Based on these votes, each member of Congress earns a percentage rating for support of The Leadership Conference priorities. This rating cannot indicate the full extent of a legislator’s support for or opposition to Leadership Conference positions and represents neither endorsement nor condemnation of any member of Congress. The Leadership Conference has taken a sample of bills considered during the first session of the 111th Congress.
The Leadership Conference Voting Record was created with the bills in this sample. While it is difficult to predict the legislation that will be enacted at the end of the session, this sample of bills that have already been considered reflects how members of Congress have aligned with The Leadership Conference priority areas from the beginning of the 111th Congress through December 15, 2009.
A vote in accordance with The Leadership Conference’s position is a “+” vote; a vote contrary to The Leadership Conference’s position is a “-” vote. A “+” or “-” in parentheses reflects the announced position of the member, but is not reflected in the overall “report total.” An “x” indicates a yea or nay vote was not cast. An “i” indicates the member of Congress was not in office for the full term.
During the first session of the 111th Congress, Rep. Rahm Emanuel, D-IL, resigned in January 2009; Rep. Kristen Gillibrand, D-NY, resigned in January 2009; Rep. Hilda Solis, D-CA, resigned in February 2009; Rep. Scott Murphy, D-NY, won a special election in March 2009; Rep. Mike Quigley, D-IL, won a special election in April 2009; Rep. Ellen Tauscher, D-CA, resigned in June 2009; Rep. Judy Chu, D-CA, won a special election in July 2009; Rep. John McHugh, D-NY, resigned in September 2009; Rep. John Garamendi, D-CA, won a special election in November 2009; Rep. William Owens, D-NY, won a special election in November 2009; Sen. Ken Salazar; D-CO, resigned in January 2009; Sen. Michael Bennet, D-CO, won a special election in January 2009; Sen. Joe Biden, D-DE, resigned in January 2009; Sen. Ted Kaufman, D-DE, won a special election in January 2009; Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-NY, resigned in January; Sen. Kristen Gillibrand, D-NY, was appointed in January; Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania changed party affiliation from Republican to Democrat in April; Sen. Al Franken, D-MN, was seated in July after the resolution of a disputed election; Sen. Mel Martinez, RFL, resigned in August 2009; Sen. Edward Kennedy, DMA, died in August 2009; Sen. George Lemieux, R-FL, won a special election in September 2009; and Sen. Paul Kirk, D-MA, won a special election in September 2009.
The votes of the District of Columbia (DC) delegate do not appear in The Leadership Conference Voting Record because although D.C. residents must pay federal taxes, they are not given voting representation in Congress.
The Leadership Conference Voting Record for the 111th Congress reflects positions taken by every senator and representative on the legislative priorities of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights and its coalition members. The Leadership Conference can count on 217 House members and 50 senators to support its priorities on 90 percent or more of the votes in he Leadership Conference Voting Record. The Leadership Conference Voting Record reflects only roll call votes that were officially recorded on the floor of the U.S. Senate or House of Representatives.
For more information, please contact The Leadership Conference’s Public Policy Department at 202.466.3311.
