WASHINGTON – Senator Chuck Grassley recently received the Defender of Freedom award from The Club for Growth, the nation’s leading free-market advocacy organization. The award honors member of Congress who have a strong voting record on issues related to economic growth and job creation.

“With his score of 91 percent, Senator Grassley has demonstrated a clear commitment to economic liberty and growth,” said Club for Growth President, Chris Chocola. “During one of the toughest economic years in memory, he showed that the principles of free enterprise and free markets are the only way to create jobs and rescue our economy.”

“Creating a climate where businesses can grow and create jobs is a no brainer,” said Grassley. “That includes pro-growth tax policy, increased international trade, and fiscally responsible spending. We need to keep up the fight for lower taxes and more certainty in the law to give our economy the boost it needs.”

The Defender of Freedom award is based on votes tracked by Club for Growth in 2009. A score of 100 percent indicates the highest support for pro-growth policies, lawmakers who scored 90 percent or higher receive the Defender of Freedom award.

In 2009, Grassley introduced the Small Business Tax Relief Act, which would enact tax changes beneficial to small businesses. Earlier this year, Grassley worked to pass amendments to the Restoring American Financial Stability Act of 2010, that would reduce burdensome regulations, would guarantee privacy rights are respected in the law, and would not limit small business’ access to credit. 

Economists have noted that the uncertainty of the tax code has made businesses hesitate to invest and create new jobs. Grassley has been a leading advocate for the extension of the 2001 and 2003 tax relief measures for small businesses and American families that will expire at the end of 2010. If the tax relief is not extended, taxpayers will see the largest tax increase in the history of the country. Figures from the National Federal of Independent Businesses show that if the top two tax rates increase, 20 million jobs will be threatened.