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 34% 65% 78% 20% 1997 32 60 83 13 1996 42 57 82 15 1995 25 71 90 7 1994 51 49 94 6 1993 38 58 87 10 S=Support; O=Oppose
Voting Participation Year % 1998 98 1997 97 1996 98 1995 97 1994 99 1993 97	Interest Groups Year ADA AFL-CIO CCUS ACU 1998 25% n/a 89% 68 % 1997 15 50 80 60 1996 10 45 81 79 1995 15 33 83 75 1994 10 33 92 90 1993 20 58 73 83
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

NEW YORK 24 : North Country - Plattsburgh; Watertown; Oswego

One of the East Coast's largest districts, the 24th covers more than one-fourth of the state, bordering Lake Champlain, the St. Lawrence Seaway and Lake Ontario. The waterways provide an inexpensive source of electricity, which has lured some heavy industry to the 23rd and given it a number of blue-collar voters.

But the majority of the district is rural and Republican, full of small towns, dairy farmers and maple syrup producers. Concern for Fort Drum near Watertown, one of the district's economic mainstays, reinforces the 24th's tendency to support the GOP. Although Fort Drum is one of the largest and most modern Army facilities on the East Coast and probably safe from post-Cold War base closures, district residents experienced the economic hardship that comes with base closures when Plattsburgh Air Force Base shut down in 1993.

Unemployment remains a problem throughout the district; harsh winters and high transportation costs make attracting jobs difficult. But the district also covers most of the Adirondack Mountains, making tourism a growing industry. In 1996, economic difficulties contributed to Clinton's victory in this otherwise Republican mainstay. Clinton County, bordering independently minded Vermont, is the only county with a regular and substantial Democratic vote.

Major Industry
Agriculture, manufacturing, tourism, defense

Military Bases
Fort Drum, 10,200 military, 2,200 civilian (1997)

Population
580,376 (1990)

Cities
Watertown, 28,700; Plattsburgh, 19,043; Oswego, 18,522 (1990)

People
65% rural; 12% age 65+ (ranks 21 of 31 in state; middle third nationally); 60% married couples, 31% married couples with children; 14% college educated (ranks 28 of 31 in state; bottom third nationally); 49% white collar (ranks 30 of 31 in state; bottom third nationally), 30% blue collar (ranks second of 31 in state; top third nationally) (1990)

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

Median Household Income
$25,687 (ranks 26 of 31 in state; bottom third nationally) (1990)

Unusual Features
Antique Boat Museum near Clayton.

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