The measurements are position, indirect influence, legislative activity, and "sizzle-fizzle" factor. Congress.org's new rankings of current members of Congress put the Washington and Oregon delegations about even in influence, in the upper-middle of the pack, with Oregon ranked 10th and Washington ranked 15th. Idaho was dead last among all states. Top Senate scorers for the Northwest were Patty Murray at 15th; Ron Wyden at 30th; and Maria Cantwell at 36th – up from 99th last year and the second-biggest gainer. For the House, Norm Dicks ranks 11th; Jay Inslee is 63rd; and Darlene Hooley (74), Peter De Fazio (78) and Earl Blumenauer (103) all moved up dramatically. Surprise is Jim McDermott, 115th despite years of seniority. Other rankings for Washington: Rick Larsen 180, Adam Smith 190, Brian Baird 220, Cathy McMorris Rodgers 231, Doc Hastings 281, Dave Reichert 419. Oregon: David Wu 208, Greg Walden 377. All of Idaho's delegation is Republican, so their power rankings are understandably low in a Democratic Congress. But the delegation had an average In the Senate, Larry Craig is 61st and Mike Crapo is 66th. In the House, Mike Simpson is 318th and William Sali is 423rd. Up in Alaska (delegation rank: 31st), Republicans Ted Stevens is 46th and Lisa Murkowski is 96th in the Senate, and Don Young is 140th in the House.
Sen. Maria Cantwell is a big gainer in the latest Congress power rankings
Congress.org ranks the current Congress according to various indicators of power.
Congress.org ranks the current Congress according to various indicators of power.
