The Most Divided Congress
Posted in Main Blog (All Posts) on February 25th, 2011 5:37 am by HL
The Most Divided Congress
The 2010 National Journal congressional vote ratings show that Congress was more polarized last year than in any other year since the ratings began. Overlap between the parties is disappearing.
“For only the second time since 1982, when NJ began calculating the ratings in their current form, every Senate Democrat compiled a voting record more liberal than every Senate Republican — and every Senate Republican compiled a voting record more conservative than every Senate Democrat. Even Nebraska’s Ben Nelson, the most conservative Democrat in the rankings, produced an overall voting record slightly to the left of the most moderate Republicans last year: Ohio’s George Voinovich and Maine’s Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe. The Senate had been that divided only once before, in 1999.”
“But the overall level of congressional polarization last year was the highest the index has recorded, because the House was much more divided in 2010 than it was in 1999… Just five House Republicans in 2010 generated vote ratings more liberal than the most conservative House Democrat, Gene Taylor of Mississippi.”
Romney Defends Health Care Plan
Mike Huckabee’s sustained attacks on Mitt Romney’s health care plan developed while governor of Massachusetts finally prompted a response, the Boston Globe reports.
Said a spokesman: “Mitt Romney is proud of what he accomplished for Massachusetts in getting everyone covered. What’s important now is to return to the states the power to determine their own healthcare solutions by repealing Obamacare. A one-size-fits-all plan for the entire nation just doesn’t work.”
