New Hampshire's Congressional delegation ranks 46th on kids issues

March 23, 2005

New Hampshire's Congressional delegation was the fifth worst on children's issues in 2004, according to the Children's Defense Fund Action Council.

Our delegation improved from the previous year, when it ranked next to last.

The Council today released its annual nonpartisan rankings of individual Representatives and Senators and of the state delegations. Based on 12 key votes in 2004, the N.H. delegation ranked 46th, voting for children only 19 percent of the time.

"This is a dangerous time for children in America and we need to know which of our leaders are voting to protect children and which are voting to leave children behind," said CDF Action Council President Marian Wright Edelman. "We should not be persuaded merely by compassionate words -- we need to look at actions and votes, far too many of which are profoundly unjust to children, who are the poorest age group of Americans."

N.H. Senator John Sununu made the list of the 16 worst senators for children, voting with them only 8 percent of the time. Sen. Judd Gregg scored a 31 percent.
Rep. Charles Bass voted with children 15 percent of the time, and Rep. Jeb Bradley 23 percent of the time.

"At a time when the gap between rich and poor is at its highest point in recorded history, when child poverty rates have increased for three consecutive years, when the infant mortality rate has risen for the first time in 44 years, when the number of uninsured Americans is increasing and the federal deficit is soaring, members of Congress need to make more just and sensible choices that protect, not hurt, children," Edelman said. "Congress has the power and duty to ensure every child in America a Healthy Start, a Head Start, a Fair Start and a Safe Start in life right now."

"We thank those members of Congress whose rankings were high, and we urge those who let children down to do better," Edelman said. "Every Senator and every Representative needs to cast votes in 2005 that will help improve the lives of children, and every voter needs to hold them accountable for doing so.

"This year, the crucial framework of laws that protects millions of our most vulnerable children is being undermined by proposed massive tax cuts for the rich and budget cuts and caps for the poor," Edelman said. "Health coverage under Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), Head Start, and child welfare protections are all at risk, and our children are depending on members of Congress to be their champions. It is morally indefensible to impose more unjust budget sacrifices on poor children to give tax cuts to millionaires while increasing the federal deficit. Every Senator and Representative should vote against extending, making permanent, or giving new irresponsible tax cuts to the wealthy."

The complete CDF Action Council Congressional Scorecard (PDF) provides charts showing the best and worst members of Congress on legislation affecting the lives of children, the best and worst state delegations for children, and the scores of each individual member by state.

The Action Council, a 501(c)(4) organization established in 1969, is affiliated with the Children's Defense Fund and engages in lobbying activities and grassroots mobilization in support of federal and state legislation to meet the needs of children.