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The Drum Major Institute for Public Policy (DMI) released its “TheMiddleClass.org 2007 Congressional Scorecard” today, giving U.S. Representative Michael A. Arcuri (D-Utica) a 100% voting score on middle-class issues including health care, college affordability and the impact of free trade agreements.

“Middle-class families are the heart and soul of the American economy,” Arcuri said. “I am honored to receive this recognition and will continue to support legislation in Congress to bring tax relief, quality, affordable healthcare, and expanded educational opportunity to local families.”

Arcuri has a proven track record of voting to help middle-class families get ahead by expanding access to higher education. The College Cost Reduction and Access Act, the largest federal investment in student aid since the 1944 GI Bill, was signed into law in September and strongly supported by Arcuri. Arcuri also supported The College Access and Affordability Act, to bring down sky-rocketing tuition costs, simplify complex federal student aid programs and end corrupt practices in the student loan industry.

Since taking office, Arcuri has voted repeatedly for legislation to provide health care to over 10 million children nationwide, including 396,042 children currently enrolled in New York’s SCHIP program (CHPlus), to reduce the burden on taxpayers who foot the bill when uninsured Americans end up in the emergency room.

“The middle-class squeeze isn’t inevitable. It is the result of decisions made by those we elect to represent us. Important legislation was voted on this year, ranging from health care and education bills that were aimed at alleviating middle-class burdens to misguided trade agreements and tax policies that were skewed towards wealthy Americans and hurt the middle class. Simply put, how Congress votes matters,” said DMI Executive Director Andrea Batista Schlesinger.

Last year, Arcuri voted against the U.S. – Peru Trade Promotion Agreement in an effort to stem the tide of local job loss to foreign nations.

In February, Arcuri strongly supported, and the President signed into law, the Recovery Rebates and Economic Stimulus for the American People Act, which will provide 8.3 million New York families with tax rebates of up to $1,200 per couple, plus $300 per child as early as mid-May.

When asked about the most important function of the annual DMI middle-class scorecard, Ms. Schlesinger responded, “Accountability. Members of Congress cannot tell the public they support the middle class but then cast votes against them. Thanks to TheMiddleClass.org, every American has access to their Senators’ and Representative’s voting records on the most important middle-class legislation. Without question, those who kept their word, like Representative Arcuri, deserve every accolade they receive.”

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