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 66% 32% 79% 21% 1997 68 32 84 15 S=Support; O=Oppose
Voting Participation Year % 1998 97 1997 99	Interest Groups Year ADA AFL-CIO CCUS ACU 1998 85% n/a 56% 32 % 1997 75 75 60 32
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 5 : West - Waterbury; Danbury

Some of the nation's richest residents make their home in exclusive small towns in the 5th, but their business and social lives are centered in New York City. Fairfield County, in the southern part of the district, empties out each morning as residents head for New York in luxury sedans (and even a few helicopters).

Heading into the central part of the state, the other half of the 5th's residents live less-charmed lives. As in much of New England, the economy fell apart in the 1980s with the almost complete loss of defense and manufacturing jobs. New Haven County managed to climb out of the hole in the 1990s, attracting some high-tech businesses and starting to clean up the area's "brownfields," created created by brass and hat manufacturing plants. Solving environmental problems is seen as a key to making New Haven County as livable as its genteel neighbor.

Compromise is a politician's best friend in the 5th, a competitive district where neither county can be ignored. Fairfield County is focused on maintaining its high standard of living and keeping out crime but will support socially liberal candidates who attract voters in New Haven County. And New Haven County voters will support moderate Republicans who recognize the needs of their cities.

Major Industry
Manufacturing, defense, health care

Population
547,764 (1990)

Cities
Waterbury, 106,412; Danbury, 65,506; Meridian, 57,189 (1996)

People
78% urban; 13% age 65+ (ranks fifth of six in state; middle third nationally); 61% married couples, 28% married couples with children; 27% college educated (ranks second of six in state; top third nationally); 64% white collar (ranks fourth of six in state; top third nationally), 24% blue collar (ranks third of six in state; middle third nationally) (1990)

Race
91% white, 5% black, 1% Asian; 6% Hispanic origin (1990)

Median Household Income
$44,056 (ranks second of six in state; top third nationally) (1990)

Unusual Features
The Wiffle Ball Inc. makes the original Wiffle Ball in Shelton; The official Congressional Pin, a lapel pin worn by all members of Congress, is manufactured in Waterbury.

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