CQ TODAY ONLINE NEWS
Sept. 29, 2008 – 5:38 p.m.
Bailout Bill a Bust Among House Members in Competitive Races
By Bob Benenson, CQ Politics Editor
The House bill that would have provided up to $700 billion in federal funds to bail out the nation’s endangered financial system fell this afternoon by a relatively narrow majority of 228-205. But the measure was overwhelmingly unpopular among lawmakers who face this year’s most competitive races in their bids for re-election.
Of the 20 Republicans whose re-election races are rated by CQ Politics as highly competitive — No Clear Favorite, Leans Democratic or Leans Republican — 17 of them, or 85 percent, voted no on the bill. Of the other 178 Republican members voting on the bill, 116 or 65 percent voted no.
The difference was much more striking on the Democratic side. Of the 21 Democratic members in highly competitive races, 15 (71 percent) voted no. Among the rest of the Democratic members who voted, a strong majority voted in favor of the bill, with 134, or 63 percent, voting yes.
There was a partisan split, though, among those members running for re-election whose races are rated by CQ Politics as either Democrat Favored or Republican Favored, meaning that are likely to win re-election but face serious challengers. Of the 19 Republican members in races rated Republican Favored, only two, or 11 percent, voted yes. Of the 13 Democrats in races rated Democrat Favored, nine, or 69 percent, voted yes.
It may be revealing that members who are retiring were much more supportive than their colleagues at large of passing the bailout bill. Among outgoing Republicans whose seats not rated as “safe” for the GOP in this fall’s elections, 17 voted yes (74 percent), five voted no (22 percent) and one did not vote. All three House Democrats whose open seats are not “safe” for a Democratic hold voted yes on the bill.
The following is a chart that breaks down the votes cast Monday on the financial industry bailout bill by House members whose districts have races rated by CQ Politics as highly competitive (No Clear Favorite, Leans Republican or Leans Democratic) or somewhat competitive (Democrat Favored or Republican). Each member is listed by party, and categorized according to CQ Politics’ current rating for the general election contest in his or her district.
The roundup begins with the votes cast by members who are seeking re-election this year. It is followed by a second and smaller grouping of members who are not seeking re-election, because they are retiring, are seeking other office or were defeated in a primary.
Members Seeking Re-Election
REPUBLICANS
No Clear Favorite
Total: 4 — Yes: 2 (50 percent) No: 2 (50 percent)
- Robin Hayes , North Carolina 8: No
- Jon Porter , Nevada 3: Yes
- Dave Reichert , Washington 8: No
- Christopher Shays , Connecticut 4: Yes
Leans Republican
Bailout Bill a Bust Among House Members in Competitive Races
Total: 15 — Yes: 1 (7 percent) No: 14 (93 percent)
- Vern Buchanan , Florida 13: No
- Shelley Moore Capito , West Virginia 2: No
- Steve Chabot , Ohio 1: No
- Mario Diaz-Balart : Florida 21: No
- Phil English , Pennsylvania 3: No
- Tom Feeney : Florida 24: No
- Sam Graves , Missouri 6: No
- Dean Heller , Nevada 2: No
- Ric Keller , Florida 8: No
- John R. “Randy” Kuhl Jr. , New York 29: No
- Joe Knollenberg , Michigan 9: No
- Mark Steven Kirk , Illinois 10: Yes
- Marilyn Musgrave , Colorado 4: No
- Jean Schmidt , Ohio 2: No
- Tim Walberg , Michigan 7: No
Leans Democratic
Total: 1 — No: 1 (100 percent)
- Don Young , Alaska at-large: No
Republican Favored
Total: 19 — Yes: 2 (11 percent) No: 17 (89 percent)
- Michele Bachmann , Minnesota 6: No
- Judy Biggert , Illinois 13: No
- Charles Boustany Jr. , Louisiana 7: No
- John Culberson , Texas 7: No
- Charlie Dent , Pennsylvania 15: No
- Lincoln Diaz-Balart , Florida 25: No
- Thelma Drake , Virginia 2: No
- Scott Garrett , New Jersey 5: No
- Jim Gerlach , Pennsylvania 6: No
- Virgil H. Goode Jr. , Virginia 5: No
- John Kline , Minnesota 2: Yes
- Steven C. LaTourette , Ohio 14: No
- Michael McCaul , Texas 10: No
- Tim Murphy , Pennsylvania 18: No
- Peter Roskam , Illinois 6: No
- Bill Sali , Idaho 1: No
- John Shadegg , Arizona 3: No
- Lee Terry , Nebraska 2: No
- Frank R. Wolf , Virginia 10: Yes
DEMOCRATS
No Clear Favorite
Total: 4 — Yes: 1 (25 percent) No: 3 (75 percent)
- Nancy Boyda , Kansas 2: No
- Don Cazayoux , Louisiana 6: No
- Nick Lampson , Texas 22: No
- Tim Mahoney , Florida 16: Yes
Leans Democratic
Bailout Bill a Bust Among House Members in Competitive Races
Total: 17 — Yes: 5 (29 percent) No: 12 (71 percent)
- Jason Altmire , Pennsylvania 4: No
- Christopher Carney , Pennsylvania 10: No
- Travis W. Childers , Mississippi 1: No
- Bill Foster , Illinois 14: Yes
- Gabrielle Giffords , Arizona 8: No
- Kirsten Gillibrand , New York 20: No
- Baron P. Hill , Indiana 9: No
- Paul E. Kanjorski , Pennsylvania 11: Yes
- Steve Kagen , Wisconsin 8: No
- Jim Marshall , Georgia 8: Yes
- Jerry McNerney , California 11: Yes
- Harry E. Mitchell , Arizona 5: No
- Christopher S. Murphy , Connecticut 5: Yes
- Ciro D. Rodriguez , Texas 23: No
- Carol Shea-Porter , New Hampshire 1: No
- Tim Walz , Minnesota 1: No
- John Yarmuth , Kentucky 3: No
Democrat Favored
Total: 13 — Yes: 9 (69 percent) No: 4 (31 percent)
- Michael Arcuri , New York 24: Yes
- John Barrow , Georgia 12: No
- Melissa Bean , Illinois 8: Yes
- Andre Carson : Indiana 7: No
- Joe Courtney , Connecticut 2: No
- Joe Donnelly , Indiana 2: Yes
- Brad Ellsworth , Indiana 8: Yes
- John Hall , New York 19: Yes
- Paul W. Hodes , New Hampshire 2: No
- Ron Klein , Florida 22: Yes
- Dennis Moore , Kansas 3: Yes
- Patrick J. Murphy , Pennsylvania 8: Yes
- Zack Space , Ohio 18: Yes
Members Not Seeking Re-Election
(NOTE: Ratings are for races to succeed departing members. Members are retiring unless otherwise noted.)
REPUBLICANS
No Clear Favorite
Total: 6 — Yes: 5 (83 percent) No: 1 (17 percent)
- Mike Ferguson , New Jersey 7: Yes
- Deborah Pryce , Ohio 15: Yes
- Jim Ramstad , Minnesota 3: No
- Ralph Regula , Ohio 16: Yes
- H. James Saxton , New Jersey 3: Yes
- Heather A. Wilson , New Mexico 1 (lost Senate primary): Yes
Leans Republican
Total: 7 — Yes: 4 (57 percent) No: 3 (43 percent)
Bailout Bill a Bust Among House Members in Competitive Races
- Barbara Cubin , Wyoming at-large: Yes
- John T. Doolittle , California 4: No
- Terry Everett , Alabama 2: Yes
- Kenny Hulshof , Missouri 9 (running for governor): No
- Jim McCrery , Louisiana 4: Yes
- Steve Pearce , New Mexico 2 (running for Senate): No
- Thomas M. Reynolds , New York 26: Yes
Republican Favored
Total: 5 — Yes: 5 (100 percent)
- Wayne T. Gilchrest , Maryland 1 (defeated in primary): Yes
- David L. Hobson , Ohio 7: Yes
- Ray LaHood , Illinois 18: Yes
- Ron Lewis , Kentucky 2: Yes
- Dave Weldon , Florida 15: Yes
Democrat Favored
Total: 1 — Yes: 1 (100 percent)
- Vito J. Fossella , New York 13: Yes
Leans Democratic
Total: 4 — Yes: 2 (50 percent) No: 1 (25 percent) Did Not Vote: 1 (25 percent)
- Thomas M. Davis III , Virginia 11: Yes
- Rick Renzi , Arizona 1: No
- James T. Walsh , New York 25: Yes
- Jerry Weller , Illinois 11: Did Not Vote
DEMOCRATS
No Clear Favorite
Total: 1 — Yes: 1 (100 percent)
Bailout Bill a Bust Among House Members in Competitive Races
- Robert E. “Bud” Cramer , Alabama 5: Yes
Leans Democratic
Total: 1 — Yes: 1 (100 percent)
- Darlene Hooley , Oregon 5: Yes
Democrat Favored
Total: 1 — Yes: 1 (100 percent)
- Tom Allen , Maine 1 (running for Senate): Yes
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