Congressional Ratings Chart for 2009-2010

Published 1:06 am Sunday, August 22, 2010

They get $174,000 in annual wages plus benefits and $1 million or more each for offices, supplies and staff. So what do taxpayers get in return? We offer some details on how Georgia’s members of Congress are earning their pay — including how often they miss work, how much they spend and what sorts of accomplishments they’ve made. Most data are for the 111th Congress that began January 2009 through the last date available. Staff salaries, office and travel expenses are for 2009.

SOURCES: U.S. House Clerk’s Office; U.S. Senate; U.S. House chief administrative officer; Opensecrets.org; Center for Responsive Politics; Legistorm; Council for Citizens Against Government Waste; Taxpayers for Common Sense; Opencongress.org; Project Vote Smart; U.S. Chamber of Commerce; American Conservative Union; ACLU; TheHill.com; Washington Post; CSPAN

Sen. Saxby Chambliss, Republican

Missed votes: 28 (5 percent)

Average reported tardiness (days): 12

Percent votes with party: 95

Bills sponsored: 25

Bills made into law: 0

Bills co-sponsored: 207

Co-sponsored bills made into law: 3

Days took to Senate floor: 65

Citizens Against Government Waste vote rating (100 best/0 worst): 95

Opencongress.org user approval rating (100 best/0 worst): 29

U.S. Chamber of Commerce rating (100 best/0 worst): 71

Votes on key issues:

-Health care: No

-Recovery Act: No

-Wall Street reform: No

-Medicaid/education extension: No

-Kagan nomination: No

Earmarks: 78 worth $90.8 million; rank: 53 of 100

Examples of earmarks: Moody AFB ($10 million); Georgia Tech ($4 million); Verco Materials ($2.5 million); Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission ($2.4 million); Cerus Corp. ($2.4 million)

Office expenses: N/A

Staff salaries: $2.8 million (F/Y 2009)

Privately sponsored trips by member/staff: 61 trips worth $113,959

Power and influence: Chambliss is the ranking Republican on the Senate Agriculture Committee, giving him wide influence over farm, forestry and related issues. He also wields influence over military and military financing as a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. Helped draft recent financial reform legislation; fought and lost battle to keep F-22 fighter jet production going in Marietta.

Biggest campaign donors: Club for Growth, Southern Co., IntercontinentalExchange Inc., Troutman Sanders, Citigroup

Sen. Johnny Isakson, Republican

Missed votes: 67 (11 percent)

Average reported tardiness (days): 1

Percent votes with party: 94

Bills sponsored: 27

Bills made into law: 0

Bills co-sponsored: 241

Co-sponsored bills made into law: 6

Days took to Senate floor: 56

Citizens Against Government Waste vote rating (100 best/0 worst): 96

Opencongress.org user approval rating (100 best/0 worst): 31

U.S. Chamber of Commerce rating (100 best/0 worst): 86

Votes on key issues:

-Health care: No

-Recovery Act: No

-Wall Street reform: No

-Medicaid/education extension: No

-Kagan nomination: No

Earmarks: 46 worth $65.9 million; rank: 74 of 100

Examples of earmarks: Moody AFB ($10 million); Georgia Tech ($4 million); MARTA ($4 million); Intergraph Corp. ($3.2 million); Scientific Research Corp. ($2.8 million)

Privately sponsored trips by member/staff: 16 trips worth $41,438

Office expenses: N/A

Staff salaries: $2.7 million (F/Y 2009)

Power and influence: As a member of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation and Small Business and Entrepreneurship committees, Isakson has a say in business and economic issues. His biggest accomplishment in the current congressional session was his work getting homeowner tax breaks continued. His colleagues revere his other appointment, as the ranking Republican on the Senate Select Committee on Ethics the most, however. The committee is responsible for policing the Senate’s own members.

Biggest campaign donors: Realogy Corp., Delta Air Lines, AFLAC, Synovus Financial, Southern Co., IntercontinentalExchange Inc., Cox Enterprises

Rep. Jack Kingston (R-Savannah; 1st Congressional District)

Missed votes: 37 (3 percent)

Average reported tardiness (days): 0

Percent votes with party: 92 percent

Bills sponsored: 8

Bills made into law: 1

Bills co-sponsored: 244

Co-sponsored bills made into law: 5

Days took to House floor: 54

Votes on key issues:

-Health care: No

-Recovery Act: No

-Wall Street reform: No

-Medicaid/education extension: No

Citizens Against Government Waste vote rating (100 best/0 worst): 74

Opencongress.org user approval rating (100 best/0 worst): 69

U.S. Chamber of Commerce rating (100 best/0 worst): 61

Earmarks: 40 earmarks worth $66.8 million; rank: 27 of 435 members

Examples of earmarks: Hunter AAF ($9 million); Savannah Combat Readiness Training Center ($4 million); Meggitt Training Systems ($4 million); L-3 Communications ($3.5 million); Chatham Area Transit ($2.5 million)

Privately sponsored trips by member/staff: 3 trips worth $23,477

Office expenses: $264,811

Office travel: $19,408

Staff salaries: $852,066 (2009)

Power and influence: Kingston is the senior House Republican from Georgia and is one of two Georgians (the other being Sanford Bishop) on the House Appropriations Committee, which decides how tax dollars are doled out.

Biggest campaign donors: American Veterinary Medical Association, Lockheed Martin, National Rural Electric Coop, Interpublic Group, AFLAC

Rep. Sanford Bishop (D-Albany; 2nd Congressional District)

Missed votes: 58 (4 percent)

Average reported tardiness (days): 20

Percent votes with party: 98

Bills sponsored: 2

Bills made into law: 0

Bills co-sponsored: 484

Co-sponsored bills made into law: 15

Days took to House floor: 4

Citizens Against Government Waste vote rating (100 best/0 worst): 0

Opencongress.org user approval rating (100 best/0 worst): 23

U.S. Chamber of Commerce rating (100 best/0 worst): 53

Votes on key issues:

-Health care: Yes

-Recovery Act: Yes

-Wall Street reform: Yes

-Medicaid/education extension: Yes

Earmarks: 66 earmarks worth $57 million; rank: 33 of 435

Examples of earmarks: Marine Corps Logistics Base-Albany ($4.9 million); city of Dawson water reduction program ($1.2 million); Thurgood Marshall Foundation ($1.2 million); Project Rebound, Columbus, GA ($250,000); blueberry production program-Georgia ($209,000)

Privately sponsored trips by member/staff: 9 trips worth $17,909

Office expenses: $284,413

Travel expenses: $13,622

Staff salaries: $1.1 million (2009)

Power and influence: Bishop is the quietest of Georgia’s delegation, but his position on the House Appropriations Committee gives him clout — and is why he also is a leader in the delegation at bringing pork and earmark money back to Georgia.

Biggest campaign donors: AFLAC, American Association for Justice, American Peanut Shellers Association, BRIDGE PAC, Honeywell International

Rep. Lynn Westmoreland (R-Coweta County; 3rd Congressional District)

Missed votes: 111 (7 percent)

Average reported tardiness (days): 0

Percent votes with party: 93

Bills sponsored: 0

Bills made into law: 0

Bills co-sponsored: 305

Co-sponsored bills made into law: 9

Days took to House floor: 31

Citizens Against Government Waste vote rating (100 best/0 worst): 100

Opencongress.org user approval rating (100 best/0 worst): 52

U.S. Chamber of Commerce rating (100 best/0 worst): 71

Votes on key issues:

-Health care: No

-Recovery Act: No

-Wall Street reform: No

-Medicaid/education extension: No

Earmarks: 0

Examples of earmarks: N/A

Privately sponsored trips by member/staff: 12 trips worth $51,921

Office expenses: $273,012

Travel expenses: $8,161

Staff salaries: $936,614

Power and influence: Westmoreland rarely introduces legislation, and his primary power is as a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Outside the halls of Congress, he is a key member of the Republican Party’s redistricting efforts and is involved with recruiting new candidates to the party.

Biggest campaign donors: AFLAC, Home Depot, National Beer Wholesalers Association, Honeywell

Rep. Hank Johnson (D-Lithonia; 4th Congressional District)

Missed votes: 80 (5 percent)

Average reported tardiness (days): 0

Percent votes with party: 98

Bills sponsored: 24

Bills made into law: 3

Bills co-sponsored: 574

Co-sponsored bills made into law: 18

Days took to House floor: 37

Citizens Against Government Waste vote rating (100 best/0 worst): 2

Opencongress.org user approval rating (100 best/0 worst): 38

U.S. Chamber of Commerce rating (100 best/0 worst): 33

Votes on key issues:

-Health care: Yes

-Recovery Act: Yes

-Wall Street reform: Yes

-Medicaid/education extension: Yes

Earmarks: 19 worth $20.7 million; rank: 180 of 435

Examples of earmarks: Georgia Tech SAM hardware simulator development ($4 million); MARTA clean fuel buses ($4 million); Excellatron battery research ($1.6 million); cotton insect management research, UGA ($346,000); Rockdale County Schools AVID program ($300,000)

Privately sponsored trips by member/staff: 4 trips worth $4,089

Office expenses: $322,559

Travel expenses: $8,504

Staff salaries: $1.03 million

Power and influence: Johnson was recently appointed to the influential House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. A former lawyer and magistrate, he also chairs a House Judiciary subcommittee.

Biggest campaign donors: National Beer Wholesalers Association, American Association for Justice, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, United Food and Commercial Workers Union, Laborers Union

Rep. John Lewis (D-Atlanta; 5th Congressional District)

Missed votes: 219 (15 percent)

Average reported tardiness (days): 4

Percent votes with party: 98

Bills sponsored: 49

Bills made into law: 1

Bills co-sponsored: 609

Co-sponsored bills made into law: 23

Days took to House floor: 34

Citizens Against Government Waste vote rating (100 best/0 worst): 0

Opencongress.org user approval rating (100 best/0 worst): 37

U.S. Chamber of Commerce rating (100 best/0 worst): 43

Votes on key issues:

-Health care: Yes

-Recovery Act: Yes

-Wall Street reform: Yes

-Medicaid/education extension: Yes

Earmarks: 26 worth $21.5 million; rank: 172 of 435

Examples of earmarks: MARTA clean buses ($4 million); U.S. Army soldier survivability ($2.5 million); Morehouse College ($2.4 million); Hammond Drive roadway upgrades-Sandy Springs ($500,000); Southern Pine biorefinery center ($1 million)

Privately sponsored trips by member/staff: 44 trips worth $29,455

Office expenses: $301,360

Travel expenses: $8,217

Staff salaries: $1.01 million

Power and influence: Lewis is the Democrats’ chief deputy whip in the House, with an office just a few doors down from Speaker Nancy Pelosi, making him the most powerful Georgian in the House. He also chairs the far-reaching taxation subcommittee of the House Ways and Means Committee.

Biggest campaign donors: DaVita Inc., Gentiva Health Services, AFLAC, American Association for Justice, American Occupational Therapy Association

Rep. Tom Price (R-Roswell; 6th Congressional District)

Missed votes: 61 (4 percent)

Average reported tardiness (days): 0

Percent votes with party: 93

Bills sponsored: 11

Bills made into law: 0

Bills co-sponsored: 248

Co-sponsored bills made into law: 7

Days took to House floor: 51

Votes on key issues:

-Health care: No

-Recovery Act: No

-Wall Street reform: No

-Medicaid/education extension: No

Citizens Against Government Waste vote rating (100 best/0 worst): 99

Opencongress.org user approval rating (100 best/0 worst): 58

U.S. Chamber of Commerce rating (100 best/0 worst): 73

Earmarks: 0

Examples of earmarks: N/A

Privately sponsored trips by member/staff: Nine trips worth $33,439

Office expenses: $276,542

Travel expenses: $5,321

Staff salaries: $923,118

Power and influence: Price is chairman of the conservative House Republican Study Committee and a vocal leader in Republican opposition to Democrats and the Obama Administration. His position and notoriety make him a rising star in the most conservative circles of the Republican Party,

Biggest campaign donors: Resurgens Orthopaedics, AT&T, AFLAC; American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons; American Bankers Association

Rep. John Linder (R-Lawrenceville; 7th Congressional District)

Missed votes: 123 (8 percent)

Average reported tardiness (days): 0

Percent votes with party: 93

Bills sponsored: 6

Bills made into law: 0

Bills co-sponsored: 216

Co-sponsored bills made into law: 7

Days took to House floor: 19

Citizens Against Government Waste vote rating (100 best/0 worst): 99

Opencongress.org user approval rating (100 best/0 worst): 58

U.S. Chamber of Commerce rating (100 best/0 worst): 73

Votes on key issues:

-Health care: No

-Recovery Act: No

-Wall Street reform: No

-Medicaid/education extension: No

Earmarks: 1 worth $1 million; rank: 398 of 435

Examples of earmarks: I-85 interchange improvements, Gwinnett County

Privately sponsored trips by member/staff: 9 trips worth $64,591

Office expenses: $234,442

Travel expenses: $2,377

Staff salaries: $1.06 million

Power and influence: Linder was once a lieutenant to Newt Gingrich in the Republican Revolution of the 1990s, but his power and influence have faded over the years. He is due to retire in January.

Biggest campaign donors: AFLAC; American Bankers Association; American Dental Association; American Resort Development Association; Credit Union National Association

Rep. Jim Marshall (D-Macon; 8th Congressional District)

Missed votes: 36 (2 percent)

Average reported tardiness (days): N/A0

Percent votes with party: 89

Bills sponsored: 11

Bills made into law: 0

Bills co-sponsored: 252

Co-sponsored bills made into law: 8

Days took to House floor: 10

Citizens Against Government Waste vote rating (100 best/0 worst): 14

Opencongress.org user approval rating (100 best/0 worst): 41

U.S. Chamber of Commerce rating (100 best/0 worst): 73

Votes on key issues:

-Health care: No

-Recovery Act: No

-Wall Street reform: Yes

-Medicaid/education extension: Yes

Earmarks: 30 worth $34.8 million; rank: 85 of 435

Examples of earmarks: Hunter AFB ($8.9 million); Intergraph Corp.; Warner Robins AFB ($3.2 million); Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission ($2.4 million); Morehouse College, Atlanta-King papers ($200,000); city of Moultrie police ($200,000)

Privately sponsored trips by member/staff: 0 trips/ $0

Office expenses: $210,694

Travel expenses: $3,530

Staff salaries: $777,032

Power and influence: As a member of the fiscally conservative Democratic Blue Dog Coalition, Marshall is often seen as a swing vote for Republicans. He holds seats on both the House Agriculture and Armed Services committees, and is active in both.

Biggest campaign donors: Rurban Financial, Templar Securities, DRW Holdings, AFLAC, Blue Dog PAC

**Rep. Nathan Deal (R-Gainesville; 9th Congressional District)

Missed votes: 294 (25 percent)

Average reported tardiness (days): 16

Percent votes with party: 93

Bills sponsored: 10

Bills made into law: 0

Bills co-sponsored: 98

Co-sponsored bills made into law: 0

Days took to House floor: 13

Citizens Against Government Waste vote rating (100 best/0 worst): 94

Opencongress.org user approval rating (100 best/0 worst): N/A

U.S. Chamber of Commerce rating (100 best/0 worst): 71

Votes on key issues:

-Health care: No

-Recovery Act: No

-Wall Street reform: No

-Medicaid/education extension: N/A

Earmarks: 3 worth $2.1 million; rank: 394 of 435

Examples of earmarks: North Georgia College ROTC language pilot program ($1.2 million); Metro North Georgia Water Planning District-wastewater improvements ($500,000); Dahlonega downtown authority streetscape project ($392,000)

Privately sponsored trips by member/staff: 2 trips worth $1,643

Office expenses: $264,404

Travel expenses: $5,303

Staff salaries: $900,147

Power and influence: N/A

Biggest campaign donors: N/A

**Rep. Tom Graves (R-Ranger; 9th Congressional District)

Missed votes: 0

Average reported tardiness (days): 0

Percent votes with party: 91

Bills sponsored: 1

Bills made into law: 0

Bills co-sponsored: 27

Co-sponsored bills made into law: 0

Days took to House floor: 10

Citizens Against Government Waste vote rating (100 best/0 worst): N/A

Opencongress.org user approval rating (100 best/0 worst): N/A

U.S. Chamber of Commerce rating (100 best/0 worst): N/A

Votes on key issues:

-Health care: N/A

-Recovery Act: N/A

-Wall Street reform: N/A

-Medicaid/education extension: No

Earmarks: 0; rank: 435 of 435

Examples of earmarks: N/A

Privately sponsored trips by member/staff: 0

Office expenses: n/a

Travel expenses: n/a

Staff salaries: n/a

Power and influence: Graves has been in office only a few months, but is already considered a reliable voice and vote for conservative issues. Landed a plum seat on the important House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

Biggest campaign donors: Club for Growth, Walters Management, Textile Rubber & Chemical Co., Pro View Foods, Cycle Text

Rep. Paul Broun (R-Athens; 10th Congressional District)

Missed votes: 59 (4 percent)

Average reported tardiness (days): 0

Percent votes with party: 87 percent

Bills sponsored: 28

Bills made into law: 0

Bills co-sponsored: 356

Co-sponsored bills made into law: 8

Days took to House floor: 93

Citizens Against Government Waste vote rating (100 best/0 worst): 100

Opencongress.org user approval rating (100 best/0 worst): 53

U.S. Chamber of Commerce rating (100 best/0 worst): 73

Votes on key issues:

-Health care: No

-Recovery Act: No

-Wall Street reform: No

-Medicaid/education extension: No

Earmarks: 0

Examples of earmarks: N/A

Privately sponsored trips by member/staff: 3 trips worth $1,202

Office expenses: $283,619

Travel expenses: $9,981

Staff salaries: $970,975

Power and influence: Broun makes more floor speeches (737) than anybody from Georgia and is a vocal and strict Constitutionalist and dependable supporter of gun rights and immigration laws.

Biggest campaign donors: AFLAC, Every Republican is Crucial PAC, Dixie Precast, American Association of Clinical Urologists, Safari Club International

Rep. Phil Gingrey (R-Marietta; 11th Congressional District)

Missed votes: 66 (4percent)

Average reported tardiness (days): 0

Percent votes with party: 94

Bills sponsored: 25

Bills made into law: 0

Bills co-sponsored: 398

Co-sponsored bills made into law: 8

Days took to House floor: 108

Citizens Against Government Waste vote rating (100 best/0 worst): 76

Opencongress.org user approval rating (100 best/0 worst): 55

U.S. Chamber of Commerce rating (100 best/0 worst): 73

Votes on key issues:

-Health care: No

-Recovery Act: No

-Wall Street reform: No

-Medicaid/education extension: No

Earmarks: 18 worth $15.8 million; rank: 232 of 435

Examples of earmarks: Meggitt Training Systems ($4 million); Scientific Research Corp. ($2.8 million); Cobb County regional communications system ($1 million); Third Army Road/I-75 improvements ($750,000); Richland Creek Reservoir improvements ($100,000)

Privately sponsored trips by member/staff: 17 trips worth $36,013

Office expenses: $276,935

Travel expenses: $5,583

Staff salaries: $987,486

Power and influence: Gingrey is a vocal member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and as a former doctor often gets involved with medical and health care legislation. Co-chairs the GOP Doctors Caucus.

Biggest campaign donors: AFLAC, American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons, American Bankers Association, American College of Radiology, Lockheed Martin

Rep. John Barrow (D-Savannah; 12th Congressional District)

Missed votes: 22 (2 percent)

Average reported tardiness (days): 4

Percent votes with party: 94

Bills sponsored: 11

Bills made into law: 1

Bills co-sponsored: 283

Co-sponsored bills made into law: 12

Days took to House floor: 16

Citizens Against Government Waste vote rating (100 best/0 worst): 4

Opencongress.org user approval rating (100 best/0 worst): 40

U.S. Chamber of Commerce rating (100 best/0 worst): 64

Votes on key issues:

-Health care: No

-Recovery Act: No

-Wall Street reform: Yes

-Medicaid/education extension: Yes

Earmarks: 14 worth $5.35 million; rank: 373 of 435

Examples of earmarks: Chatham Area Transit ($2.5 million); city of Atlanta-sewer improvements ($500,000); city of Crawfordville-sewer improvements ($500,000); St. Joseph’s Hospital, Savannah ($350,000); Marcus Autism Center, Atlanta ($300,000)

Privately sponsored trips by member/staff: 8 trips worth $17,108

Office expenses: $285,022

Travel expenses: $11,945

Staff salaries: $819,702

Power and influence: A member of the fiscally conservative Blue Dog Coalition, Barrow also is often considered a swing vote for Republicans. He is a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

Biggest campaign donors: Southern Co., Joseph M. Still Burn Center, Ressler & Ressler, Reed Elsevier Inc., AFLAC

Rep. David Scott (D-Atlanta; 13th Congressional District)

Missed votes: 21 (1 percent)

Average reported tardiness (days): 4

Percent votes with party: 99

Bills sponsored: 2

Bills made into law: 0

Bills co-sponsored: 259

Co-sponsored bills made into law: 9

Days took to House floor: 35

Citizens Against Government Waste vote rating (100 best/0 worst): 0

Opencongress.org user approval rating (100 best/0 worst): 22

U.S. Chamber of Commerce rating (100 best/0 worst): 47

Votes on key issues:

-Health care: Yes

-Recovery Act: Yes

-Wall Street reform: Yes

-Medicaid/education extension: Yes

Earmarks: 30 earmarks worth $32.8 million; rank: 96 of 435

Examples of earmarks: MARTA clean fuel buses ($4 million); Morehouse College, defense research ($2.4 million); Morehouse College minority energy science research ($2 million); Atlanta environmental infrastructure ($1.4 million); University of Georgia beef cattle genetic research ($655,000)

Privately sponsored trips taken by member/staff: 5 trips worth $9,043

Office expenses: $326,720

Travel expenses: $5,098

Staff salaries: $997,149

Power and influence: A member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Scott is involved and interested in foreign affairs. He is a delegate to NATO’s Parliamentary Assembly.

Biggest campaign donors: IntercontinentalExchange Inc., AFLAC, Blue Dog PAC, Dean Foods, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers

NOTES:

**Rep. Nathan Deal resigned in March.

**Rep. Tom Graves replaced Deal in June.

– Campaign contributors are through current campaign cycle.

– Vote rankings are most current available from organization.

– An earmark can have numerous members involved from the House and Senate.

-Votes and legislation tallies as of Aug. 20.