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 82% 17% 88% 10% 1997 76 20 82 13 1996 82 16 88 9 1995 80 16 84 11 1994 82 12 86 10 1993 72 25 84 10 1992 27 70 86 9 1991 32 67 89 8 1990 30 67 80 14 S=Support; O=Oppose
Voting Participation Year % 1998 98 1997 96 1996 96 1995 95 1994 97 1993 95 1992 94 1991 96 1990 94	Interest Groups Year ADA AFL-CIO CCUS ACU 1998 85% n/a 41% 8 % 1997 85 100 40 16 1996 80 91 25 5 1995 75 100 25 16 1994 80 78 58 15 1993 75 100 9 17 1992 85 100 25 12 1991 90 83 30 10 1990 72 67 46 21
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 29 : Northwest - Part of Buffalo; Niagara Falls

Niagara County, home to the world-famous Niagara Falls and about 40 percent of the district's voting population, is the heart of the 29th. The remainder of the district stretches east across Lake Ontario to the edge of Rochester and encompasses a full range of demographics, from the Italian-American community of Buffalo to the dairy farms of Orleans.

The Niagara River powers the district's two main industries, tourism and manufacturing. The waterfall's romance attracts more than 10 million visitors annually. But the river also provides plentiful and inexpensive power for the region's significant manufacturing sector, which produces chemicals, auto parts and cereal, among other products.

The 29th's blue-collar base gives Democrats a slight advantage, but Republican-leaning Orleans County and the suburbs of Rochester make the district competitive. Democratic Rep. LaFalce has seen his winning percentage fall from highs of 91 percent in 1982 and '86 to the mid-50s throughout the 1990s.

Major Industry
Chemical production, tourism, auto parts

Population
579,831 (1990)

Cities
Buffalo (pt.), 113,145; Tonawanda (unincorporated), 65,284; Niagara Falls, 61,840 (1990)

People
67% urban; 15% age 65+ (ranks 10 of 31 in state; top third nationally); 54% married couples, 24% married couples with children; 18% college educated (ranks 19 of 31 in state; middle third nationally); 56% white collar (ranks 25 of 31 in state; middle third nationally), 28% blue collar (ranks fourth of 31 in state; middle third nationally) (1990)

Race
93% white, 4% black, 1% Asian; 3% Hispanic origin (1990)

Median Household Income
$28,951 (ranks 21 of 31 in state; middle third nationally) (1990)

Unusual Features
In 1980, President Jimmy Carter issued an emergency declaration in response to toxic pollution at Love Canal; An estimated 50,000 honeymooners visit Niagara Falls - negative ions generated by the falling water are thought to be a strong aphrodisiac and the reason for the city's honeymooning popularity.

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