Patty Murray Rated Most Liberal Senator in New Vote Rating

According to the National Journal’s annual vote ratings, the 2008 honors for the Senate’s most liberal member went to Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash. Four Republicans – John Barrasso and Michael Enzi of Wyoming, John Ensign of Nevada and Jon Kyl of Arizona shared the distinction of being rated most conservative in that chamber.

Meanwhile, the House ratings saw 12 Democrats from six states ranked as most liberal. Three Republicans – Paul Broun of Georgia, Trent Franks of Arizona and Jeb Hensarling of Texas – were considered the most conservative.

Included in the list of the most liberal House members: Robert Brady, D-Pa., Grace Napolitano, D-Calif., George Miller, D-Calif., Jackie Speier, D-Calif., Louise Slaughter, D-NY, Linda Sanchez, D-Calif., and Nydia Velasquez, D-NY – all with a composite score of 93.2.

Rep. Barney Frank, a Massachusetts Democrat, didn’t quite make the top dozen — scoring a respectable 90.7 on the liberal meter.

The ratings, a National Journal tradition since 1981, are considered a definitive source of insight on congressional voting trends. Last year’s ratings ranked Barack Obama as the Senate’s most liberal member.

National Journal’s Vote Ratings are determined by analyzing members’ votes on key roll call votes that are classified as relating to economic, social, or foreign policy.