Senators From Poor States Rank Low on "Poverty Scorecard"

An analysis released this morning by the Shriver Center showed that in 2007, members of Congress from states with high rates of poverty were "less likely to support anti-poverty measures than other members of Congress."

The center, part of the Sargent Shriver Center on Poverty Law, analyzed congressional votes on bills to determine whether the member "voted to fight poverty" or "voted against fighting poverty." In the Senate, those scoring worst — with an "F" — included Kentucky Sens. Jim Bunning and Mitch McConnell, North Carolina Sens. Richard Burr and Elizabeth Dole, and South Carolina Sens. Jim DeMint and Lindsey Graham, all Republicans. Democratic senators from Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Washington, and Wisconsin were among those who garnered an "A+."

House members were also graded, and some — including GOP Rep. Dana Rohrabacher of California, earned an "F-minus."

The center said it didn't have enough recorded votes to grade the three senators still running for president: Democrats Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama and GOP presumptive nominee John McCain. Former Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards is serving as a spokesman for the group about the "importance of the scorecard."

—Liz Halloran