WASHINGTON - U.S. Sen. Sam Brownback has received recognition as a 'Taxpayer Hero' by The Council for Citizens Against Government Waste (CCAGW).

"We must eliminate wasteful government spending," Brownback said. "Providing America's working families with relief from the marriage penalty, and keeping wasteful bureaucrats away from working families' paychecks would be a step in the right direction.

"Quite simply, Americans have overpaid their bill to the United States Government, and they deserve a rebate. With a surging surplus it is imperative that the Congress give the American people a growth rebate.

"Among my top priorities remains providing the American people the marriage penalty tax relief they deserve. Legislation to relieve the burden of this unfair marriage penalty has been tied up in Congress through partisan parliamentary maneuvers. Yet, it doesn't make sense why any member of Congress would be opposed to providing relief from this tax burden which effects almost half of America's families, causing them, on average, to pay an additional $1,400 in taxes every year simply because they are married.

"I will continue to work on behalf of taxpayers to ensure that their hard-earned dollars are used wisely by government, and that they receive a refund from their tax overpayment," Brownback said.

In naming Sen. Brownback a 'Taxpayer Hero', CCAGW president Thomas A. Schatz said, "Sen. Brownback is a true rarity on Capitol Hill - a lawmaker willing to stand up against the special interests in Washington.

"Taxpayers need to know who is part of the waste problem on Capitol Hill, and who is part of the solution. The members who received CCAGW's Taxpayer Hero awards are part of the solution," Schatz said.

Citizens Against Government Waste is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating waste, fraud, mismanagement and abuse in government. Their 16-pate congressional ratings report is available at their website, www.cagw.org.