Hastert Gets Low Marks From AFSCME

The newly elected speaker of the House of Representatives, Dennis “Denny” Hastert (R-Ill.), has received a low grade from AFSCME for his voting record.

During his 12-year career on Capitol Hill, Hastert has voted against AFSCME’s interests 125 times and in agreement with AFSCME only 10 times, which has earned him an overall rating of 7 percent. AFSCME’s rating of his 1998 voting record is even lower — 0 percent — because he voted against all major pieces of pro-labor legislation last year.

Each year AFSCME gives a grade to each member of Congress based on the member’s votes on several key pieces of legislation.

Hastert is a party loyalist every bit as conservative as his predecessor, Newt Gingrich (R-Ga). Hastert’s voting record has been conservative since he started in the House in 1987. He has received perfect vote ratings from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Christian Coalition and the National Federation of Independent Business.

Faced with a six-vote House majority — one of the thinnest this century — Hastert has a daunting task in front of him, according to AFSCME International’s Department of Legislation.

The affable 56-year-old former high school wrestling coach does, however, have a reputation as a conciliator who can work with both Democrats and Republicans.

AFSCME expects Hastert’s legislative agenda to focus on conservative “bread and butter” issues such as tax cuts and private school vouchers and on new funding for defense.

Hastert is a leading GOP figure on health care. He has chaired task forces on every major health care issue this decade. He was the only Republican on Hillary Rodham Clinton’s 1993 health care task force. He also helped pass the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, which makes it easier for people to carry insurance from one job to the next.