2010 Best & Worst of Congress

Comments () | Published September 13, 2010

Hottie (Male)

1. Aaron Schock (R-Ill.)

2. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.)

3. Tie: Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), Paul Ryan (R-Wis.)

Youth has its advantages—at 29, Schock is the youngest member of Congress.

Hottie (Female)

1. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (D-S.D.)

2. Mary Bono Mack (R-Calif.)

3. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.)

Winners of this beauty contest all pulled votes from both parties.

Lobbyists’ Friend

1. John Boehner (R-Ohio)

2. Tie: Norman Dicks (D-Wash.), Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.)

3. Don Young (R-Alaska)

The GOP leader outpolled the rest combined.

Lobbyists’ Enemy

1. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.)

2. Alan Grayson (D-Fla.)

3. David Obey (D-Wis.)

Flake, an anti-earmark crusader, was the runaway winner.

King/Queen of Earmarks

1. David Obey (D-Wis.)

2. Don Young (R-Alaska)

3. Norman Dicks (D-Wash.)

The Appropriations chairman gets what he wants.

Surprise Standout

1. Tom Perriello (D-Va.)

2. Tie: Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.), Joe Wilson (R-S.C.)

3. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.)

In party-line voting, Democrats gave the Virginia freshman, who represents a red district, twice the votes anyone else received.

Biggest Disappointment

1. Eric Massa (D-N.Y.)

2. Tie: Joseph Cao (R-La.), Eric Cantor (R-Va.)

3. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.)

The “tickler” from New York resigned in March but still was the bipartisan winner/loser.

Gym Rat

1. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.)

2. Aaron Schock (R-Ill.)

3. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.)

Another Republican sweep.