From Deseret News archives:
Liberal think tank gives 4 Utahns F's
Based on their 2004 voting records on 14 bills, Reps. Rob Bishop and Chris Cannon, both Utah Republicans, did not vote correctly on any of the bills, the institute said, and both were given an F grade.
Sens. Bob Bennett and Orrin Hatch, also Republicans, received failing grades, with Hatch voting for the middle class 14 percent of the time and Bennett 17 percent.
Rep. Jim Matheson, D-Utah, did slightly better, voting in favor of the middle class 43 percent of the time, but still scored a D grade.
"This is just one of a thousand different score cards, and I am generally dismissive of score cards," Matheson said. "I do not keep score, and I am happy to talk about any individual vote I take. But score cards that take a handful of votes really distort what the voting records really are."
The institute noted that Matheson improved over 2003 when he voted in favor of middle-class legislation 33 percent of the time.
"We're honored," said Bishop's spokesman Scott Parker. "Anything higher than a zero (from a liberal organization) would have been a disappointment."
As a whole, the Utah congressional delegation's average voting record on middle-class issues was 15 percent.
"The middle class is in danger of being completely overwhelmed by higher prices and stagnant wages, making it even harder for working Americans to climb their way up the economic ladder," said Andrew Young, chairman of the institute. "Yet, the middle class was a casualty of unusually polarized ideological battles in 2004, where party-line votes were the norm and bipartisan cooperation was rare."
The score card, "Middle Class 2004: How Congress Voted," is calculated by giving equal weight to 14 votes on legislation affecting the middle class, based on annual incomes between approximately 200 percent of the federal poverty level and the nation's top 5 percent wage earners, roughly $25,000-$100,000.
Comments
- Lawyers earn fees from own laws 1:36 p.m.
- No. 2 fugitive mob boss nabbed 1:35 p.m.
- Frustrated Palestinians appeal to UN 1:25 p.m.
- 'Tweeters' to report on shuttle launch 1:24 p.m.
- Pet cemetery reflects dedication 12:58 p.m.
- Film honors NYC defense attorney 12:57 p.m.
- Redgraves recreates grandma in play 12:21 p.m.
- Can 65 be considered young now? 12:14 p.m.
- Marriage: having each other's back 12:13 p.m.
- Presidential libraries open history 12:04 p.m.
- SLC council OKs gay rights policies
359 - BYU happy to escape with victory
213 - Editorial: Mormons and gay rights
200 - TCU creams U.
191 - Will state consider gay rights law?
148 - Letters: Strange breed in Utah
131 - Can BYU root for (ick) Utah Utes?
130 - Utes remain silent about BCS
120 - Celtics crush Jazz
104 - RSL heads to MLS title game
102
Sears is holding a special VIP night Sunday, Nov. 15, in stores and online.
How do you handle kids and contests? Our oldest daughter, 7, is of the...
Congratulations to TCU! You are a deserving team and maybe the best team in...
Bennett has broken this solemn oath to only serve 2 terms - Why would you...
has been restored TCU > BYU > Utah AP/Coaches #4/#4 TCU #19/#18 BYU ...
I'm not stu-pid like Bob2. Both teams got destroyed by TCU. Different...
Hinds will run over 100 yards on Friday and it will be a good game. Bingham...
I would suppose that only an African American Latterday Saint would be...
Summits are the tops of mountains and pretentious meetings of those who are...
I would put the selection on my resume! Of course, like, Ann McFetters...
How condescending is that? Throughout Urban Meyer's 2 years, Cougar fan...
Love ya, Tom. You are so right.

You can be the first to comment on this story.