Washington State Senators Cantwell and Murray could almost be identical twins if you look at how interest groups rate them. Project Vote Smart has lots and lots of information on our two Senators and one of the areas they do a great job on is a compilation of interest group ratings.
When you check the rating for Senator Maria Cantwell and Senator Patty Murray you won’t find a lot of differences. In fact you’ll find a lot of identical ratings by groups.
A lot of discussion of Senator Cantwell has been on the Iraq War. It is important to also look at how interest groups rate her on other issues like education, environment, civil rights, labor and peace. The comparison below is between Cantwell and Murray.
Before you decide to sit this election out, consider what type of ratings you would expect a Senator Mike McGavick to get from these same groups. Maybe you’ll decide it’s time to really help get Maria re-elected.
Organization …………………………………..Cantwell …………………Murray
NARAL ProChoice 2005……………………….100 ……………………… 75
Nat Right to Life 2005 ……………………………0…………………………0
Nat. Assoc of Wheat Growers 2005 ………..100 ……………………..100
Humane Society of US 2005 …………………100 ……………………..80
Nat Trust for Historic Preservation …………100 …………………….100
Americans for Tax Reform 2005 ………………25 ………………………15
US Chamber of Commerce 2005……………….56 ……………………..44
Am Civil Liberties Union …………………………78 ……………………..78
Nat Assoc for Adv of Colored People 2005….95 ………………………90
Human Rights Campaign 2003-2004 ……….88 ……………………..88
Leadership Council on Civil Rights …………….100 ………………….100
Eagle Forum 2005…………………………………….0 ………………………0
American Conservative Union …………………….0 ………………………0
Christian Coalition 2004 ……………………………0 ………………………0
National Education Assoc 2005 …………………….100 ………………….100
American Wilderness Coalition 2005 ………….100 ………………….100
League of Conservation Voters 2005 …………..90 …………………….95
Children’s Defense Fund 2005 …………………….89 …………………….100
Family Research Council 2004 ……………………0 ……………………….14
Peace Action 2005 …………………………………..89 ………………………89
Peace PAC 2005 ……………………………………….100 ……………………100
Am Assoc of Univ Women 2005 ………………….100 …………………….83
Nat Org for Women 2005 ………………………….100 …………………….75
US PIRG 2005 ………………………………………….95 ……………………..100
Gun Owners of America 2005 ……………………….0 …………………………0
Brady Camp to Prevent Gun Violence 2003 ……..100 ……………………90
Am Public Health Assoc ……………………………….90 …………………….90
Service Employees Int Union …………………………85 …………………….85
AFL-CIO ……………………………………………………79 ……………………..86
Americans for Democratic Action 2005 ………….95 ……………………..95
Alliance for Retired Americans ………………………100 …………………..100
Disabled American Vets 2005 ………………………..92 ……………………..92
Bread for the World 2003/2004 ……………………100 ……………………100
There are actually some areas, like women’s groups, that Cantwell seems to rate as more liberal than Murray. In the end though, the differences are probably single vote differences on an interest group’s list. As you can see, Senator Cantwell’s and Senator Murray’s interest group ratings very similar.
Washington State Democratic and public interest groups’ values and voting interests have been well represented in Congress by Senator Cantwell and Senator Murray. Washington State has a lot to lose if we don’t re-elect Senator Cantwell this year.
You can support Maria’s campaign by going to http://www.cantwell.com/ and volunteering or making a donation today.
