Here are Progressive Punch's rankings for the 110th Congress so far (based on percentage of progressive votes cast) -
99.12% - Clarke, Yvette (D - NY)
98.70% - Ellison, Keith (D - MN)
98.70% - Johnson, Hank (D - GA)
97.89% - Grijalva, Raul (D - AZ)
97.82% - Hirono, Mazie (D - HI)
Source:
http://www.progressivepunch.org
Below the fold, please read a little about each of these excellent Members of Congress.
Yvette Clarke is a freshman representing Brooklyn. She's a member of the Congressional Black Caucus and has been working with Congresswoman Barbara Lee and others to end the violence in Darfur:
http://www.voanews.com/...
Yvette Clarke, a New York Democrat, says the Arab League has a special responsibility where Darfur is concerned.
"The purpose of the League of Arab States is to coordinate the cultural and security policies of its member states, of which Sudan is a member," said Clarke. "If genocide or any atrocity is taking place in one member state, the other member states have a duty to recognize and act to end it."
Keith Ellison represents Minneapolis and is another freshman CBC member. He's quickly formed bonds with other Members of Congress and, for example, regularly confers with Dennis Kucinich:
http://www.opednews.com/...
Ellison named fellow Representative Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) as "a good friend", saying "we talk every day" during the week in Washington. With Kucinich reputedly poised to introduce Articles of Impeachment against Vice President Dick Cheney this week, Ellison was measured in his commitment to join Kucinich. He made clear that he was supportive of the idea, but not if it only becomes a symbolic gesture. Ellison is only interested in seeing impeachment proceedings actually becoming a reality.
Stressing that he had not yet seen what specific charges Kucinich is intending to bring up against the Vice President, Ellison, formerly a criminal defense attorney, seemed as committed to guaranteeing the habeas corpus for Cheney that the Vice President regularly denies others.
Looking at his blackberry, Ellison said "maybe I'll give Dennis a call this weekend".
Noting that he has an activist's heart, when asked what efforts and strategies in support of impeachment might be most effective, Ellison suggested sending John Nichol's book The Genius of Impeachment, which he had read and appreciated, to members of Congress, starting with those on the House Judiciary Committee.
Hank Johnson, yet another freshman CBC member, has already established himself as a hard-working liberal:
http://www.ajc.com/...
Like others interviewed, the dean of Georgia's congressional Democrats, Rep. John Lewis, whose Atlanta district abuts Johnson's, was reluctant to criticize McKinney. But he drew a contrast when he spoke about how he and Johnson talk regularly when they meet on the House floor or in a hallway, and how Johnson's office is working closely with his on issues such as protecting PeachCare, Georgia's health insurance program for poor children.
"That seldom happened in the past," Lewis said.
"I think the people in his district are very, very pleased and his colleagues are very, very pleased," Lewis said. "He's a progressive member, but he doesn't make all of that noise and commotion."
Raul Grivalja, the lone non-freshman on this list, has represented Tucson since 2003 and is member of the Congressional Hispanic Congress. He's an advocate for clean elections and clean energy and has been a consistent opponent of the Iraq War. He's currently working to close a loophole in environmental law:
http://media.wildcat.arizona.edu/...
It's true that America has an addiction to foreign oil, but recent movements to shore up domestic production are equally harmful. In a little-noticed provision in a 2005 energy law, a loophole permits energy companies to drill on public lands before public review and comment periods. That's created a wave of unrest in Colorado, and Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-Ariz., wants to close the loophole. There are a slew of solutions to solving America's oil crisis, but precluding ordinary citizens from participating in the process is not one of them. The loophole should be closed, and energy companies should be subject to the same public review other unpopular industries are.
Mazie Hirono represents rural O`ahu and the rest of the Hawaiian Islands. Hirono has already seen two of her amendments get passed by the House (H.AMDT. 38 to H.R. 720, in support of water resource protection, and H.AMDT. 119 to H.R. 1429, in support of Head Start). And she's introduced legislation to exempt children of certain Filipino World War II veterans from the numerical limitations on immigrant visas (H.R. 1287). A freshman member of Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, Hirono serves on the environment and transportation committees and has co-sponsored legislation to end anti-gay discrimination in the military and in immigration law. She was honored by Howard Dean at the Democratic National Committee last week:
http://www.dailykos.com/...
Here's Hirono speaking in support of her successful Head Start amendment on the floor of Congress:
I've added all five of these Members of Congress to my ActBlue page:
http://www.actblue.com/...
Please reward good behavior.