James Oberstar
Former representative for Minnesota's 8th district · Democrat; served until January 3, 2011
View:InteractiveSummary Compare with another member · All members from Minnesota
Seats held: Representative for MN-8, 1975–2011.
Votes compared with what constituents said
- Cooperative Election Study: voted with 8 of 16 surveyed votes where the district's estimated majority was clear.
| Survey question | Vote | How they voted | What constituents said | Compared |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| End "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (let gay people serve openly in the military) | December 15, 2010 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Too close to call (59.1% support, likely 49.3–68.9%) | Too close to call |
| End "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (let gay people serve openly in the military) | December 15, 2010 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (70.2% support, likely 62.6–77.7%) | With the majority |
| Financial reform (Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act) | June 30, 2010 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (72% support, likely 63.6–80.3%) | With the majority |
| Repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (let gay people serve openly in the military) | May 27, 2010 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (63.7% support, likely 55–72.4%) | With the majority |
| Health care reform (Affordable Care Act) | March 21, 2010 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Too close to call (47.4% support, likely 37.5–57.3%) | Too close to call |
| Affordable Care Act of 2010 | March 21, 2010 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Too close to call (57.5% support, likely 48.7–66.3%) | Too close to call |
| Health care reform (Affordable Care Act) | March 21, 2010 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Too close to call (52.3% support, likely 42.1–62.5%) | Too close to call |
| Health care reform (House bill, November 2009) | November 7, 2009 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Too close to call (47.7% support, likely 37.1–58.2%) | Too close to call |
| American Clean Energy and Security Act (cap and trade) | June 26, 2009 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Too close to call (52.2% support, likely 41.5–62.9%) | Too close to call |
| American Clean Energy and Security Act (cap and trade) | June 26, 2009 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Too close to call (60.8% support, likely 49.4–72.3%) | Too close to call |
| American Clean Energy and Security Act (cap and trade) | June 26, 2009 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Too close to call (56.4% support, likely 47.5–65.3%) | Too close to call |
| Expand federal hate-crimes law to cover sexual orientation and gender identity | April 29, 2009 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Too close to call (54.9% support, likely 45.2–64.7%) | Too close to call |
| American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (the 2009 stimulus) | February 13, 2009 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Too close to call (47.7% support, likely 36.8–58.7%) | Too close to call |
| American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (the 2009 stimulus) | February 13, 2009 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Too close to call (52.7% support, likely 42.7–62.6%) | Too close to call |
| American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (the 2009 stimulus) | February 13, 2009 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Too close to call (49.3% support, likely 39.7–58.9%) | Too close to call |
| Expand the State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) | February 4, 2009 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (72.2% support, likely 62.8–81.5%) | With the majority |
| Expand the State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) | February 4, 2009 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (73.3% support, likely 62.1–84.6%) | With the majority |
| Expand the State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) | February 4, 2009 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (67.2% support, likely 58.6–75.9%) | With the majority |
| Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act (more time to sue over pay discrimination) | January 27, 2009 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Too close to call (58.8% support, likely 49.1–68.5%) | Too close to call |
| The 2008 bank bailout (Troubled Asset Relief Program) | October 3, 2008 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most oppose (25.7% support, likely 13.7–37.7%) | Against the majority |
| The 2008 bank bailout (Troubled Asset Relief Program) | October 3, 2008 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most oppose (25.7% support, likely 14.6–36.9%) | Against the majority |
| The $700 billion bank bailout (Emergency Economic Stabilization Act) | October 3, 2008 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most oppose (21.1% support, likely 13.1–29.1%) | Against the majority |
| Federal help for homeowners facing foreclosure (Housing and Economic Recovery Act) | July 23, 2008 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Too close to call (51.1% support, likely 41.2–61%) | Too close to call |
| Allow eavesdropping on overseas terrorist suspects without a court order (FISA Amendments Act) | June 20, 2008 · official record | Nay (against the proposal) | Most support (79.7% support, likely 70.8–88.6%) | Against the majority |
| Allow eavesdropping on overseas communications without a court order (FISA Amendments Act) | June 20, 2008 · official record | Nay (against the proposal) | Most support (71.8% support, likely 63.7–79.9%) | Against the majority |
| Extend NAFTA-style free trade to Peru (U.S.-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement) | November 8, 2007 · official record | Did not vote | Too close to call (47.6% support, likely 38.9–56.4%) | Related bill, not counted |
| Expand the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) | September 25, 2007 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (67.8% support, likely 59.7–75.9%) | With the majority |
| Withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq within 180 days (Responsible Redeployment from Iraq Act) | July 12, 2007 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Too close to call (57% support, likely 46.9–67.1%) | Too close to call |
| Fund research using embryonic stem cells (Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act) | June 7, 2007 · official record | Nay (against the proposal) | Most support (65.5% support, likely 56–75.1%) | Against the majority |
| Fund research using embryonic stem cells (Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act) | June 7, 2007 · official record | Nay (against the proposal) | Most support (62.7% support, likely 54–71.4%) | Against the majority |
| Fund research using embryonic stem cells (Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act) | June 7, 2007 · official record | Nay (against the proposal) | Most support (61.2% support, likely 52.1–70.4%) | Against the majority |
| Raise the federal minimum wage to $7.25 an hour (Fair Minimum Wage Act) | January 10, 2007 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (76.5% support, likely 68.5–84.5%) | With the majority |
Attendance
In the 111th Congress, James Oberstar missed 43 of 1,655 House votes (2.6%). On votes where most of their party voted one way, they voted with their party 97.9% of the time.