Suburban Congressional Legislators Do What They Are Elected to Do: Vote

When it comes to perfect attendance for congressional votes, two Illinois suburban members of the U.S. House of Representatives rank high. Rep. Judy Biggert (R-13th) and Rep. Randy Hultgren (R-14th) have missed fewer than 1 percent of roll calls, according to data from GovTrack.us, an independent legislative tracking project.

GovTrack.gov computed that Rep. Peter Roskam (R-6th) missed 2.6 percent of 4,479 roll call votes since Jan 4, 2007. Rep. Dan Lipinski (D-3rd) missed 2.5 percent of roll call votes.

All suburban congressmen placed above the national average when compared with the attendance of their colleagues. The national average of missed roll call votes for all House members is 3.89 percent.

Biggert, a Republican from Hinsdale, holds the best record of voting among veteran lawmakers from Illinois the Chicago Tribune reported, based on GovTrack.us data. "Our constituents sent us to Washington to be their voice and you're not doing your job if you don't vote," Biggert told the Tribune. She took office in 1999 and has missed 0.6 percent of all votes, and 0.7 percent of roll call votes.

"I'm elected and it's a job. And that's what I am paid for," Biggert added, who like her colleagues, earns $174,000 a year, the Tribune reported.

The Tribune also reported that Hultgren, a Republican freshman from Winfield who has been in office for one year, skipped only four of the 948 votes held in 2011, giving him a 0.4 percent absentee rate, the best among House members from Illinois.

"I make it a priority to be there," the Tribune quoted Hultgren as saying, adding that he has known lawmakers to miss a family funeral or wedding to vote.

The Tribune designed and published a graphic showing the entire Illinois congressional contingent and their voting records. Click here to see it.

Voters can track the votes of their federal representative and senator. Click here.