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 17% 83% 93% 4% 1997 24 72 93 5 S=Support; O=Oppose
Voting Participation Year % 1998 96 1997 98	Interest Groups Year ADA AFL-CIO CCUS ACU 1998 0% n/a 82% 100 % 1997 10 25 90 80
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

MISSOURI 7 : Southwest - Springfield; Joplin

Two decades of rapid growth helped lift southwestern Missouri from a poor rural hideaway to a burgeoning resort region with a growing industrial base. Since the 1970s this part of Missouri has outpaced the rest of the state in population growth.

Springfield, the district's industrial and commercial center, has become a manufacturing hub. More than 40 percent of the 7th's residents live in Greene County, where Springfield is located, and neighboring Christian County. The district's other population center is Joplin. Once a lead and zinc mining town, it is now a manufacturing and trucking center. Tourism thrives in much of the district, especially in Branson, which has become a magnet for country music fans who are attracted to its theaters and studios. In the southwestern corner of the district lies the more hilly Ozark region, which supports beef and dairy cattle, along with poultry. Many of the small, isolated communities in the Ozarks have not quite yielded to development.

The 7th has long been considered a Republican bastion. Springfield, the district's largest city, has become slightly more Democratic since the 1980s, partly because of the influx of new residents. However, the city still leans Republican. The 7th's conservatism also is reflected in its politically active religious organizations.

Major Industry
Manufacturing, agriculture, tourism

Population
568,017 (1990)

Cities
Springfield, 143,407; Joplin, 43,698; Carthage, 11,381 (1997)

People
48% rural, 39% urban; 16% age 65+ (ranks second of nine in state; top third nationally); 61% married couples, 27% married couples with children; 15% college educated (ranks seventh of nine in state; bottom third nationally); 50% white collar (ranks seventh of nine in state; bottom third nationally), 32% blue collar (ranks second of nine in state; top third nationally) (1990)

Race
97% white, 1% black, 0% Asian; 1% Hispanic origin (1990)

Median Household Income
$21,712 (ranks eighth of nine in state; bottom third nationally) (1990)

Unusual Features
President Harry S. Truman born in Lamar; Springfield is home to Fantastic Caverns, America's only ride-through cave; Branson, setting of Harold Bell Wright's novel, "The Shepherd of the Hills."

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