U.S. Rep. Steve Chabot (R-Westwood) has received the endorsement of the National Taxpayers Union Campaign Fund, the political action arm of the 362,000-member National Taxpayers Union.

Chabot is being challenged by state Rep. Steve Driehaus (D-Price Hill) in Ohio's 1st Congressional District.

"Since Representative Chabot was first elected in 1994, he has emerged as one of the most fiscally responsible elected officials on Capitol Hill," NTUCF President Duane Parde said. "National Taxpayers Union Campaign Fund has endorsed him in the past, and we couldn't be more eager to do so again for this year's election."

Chabot has won the "Taxpayers' Friend Award" in NTU's annual Rating of Congress, which analyzes every roll call vote affecting fiscal policy, every year in office except one (1996, when he earned a "B+" grade). The Rating assigns House and Senate Members a "Taxpayer Score" and letter grade reflecting their commitment to reducing the burden on taxpayers.

In completing and signing NTU's 2008 Congressional Candidate Survey, Chabot has pledged to work for the passage of major tax reform, eliminate the Alternative Minimum Tax that is threatening the middle class, abolish the marriage tax penalty, and address deficit spending through common-sense spending restraint.

"Congressman Chabot has shown a rare quality that many office-seekers don't have these days: the integrity to take a stand in writing on specific issues and consistently vote that way year after year," Parde said. "His pro-taxpayer record in NTU's Rating and his demonstrated commitment to honest fiscal discipline have earned him NTU Campaign Fund's endorsement; they should earn him the votes of Ohio's 1st District residents, as well."

The NTUCF is the political action arm of the National Taxpayers Union, the nation's largest grassroots taxpayer organization. NTU was founded in 1969, creating the NTU Campaign Fund in 1994. Endorsement decisions by NTUCF require a unanimous vote on a nonpartisan basis by a five-member committee that includes two Independents, one Democrat, and two Republicans.