As a dues-paying member of the National Taxpayers Union, I recently received the latest issue of “Dollars & Sense.” The issue included the NTU’s 30th annual Rating of Congress. The scorecard was based on every roll call vote affecting taxes, and was based on 286 votes; 182 in the House and 104 in the Senate, covering all of 2008.

Only 48 lawmakers were awarded an “A” grade and, thus, the short list receiving the “Taxpayers Friend Award.” Not a single member of the six New England states made that list. Not a single Democrat received an “A.” A total of 267 senators and representatives posted “F” grades.

Sen. Olympia Snowe became the first Republican senator to receive an “F” grade since NTU began issuing letter grades in 1992, with a taxpayer score of 12 percent.

Is it time for Snowe to change her party affiliation from Republican to Democrat, where most of the big spenders are?

Marcel R. Morin, Auburn