National Journal: Walz a centrist, McCollum among House’s ‘most liberal’

Reps. Walz and McCollum

National Journal has released its ranking of Congress “members at the far ends and the ideological center of the House of Representatives” — and at the far end only one Minnesotan makes the cut. Surprise: it’s not Michele Bachmann.

Among the “most liberal” congressional representatives, based on 2009 House votes, is Rep. Betty McCollum, who is tied with California Democrats Howard Berman and Doris Matsui and Maryland’s John Sarbanes at 403rd most liberal with a composite score of 90.5. Last year, McCollum was tied for the title of most liberal of all congressional members. No Minnesotans make the “most conservative” list (last year, Rep. Bachmann was ranked 36th most conservative, while this year she doesn’t make the list).

But two Minnesota Democrats are ranked among “The Centrists” in the House. Rep. Collin Peterson scored a composite of 45.2 percent (meaning his votes show he’s slightly to the conservative side of the center), while Rep. Tim Walz’s 63.8 score puts him a tad more liberal than the center (the rankings last year put Walz at 175th most liberal, while this year he’s 166th).

The Walz campaign reacted to the rankings, noting in a statement that the congressman has “secur[ed] his position as a moderate amongst his colleagues.”

“As 2010 moves along, opponents on the far right-wing will attempt to distort his record in countless ways,” said Walz’s campaign manager, Richard Carlbom. “The National Journal rankings show just how well he is doing at ensuring southern Minnesota has a moderate, independent voice in Congress.”

Indeed, challengers for Walz’s First Congressional District seat have characterized him as anything but moderate. GOPer Allen Quist, for instance, famously called Walz a “radical,” stating his belief that defeating terrorism is “not the big battle. The big battle is in D.C. with the radicals.” The GOP’s James Hagedorn uses the word “socialism” in discussing Walz, calling the congressman a “thoughtless liberal.”