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 89% 5% 92% 4% 1997 80 15 92 2 1996 82 18 95 3 1995 86 10 96 2 1994 78 21 95 2 1993 82 11 91 2 1992 18 82 94 4 1991 27 70 95 5 1990 20 79 92 5 S=Support; O=Oppose
Voting Participation Year % 1998 96 1997 95 1996 97 1995 97 1994 96 1993 93 1992 98 1991 98 1990 99	Interest Groups Year ADA AFL-CIO CCUS ACU 1998 90% n/a 38% 0 % 1997 90 100 20 4 1996 95 91 27 0 1995 95 100 13 4 1994 95 78 33 5 1993 85 92 27 4 1992 95 83 25 0 1991 95 83 20 0 1990 94 92 21 0
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

WASHINGTON 7 : Seattle and suburbs

Framed by mountains, lakes and Puget Sound, the 7th provides a serene atmosphere for Seattle. Although more rain falls in Seattle than almost any other part of the nation, the region is considered one of the most desirable places to live. The 7th's diversity and liberal political leanings help inspire a cultural scene recognized for creating 1990s social trends like grunge music.

The Seattle region has become a home to high-tech startups and industry leaders. Software behemoth Microsoft, in nearby Redmond (1st District), is only one of more than 2,000 computer development firms in the area. Aviation also provides thousands of jobs, as does the area's biotechnology industry. Although the city's population growth has not kept pace with the state as a whole, its suburbs, especially in the north, form one of the fastest growing regions in the country. The Port of Seattle is also one of the major gateways to Asian markets and makes the 7th one of the most trade-dependent economies in the nation. Although the Asian economic crisis has affected some large, multinational corporations, the technology boom has kept the economy of the 7th prosperous.

The 7th is one of the nation's most liberal bastions. Democrats often face no opposition in elections. The community cares mostly about health care, education and, most recently, traffic; the population growth in suburbs outside the 7th has created long delays on the area's roadways.

Major Industry
Aviation, computer software, health care

Population
541,202 (1990)

Cities
Seattle (pt.), 484,501; Riverton-Boulevard Park (unincorporated) (pt.), 14,830 (1990)

People
99% urban; 15% age 65+ (ranks first of nine in state; top third nationally); 38% married couples, 14% married couples with children; 37% college educated (ranks first of nine in state; top third nationally); 69% white collar (ranks first of nine in state; top third nationally), 17% blue collar (ranks ninth of nine in state; bottom third nationally) (1990)

Race
76% white, 10% black, 12% Asian; 3% Hispanic origin (1990)

Median Household Income
$29,707 (ranks fifth of nine in state; middle third nationally) (1990)

Unusual Features
In 1971, the first Starbucks Coffee opened at Pike's Place Market; Jimi Hendrix attended Franklin High School.

© 2002 The Washington Post Company