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 73% 21% 81% 12% 1997 69 28 77 19 S=Support; O=Oppose
Voting Participation Year % 1998 92 1997 94	Interest Groups Year ADA AFL-CIO CCUS ACU 1998 80% n/a 47% 13 % 1997 65 100 40 38
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

TEXAS 16 : West - El Paso and suburbs

Looking more toward Mexico than Texas, the solidly Democratic 16th includes most of El Paso and some suburbs. Joined to Mexico by the Bridge of the Americas, the 16th has a 70 percent Hispanic population, with many of those residents speaking Spanish and celebrating Mexican holidays.

Mexico deeply affects the 16th's economy. Companies on the U.S. side of the border provide supplies and services to manufacturing plants in Mexico, and residents from El Paso's sister city, Ciudad Juarez, often cross the border to spend money in El Paso's stores. In recent years, leaders have been concerned with the effects of NAFTA, which they blame for displacing American workers. The trade agreement has been partially responsible for an explosion of maquiladoras, twin plants in which Mexican workers do the bulk of the manufacturing labor and Americans complete the products with final details.

Since 1964, Democrats have held the 16th's congressional seat, often unchallenged by Republicans. The 16th gave Clinton more than 63 percent of its vote in 1996, nearly 20 points higher than the state average. The pattern of Democratic domination applies to local races, too.

Major Industry
Manufacturing, apparel, defense

Military Bases
Fort Bliss (Army), 12,000 military; 6,511 civilian (1998) (shared with the 23rd District)

Population
566,238 (1990)

Cities
El Paso (pt.), 502,690 (1990); Socorro, 25,409 (1996); Fort Bliss (pt.), 11,316 (1990)

People
97% urban; 8% age 65+ (ranks 20 of 30 in state; bottom third nationally); 61% married couples, 36% married couples with children; 15% college educated (ranks 17 of 30 in state; bottom third nationally); 56% white collar (ranks 14 of 30 in state; middle third nationally), 28% blue collar (ranks 13 of 30 in state; middle third nationally) (1990)

Race
77% white, 4% black, 1% Asian; 70% Hispanic origin (1990)

Median Household Income
$22,632 (ranks 19 of 30 in state; bottom third nationally) (1990)

Unusual Features
The Border Patrol Museum features displays of aircraft and vehicles used by the patrol as well as surveillance equipment and confiscated items.

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