YOUNGSTOWN Traficant's voting record panned

Two Northeast Ohio congressmen received perfect scores from the lobbying group.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
VINDICATOR POLITICS WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- U.S. Rep. James A. Traficant Jr.'s voting record was recognized by a self-styled environmental and consumer lobbying group as the worst among Democratic members of Congress.
The U.S. Public Interest Research Group, which has Democratic leanings, gave Traficant, a Poland Democrat, a score of 10 percent for his voting record on 20 issues between January 2001 and this past April dealing with what USPIRG considered the public interest, including the environment, campaign finance reform, consumer protection and health care.
Traficant has traditionally done poorly in the USPIRG ratings, receiving a 25 percent lifetime rating from the group. Traficant received a score of 35 percent last year, 10 percent in 2000, 11 percent in 1999, 13 percent in 1998, and 26 percent in 1997.
Traficant agreed with the organization on only two of the 20 identified issues; he opposed drilling in the Great Lakes, and he voted against giving the president broad range to negotiate trade agreements.
Also, because of his criminal case, which led to his conviction on 10 felony counts including bribery and racketeering, Traficant missed three votes considered in the survey. Those issues dealt with lowering the cost of student loans, campaign finance reform and affecting consumer legal rights to class action lawsuits.
Because Traficant has voted with Republicans in recent years more so than any other Democrat in Congress, he usually fares among the worst from his political party in surveys conducted by Democratic-leaning groups and among the best from his party in surveys conducted by Republican-leaning organizations.
Charles Straub, Traficant's spokesman, declined to comment on the report.
Perfect scores
U.S. Reps. Sherrod Brown of Lorain, a Democrat who represents western Trumbull County, and Thomas C. Sawyer of Akron, who lost the Democratic primary for the 17th Congressional District seat, were among 26 members of Congress to have perfect scores from USPIRG.
U.S. Rep. Ted Strickland of Lucasville, a Democrat running for the 6th Congressional District seat, received a score of 85 percent, while U.S. Rep. Steven C. LaTourette of Madison, a Republican running for the 14th Congressional District seat, received a score of 25 percent.
In Pennsylvania, U.S. Rep. Melissa Hart of Bradford Woods, a Republican, received a score of 15 percent, and U.S. Rep. Phil English of Erie, a Republican, received a score of 30 percent.
The average score in the U.S. House was 48 percent.
The average score in the Senate was 40 percent.
Except for U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter, a Pennsylvania Republican who received a score of 45 percent, the senators that represent Pennsylvania and Ohio faired poorly in the survey.
U.S. Sens. Mike DeWine and George Voinovich, Ohio Republicans, received scores of 15 percent and 5 percent respectively. U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum, a Pennsylvania Republican, received a score of 5 percent.
skolnick@vindy.com