by Alex Munguia
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) (pictured left) and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) (pictured right) are some of the least effective members of Congress, according to a new study by researchers from Vanderbilt University and the University of Virginia.
The researchers, who generated their data using computers and basing their scores on 15 criteria, say the proof is in the math.
Their equations factored how many of a congressman’s bills pass committee, make it to the other house, and eventually become law. They established a benchmark score of 1.5 and above as “Exceptional” and scores of .50 and below as “Below Expectations.”
Among the lowest scoring House Democrats were Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (0.209) and Speaker Nancy Pelosi (0.058).
They also identified several senators who were ineffective, with Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont scoring 0.136.
The average score was 1.0.
The highest scoring senators were Gary Peters (D-Mi.), Marco Rubio (R-Fl.) and Roger Wicker (R-Ms.), who scored 5.015, 3.589, and 3.558.
Congressmen who practice bipartisanship are the most effect legislators, the study also said.
“Collectively, these results imply that engaging in bipartisan behaviors contributes to a virtuous cycle: those who cosponsor across party lines attract cross-party cosponsors to their own bills, which translates into greater legislative success for their agendas.”
And it found that regardless of political affiliations “those who acquired degrees from elite educational institutions tend to be more liberal than others in their respective parties.”
Rep. Rashida Talib had the highest score of the “squad” at 1.411, beating both Representatives Ilhan Omar (0.328) and Ayanna Pressley (0.670).
Speaking to Campus Reform Vanderbilt University Professor Alan Wiseman, who helped to organize the study, said bipartisanship is still a path to becoming a successful lawmaker in Congress.
Wiseman said that there is a “very strong relationship between bipartisanship and lawmaking effectiveness for our top 10 Democratic House and Senate members holds.”
“Even in these politically challenging times,” he continued. “Bipartisanship appears to pay off for those who seek to advance their legislative initiatives.”
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Alex Munguia is a Florida Campus Correspondent with Campus Reform. Alex studies at the University of Florida and majors in Finance and Information Systems. He is currently a member of Young American’s For Freedom, and the College Republicans on his campus.
Photo “Bernie Sanders” by Matt Johnson CC 2.0.
