CQ Voting Studies are an annual analysis of a member's support or opposition to a given position. Interest Group Ratings are based on rankings from groups chosen to represent liberal, conservative, business and labor viewpoints.Voting Participation scores are based on the number of times a member voted "yea" or "nay" on roll call votes (not including quorum calls in the House). CQ Vote Studies Year Presidential Support Party Unity   S* O* S O 1998 82% 18% 96% 3% 1997 83 16 96 4 1996 84 16 93 7 1995 85 14 94 6 1994 82 13 96 3 1993 84 16 95 4 1992 17 82 94 6 1991 26 72 95 5 S=Support; O=Oppose
Voting Participation Year % 1998 99 1997 99 1996 99 1995 99 1994 99 1993 99 1992 99 1991 99	Interest Groups Year ADA AFL-CIO CCUS ACU 1998 100% n/a 28% 8 % 1997 95 100 30 13 1996 85 100 19 0 1995 85 100 25 4 1994 90 78 42 5 1993 95 100 9 4 1992 90 92 13 4 1991 95 92 20 0
Note on Interest Groups: ADA=Americans for Democratic Action; AFL-CIO=American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations; CCUS=Chamber of Commerce of the United States; ACU=American Conservative Union

CONNECTICUT 3 : South - New Haven

Working-class, bedrock constituents of the Democratic Party mix with the liberal elite of the ivory tower in the 3rd. Situated on the state's southern coast, it encompasses both the working-class elements of New Haven, a busy blue-collar port, and prestigious Yale U. Yale might be the city's largest employer, but there is tension between the university and the town surrounding it. Flashpoints include unionization, a big issue for any blue-collar city. Still, Yale has made increasing efforts to support the community, encouraging workers and professors alike to live within city limits.

New Haven is solidly Democratic, with outlying towns leaning slightly to the right. The 3rd is home to many minority groups that traditionally support Democrats. Hispanics are the fastest growing minority, and the district also has the highest percentage of Italian-Americans in the nation. This mix may create tensions within the Democratic Party, but it keeps the district solidly liberal.

The defense industry plays a large role in the 3rd. Sikorsky Aircraft, a helicopter manufacturer, and Pratt & Whitney's New Haven plant for commercial and military aircraft depend on the military for survival. Legislators in the area know the importance of making jobs available, and employment has remained stable, if not spectacular.

Major Industry
Trade, manufacturing, defense

Military Bases
Stratford Army Engine Plant, 5 military, 150 civilian (1995)

Population
547,904 (1990)

Cities
New Haven, 124,665; West Haven, 52,153; Stratford, 49,389 (1996)

People
86% urban, 15% age 65+ (ranks first of six in state; top third nationally); 54% married couples, 23% married couples with children; 27% college educated (ranks second of six in state; top third nationally); 65% white collar (ranks third of six in state; top third nationally), 22% blue collar (ranks fourth of six in state; bottom third nationally) (1990)

Race
84% white, 12% black, 1% Asian; 5% Hispanic origin (1990)

Median Household Income
$39,815 (ranks fifth of six in state; top third nationally) (1990)

Unusual Features
Trial resulting from the slave revolt that inspired the movie "Amistad" took place in New Haven; Frisbee invented at Yale U. in 1920 when students discovered that empty pie plates from the Frisbee Baking Co. of nearby Bridgeport were fun to toss around on New Haven Green.

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