McHenry website rated lowest in NC delegation

In the Sunlight Foundation's survey of Congressional websites, Patrick McHenry rates an unimpressive 16 percent. The average score was 29. The foundation considered a rating of 40 as "passing." The survey included the following questions (McHenry had only the two noted in brackets):

A list or a link to bills the member has sponsored or co-sponsored.
394 member sites have this

The name(s) of the committee(s) and subcommittee(s) on which the member serves.
465 member sites have this [including McHenry]

Links to the Web sites of the committee(s) on which the member serves.
360 member sites have this

Statements or links to statements inserted into the congressional record by the member.
250 member sites have this

A page or email address to contact the member electronically.
532 member sites have this [inlcuding McHenry]

Personal Financial Disclosure (which lists the member’s assets and sources of income)
0 member sites have this

Member/Officer Reimbursed Travel Expense Disclosure (filed when a third party pays for a member or staffer's junket)
0 member sites have this

Expenses charged to the Member Representational Allowance (for Representatives) or the Official Office Expense Allowance (for Senators)
0 member sites have this

Information on franked mail, including copies of letters and cost of sending them.
0 member sites have this

A public calendar with the member's schedule, including attendees and subjects of meetings.
6 member sites have this

A list of earmarks sponsored by the member.
6 member sites have this

Information on a member's interventions with or correspondence to regulatory agencies?
1 member sites have this

Results are from March 2007. Here are the scores of the rest of the North Carolina delegation:

Representatives

Butterfield, G K (D) 32%
Coble, Howard (R) 24%
Etheridge, Bob (D) 24%
Foxx, Virginia (R) 24%
Hayes, Robin (R) 24%
Jones, Walter B Jr (R) 32%
McHenry, Patrick (R) 16%
McIntyre, Mike (D) 40%
Miller, Brad (D) 40%
Myrick, Sue (R) 24%
Price, David (D) 24%
Shuler, Heath (D) 16%
Watt, Melvin L (D) 32%

Senators

Burr, Richard (R) 24%
Dole, Elizabeth (R) 40%

How Pat McHenry rates

For those of you who don't know much about North Carolina's 10th district representative, don't rely on my opinion. For your illumination, I've checked out some of the most prestigious organizations in the country to see how they rate him based on voting record.

According to Project Vote Smart, Pat McHenry rates a zero, zilch, nada, zippo from the DAV, the Humane Society, the NEA, Defenders of Wildlife, National Committee for an Effective Congress, American Immigration Lawyers, Service Employees International Union, American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, the Alliance for Retied Americans, NARAL, Planned Parenthood, and the Leadership Council on Civil Rights.

The Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America gave him a grade of F.

But don't despair. He's received a hundred, a perfect score, or a grade of A from the Family Research Council, the American Conservative Union, National Right to Life Committee, the NRA, the American Land Rights Coalition, the National Federation of Independent Business, the U.S. Border Control (whoever they are), and the National Sand and Gravel Association.

Okay, so that list ain't so long. Well, a score over 75 is average or above, so I'll list those who gave him marks at least that high: the National Association of Wheat Growers, Americans for Tax Reform, the Business-Industry Political Action Committee, and my personal favorite, the good ol' U.S. Chamber of Congress. Remember the U.S. Chamber of Commerce? Those are the folks who endorsed Russian bidnessman, unindicted bank fraud co-conspirator, and 11th district neighbor, Charles Taylor, year after miserable, corrupt year.

And, just to be fair, I'll list all the organizations that gave Pat a score of 25 or below: the United Auto Workers, International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, American Federation of Government Employees, the United Electrical, Radio, and Machine Workers, the NAACP, the Drug Policy Alliance, the League of Conservation Voters, the Children's Defense Fund, the American Public Health Association, and he can't even please Republicans for Environmental Protection, who gave him score of 8.