Faso (file)
WASHINGTON – The Lugar Center and Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Public Policy have released their Bipartisan Index of House of Representatives members’ scores and Rep. John Faso, a member of the Republican majority, but coming from a Democrat-dominated state, scored among the highest of all members.
The index looks at the frequency by which a member crosses party lines to endorse, co-sponsor or vote for legislation sponsored by a member of the other party.
Faso ranks 18th out of the 438 members rated. The three Democratic House members in the Hudson Valley were rated significantly higher – Elliott Engel at 124; Sean Patrick Maloney at 277; and Nita Lowey, at 345.
Jay Branegan, the senior fellow at the Lugar Center, believes there is a reason for that.
“I think it is an indication that Republicans in blue areas have
to be more bipartisan in order to maintain office whereas Democrats in
blue areas do noy have to be so bipartisan so they can appeal to the voters,”
he said.
Branegan said the guide should be used as a tool.
“Our rankings are really a guide for voters who are tired of the gridlock in Washington, who don’t want to see ideological mud fights all the time; would rather see progress, rather see legislation that has bipartisan support and gets passed and solved the problems of the country,” he said. “So, it’s really a matter of informing the voters and helping give them some way to measure which candidates are trying harder to reach across the aisle and get things done.”
In a statement, Faso said, “Upstate New Yorkers sent me to Washington to solve real problems. Working with my colleagues across the aisle is the most effective way to tackle the issues that will help New York families and businesses.”
