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 57% 43% 58% 42% 1997 55 45 66 34 1996 53 47 69 31 1995 44 56 71 29 1994 56 44 67 33 1993 55 45 63 37 1992 40 60 62 38 1991 58 42 65 35 1990 34 66 60 40 S=Support; O=Oppose
Voting Participation Year % 1998 99 1997 99 1996 100 1995 100 1994 100 1993 100 1992 100 1991 100 1990 100	Interest Groups Year ADA AFL-CIO CCUS ACU 1998 45% n/a 56% 40 % 1997 55 38 70 56 1996 30 27 69 60 1995 40 8 79 40 1994 55 22 100 38 1993 60 42 64 58 1992 65 67 38 40 1991 60 42 70 50 1990 72 50 36 25
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 4 : Southwest - Stamford; Bridgeport

The sparkling "Gold Coast" of Connecticut, bordering Long Island Sound and New York City, is a wealthy enclave surrounding the working-class city of Bridgeport. This contrast creates a complex world for politicians to navigate. Polo clubs rub elbows with the decayed city of Bridgeport.

Many district residents travel to jobs in New York City and Stamford, causing severe traffic problems on Interstate 95, already a congested route. Traffic issues permeate the public debate. Welfare-to-work programs also have become an issue as poor Bridgeport residents seek jobs in the suburbs. Having failed to place welfare recipients in good jobs in the city, the government has alarmed some suburbanites by making moves to place workers in the affluent suburbs.

The suburban elite are the driving force of the 4th's political landscape, giving the district more registered Republicans than any other in Connecticut. In 1996, the district had the lowest vote margin for Clinton in Connecticut. There is an uneasy mix between the wealthy, homogenous villages and the poor, urban areas where a majority of the population generally votes Democratic. Republican mayors dominate local politics and have been responsive to the large businesses headquartered in the district.

Major Industry
Manufacturing, banking, medical

Population
547,561 (1990)

Cities
Bridgeport, 137,990, Samford, 110,056, Norwalk, 77,977 (1996)

People
96% urban; 14% age 65+ (ranks third of six in state; top third nationally); 55% married couples, 23% married couples with children; 34% college educated (ranks first of six in state; top third nationally); 69% white collar (ranks first of six in state; top third nationally), 19% blue collar (ranks sixth of six in state; bottom third nationally) (1990)

Race
80% white, 13% black, 2% Asian; 11% Hispanic origin (1990)

Median Household Income
$47,636 (ranks first in state; top third nationally) (1990)

Unusual Features
P.T. Barnum, founder of the Ringling Bros., Barnum & Bailey Circus, made his home in Bridgeport; During both World Wars I and II, Bridgeport was the largest producer of ammunition for the Allied forces.

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