen. John Kerry (D.-Mass.)
Serves on Senate Finance Committee. Married to Teresa Heinz, heiress to the Heinz fortune, and fights against needed tax relief for the middle class. Ran for President on the idea of getting rid of the Bush tax cuts. Is considering another run for the White House. Scored only a 7% NTU rating last year.
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7. Rep. Charles Rangel (D.-N.Y.)
Ranking Democrat on the House Ways and Means Committee. Would become chairman if Democrats take control of Congress. Opposed President Reagan's tax cuts. Opposed all Bush tax cuts, and opposes efforts to extend tax cuts. Would increase taxes if given the opportunity. Received a 9% NTU rating in 2004, and a 15% rating in 2005.
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6. Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D.-W.Va.)
Second-highest Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee. Helped lead the fight against the Bush tax cuts of 2001. Man of vast inherited wealth who works to prevent tax cuts for middle-class Americans and small businesses. Scored only a 7% NTU rating in 2005 and a 14% rating in 2004.
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5. Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D.-Ill.)
Chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. Serves on House Ways and Means Committee. Working to elect a Democratic House majority in 2006 that would cancel the Bush tax cuts and raise taxes. Tied Pelosi's 8% NTU rating in 2004 and received a 12% rating in 2005.
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4. Rep. Steny Hoyer (D.-Md.)
House minority whip. Like his counterpart in the Senate, assists the minority leader in keeping Democrats in line against tax cuts. At 7%, was one of only a handful of House members to have a lower 2004 NTU rating than Pelosi. Scored only a 13% NTU rating in 2005.
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3. Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D.-Calif.)
House minority leader. Like Reid in the Senate, sets anti-tax-cut agenda for House Democrats. Leads House minority's efforts to prevent future tax relief. Her 2004 8% NTU rating was among the lowest of all House members. Received an abysmal 11% NTU rating for 2005.
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2. Sen. Dick Durbin (D.-Ill.)
Senate minority whip. Assists Minority Leader Reid in keeping Senate Democrats in lockstep against extending the Bush tax cuts or making them permanent. His NTU rating of 4% was the lowest of all senators last year. Had the second-lowest score in 2004 at 8%.
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1. Sen. Harry Reid (D.-Nev.)
Senate minority leader. Sets agenda for Senate Democrats, including use of budgetary points of order against tax cuts. Is the mastermind behind Senate minority’s anti-tax-cut plans. Received a 5% rating from the National Taxpayers Union (NTU) last year, the second-lowest score among all senators, and a 14% in 2004.
