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% 62% 38% 1997 60 40 67 32 1996 57 42 73 25 1995 38 59 77 21 1994 67 31 60 37 1993 66 32 64 32 1992 62 37 66 32 1991 63 35 53 46 1990 52 46 54 43 S=Support; O=Oppose
Voting Participation Year % 1998 99 1997 99 1996 98 1995 98 1994 97 1993 97 1992 97 1991 98 1990 98	Interest Groups Year ADA AFL-CIO CCUS ACU 1998 55% n/a 83% 16 % 1997 55 50 80 36 1996 20 18 81 55 1995 20 8 78 56 1994 30 22 100 52 1993 40 45 91 65 1992 40 42 75 58 1991 35 42 70 55 1990 44 33 57 50
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 6 : Northwest - New Britain

Located in northwest corner of the state, the 6th is a model of small-town New England living. Towns still have commons, greens and town hall meetings. The Berkshire Mountains roll into the district's edges. Still, there are many pockets of industry, and several cities border the rural farmland. This blended landscape attracts New Yorkers looking to escape city life while maintaining their standard of living.

The 6th's economy has been slowly improving since the recession of the late 1980s. Once affluent, the 6th bore the brunt of the downturn in Connecticut, shrinking in population after losing manufacturing jobs. Once famed for its ball bearing plants and specialized precision work, the district's economic turnaround is being aided by a rise in the health care industry.

The area has been considered Democratic since the late 1980s because of its economic instability, although Republicans have a solid presence in the smaller towns and a moderate Republican holds the House seat. Republican presidential candidates did well in the 1980s. But that began to change when the recession hit in the late '80s and early '90s, and Democratic presidential candidates scored easier victories. Legislators have to be attuned to social concerns, including regenerating the area's crumbling cities and capping a rising crime rate that has bewildered small-town residents. In an area that was used to affluence, maintaining the standard of living is a big issue for both parties.

Major Industry
Health care, insurance, manufacturing

Population
547,765 (1990)

Cities
New Britain, 71,512; Bristol, 59,619; Torrington, 34,529 (1996)

People
57% urban; 14% age 65+ (ranks fourth of six in state; top third nationally); 60% married couples, 26% married couples with children; 25% college educated (ranks fifth of six in state; top third nationally); 63% white collar (ranks fifth of six in state; top third nationally), 25% blue collar (ranks second of six in state; middle third nationally) (1990)

Race
95% white, 2% black, 1% Asian; 3% Hispanic origin (1990)

Median Household Income
$42,817 (ranks third of six in state; top third nationally) (1990)

Unusual Features
Bill Rasmussen, the founder of ESPN, dreamed up the idea for a cable sports network in Bristol; Pulitzer Prize-winning author Philip Roth resides in the district.

© 2002 The Washington Post Company