Midterm Election Analysis from the State of Poverty

Now that the midterm election is over, we can take a look at how voters responded to their elected officials in light of the Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law’s State of Poverty: 2006 Congressional Midterm Report. The Shriver Center issued the Midterm Report to help voters evaluate how their congressional delegations responded to the needs of low-income people.

The 2006 midterm election was, without question, a victory for the antipoverty community. Of the House elections that have been certified, 28 incumbents lost their seats. Their average score, according to our Congressional Midterm Report, was 14 out of 100 points. In the Senate, ousted incumbents’ scores include George Allen’s 17 along with Jim Talent and Conrad Burns’s 33.

The Democrats who are set to become the chairmen of the various House committees dealing with antipoverty issues have excellent scores:

Probable House Ways and Means Committee chairman:
Charlie Rangel (NY); Shriver Scorecard: 100
Probable House Education and the Workforce Committee chairman:
George Miller (CA); Shriver Scorecard: 100
Probable House Budget Committee chairman:
John M. Spratt (SC); Shriver Scorecard: 83
Probable House Financial Services Committee chairman:
Barney Frank (MA); Shriver Scorecard: 100
Probable House Appropriations Committee chairman:
David Obey (WI); Shriver Scorecard: 83
   
We also are looking forward to the likely chairmen of the relevant Senate committees:

Probable Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee chairman:
Ted Kennedy (MA); Shriver Scorecard: 100
Probable Senate Budget Committee chairman:
Kent Conrad (ND); Shriver Scorecard: 100
Probable Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee chairman:
Christopher Dodd (CT); Shriver Scorecard: 100
Probable Senate Appropriations Committee chairman:
Robert C. Byrd (WV); Shriver Scorecard: 100

All in all, a good night for the fight against poverty!