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William Jefferson's Ratings and Endorsements

Vote Smart displays all known interest group ratings for each candidate and official, regardless of issue or bias.

Keep in mind that ratings done by special interest groups often do not represent a non-partisan stance. In addition, some groups select votes that tend to favor members of one political party over another, rather than choosing votes based solely on issue concerns. Nevertheless, they can be invaluable in showing where an incumbent has stood on a series of votes in the past one or two years, especially when ratings by groups on all sides of an issue are compared. Website links, if available, and descriptions of the organizations offering performance evaluations are accessible by clicking on the name of the group.

With rare exceptions, Vote Smart displays interest group ratings as a 0-100 percentage. While many interest groups use percentages as ratings to begin with, please note that Vote Smart has translated some ratings to a percentage from a different rating system for consistency and ease in understanding. Please visit the group's website, email us at ratings@votesmart.org or call our Voter Information Hotline at 1-888-VOTESMART for more specific information.

32%
2003-2004
37%
2003
19%
2001-2002
31%
1999-2000
80%
2003-2004
100%
2006
100%
2005
35%
2004
30%
2003
100%
2001
75%
2000
100%
1999
69%
1997
75%
1996
0%
2005-2006
50%
2003-2004
19%
2001-2002
18%
1999-2000
20%
1999
28%
1997-1998
30%
1997
25%
1996
89%
2001
89%
1999
90%
1995-2003
80%
1995-1998
96%
1993-1996
100%
2001
70%
2005-2006
80%
2000
50%
1999
39%
1995-1996
21%
1993-1994
100%
2007
50%
2001-2002
50%
2001-2002
50%
1991-1992
67%
2003-2004
67%
2003-2004
44%
2001-2002
44%
2001-2002
88%
1999-2000
88%
1999-2000
100%
1998
100%
1997
73%
1996
80%
1995
89%
1994
89%
1993
100%
2007
22%
2003
50%
2001-2002
0%
2005
45%
2003-2004
60%
2001-2002
100%
2005-2006
100%
2005-2006
22%
2003
50%
2001-2002
50%
2001-2002
33%
2000
88%
2005-2006
88%
2005-2006
22%
2003
22%
2003
50%
2001-2002
50%
2001-2002
75%
2008
75%
2008
0%
2008
24.3%
2008
24.3%
2008
60%
2008
60%
2008
39%
2008
39%
2008
76%
2008
76%
2008
82%
2008
82%
2008
26%
2007
26%
2007
60%
2007
60%
2007
73%
2007
73%
2007
85%
2007
85%
2007
15%
2007
15%
2007
39%
2007
39%
2007
73%
2007
73%
2007
27%
2007
27%
2007
56%
2006
56%
2006
77%
2006
77%
2006
43%
2006
43%
2006
26%
2006
26%
2006
69.7%
2006
69.7%
2006
20%
2006
20%
2006
74%
2006
74%
2006
30.3%
2006
30.3%
2006
62%
2005
62%
2005
30%
2005
30%
2005
70%
2005
70%
2005
32%
2005
32%
2005
68%
2005
68%
2005
38%
2005
38%
2005
28%
2005
28%
2005
71%
2005
71%
2005
65%
2004
65%
2004
34%
2004
34%
2004
66%
2004
66%
2004
79%
2004
79%
2004
21%
2004
21%
2004
34%
2004
34%
2004
73%
2003
73%
2003
20%
2003
20%
2003
67%
2003
67%
2003
80%
2003
80%
2003
27%
2003
27%
2003
27%
2003
27%
2003
71%
2003
71%
2003
33%
2003
33%
2003
66%
2002
66%
2002
62%
2002
62%
2002
69%
2002
69%
2002
33%
2002
33%
2002
30%
2002
30%
2002
34%
2002
34%
2002
37%
2002
37%
2002
66%
2002
66%
2002
83%
2001
83%
2001
32%
2001
32%
2001
22%
2001
22%
2001
18%
2001
18%
2001
68%
2001
68%
2001
79%
2001
79%
2001
24%
2000
24%
2000
68%
2000
68%
2000
74%
2000
74%
2000
67%
2000
67%
2000
32%
2000
32%
2000
32%
2000
32%
2000
25%
1999
25%
1999
60%
1999
60%
1999
85%
1999
85%
1999
75%
1999
75%
1999
12%
1999
12%
1999
40%
1999
40%
1999
73%
1998
73%
1998
33%
1998
33%
1998
26%
1998
26%
1998
79%
1998
79%
1998
0%
1998
67%
1998
67%
1998
75%
1996
75%
1996
73%
1996
73%
1996
24%
1996
24%
1996
39%
1996
39%
1996
25%
1996
25%
1996
60%
1996
60%
1996
100%
2003
64%
2007-2008
100
2007
75%
2007
75%
2007
0%
2006
0%
2006
80%
2005-2006
28%
2003
28%
2003
38%
2003-2004
40%
2001-2002
0%
2007
17%
2003-2004
38%
2003-2004
38%
2003
46%
2003-2004
46%
2003-2004
67%
2003
67%
2003
59%
2001-2002
59%
2001-2002
53%
1999-2000
53%
1999-2000
32%
1997-1998
32%
1997-1998
18%
1997
18%
1997
65%
1995-1996
65%
1995-1996
8%
2003-2004
0%
1997-1998
100%
2004
100
2007
50%
2006
50%
2005
57%
2004
80%
2003
0%
2006-2012
0%
2006-2012
38%
2005-2006
38%
2005-2006
77%
2003-2004
77%
2003-2004
100%
2001-2002
100%
2001-2002
100%
2001
100%
1999-2000
100%
1999-2000
90%
1999
100%
1997-1998
100%
1997-1998
78%
1995-1996
78%
1995-1996
100%
2007
100%
2007
100%
2007
100%
2007
92%
1991-1992
100%
2007
82%
2001-2002
30%
2007
53%
2005
41%
2005
47%
2005
26%
2004
35
2003
35
2003
35
2003
34
2002
34
2002
34
2002
24%
2001
28%
2000
100%
2005-2006
100%
2005-2006
0%
1995-1996
0%
1995-1996
32%
2003-2004
37%
2003
19%
2001-2002
31%
1999-2000
49%
2004
31%
2005-2006
40%
2003-2004
50%
2003
28%
2001-2002
31%
2000
50%
1997-1998
25%
1995-1996
82%
2001-2002
60%
2007-2008
0%
2005-2006
32%
1998-2002
50%
1997
57%
1996
77%
2005
73%
2003-2004
78%
2001-2002
43%
1999-2000
71%
2006
71%
2006
58%
2005
58%
2005
60%
2004
60%
2004
78%
2003
78%
2003
60%
2002
60%
2002
50%
2001
50%
2001
40%
2000
40%
2000
45%
1999
45%
1999
63%
1998
63%
1998
17%
1997
17%
1997
50%
1996
50%
1996
42%
1995
42%
1995
0%
2007
0%
2006
32%
2003-2004
37%
2003
19%
2001-2002
31%
1999-2000
32%
2000
55%
1999
40%
1998
47%
1997
54%
1996
25%
1995
100
2007
50%
2006
50%
2005
57%
2004
80%
2003
100%
2002
75%
2007
60%
2005-2006
60%
2005-2006
33%
2004
0%
2003
75%
2001-2002
75%
2001-2002
46%
2003-2004
46%
2003-2004
67%
2003
67%
2003
59%
2001-2002
59%
2001-2002
53%
1999-2000
53%
1999-2000
32%
1997-1998
32%
1997-1998
18%
1997
18%
1997
65%
1995-1996
65%
1995-1996
0%
1995-1996
0%
1995-1996
100%
2003-2004
100%
2003-2004
100%
2003
100%
1999-2000
100%
1999-2000
100
2007
0%
2005
45%
2003-2004
60%
2001-2002
100%
2007
100%
2004
69%
2008
0%
2006-2012
0%
2006-2012
75%
2007
50%
2006
50%
2005
61%
2003-2004
45%
2003
55%
2001-2002
70%
1999-2000
63%
1999
55%
1998
50%
1997
77%
1995-1996
100%
2007
82%
2002
32%
2003-2004
37%
2003
19%
2001-2002
31%
1999-2000
33%
2004
33%
2003
17%
2002
15%
1999-2000
13%
1997-1998
11%
1997
14%
1995-1996
0%
2006
0%
2006
13%
2005
13%
2005
13%
2004
13%
2004
25%
2003
25%
2003
27%
2002
27%
2002
0%
2007
0%
2006
0%
2007
0%
2007
3%
2005-2006
3%
2003-2004
6%
2001-2002
6%
1999-2000
9%
1997-1998
8%
1995-1996
25%
2006
19%
2005
11%
2004
25%
2003
26%
2002
16%
2001
11%
1999
14%
1998
14%
1997
16%
1995
43%
2005-2006
43%
2005-2006
25%
2007
53%
2005
47%
2005
41%
2005
26%
2004
35
2003
35
2003
35
2003
34
2002
34
2002
34
2002
24%
2001
28%
2000
90%
2003-2004
90%
2003-2004
73%
2001-2002
73%
2001-2002
0%
2001-2002
0%
2001-2002
88%
1999-2000
88%
1999-2000
0%
1999-2000
0%
1999-2000
38%
1997-1998
38%
1997-1998
2%
2007
42%
2006
0%
1995
60%
1995
73%
2005-2006
73%
2005-2006
82%
2001-2002
55%
2007-2008
75%
2005-2006
75%
2005-2006
18%
2005-2006
18%
2005-2006
63%
2003-2004
63%
2003-2004
90%
2001-2002
-3
2001-2002
75%
2007
60%
2005-2006
60%
2005-2006
33%
2004
0%
2003
75%
2001-2002
75%
2001-2002
100%
2004
77%
2005
73%
2003-2004
78%
2001-2002
43%
1999-2000
100%
2005
0%
2006-2012
0%
2006-2012
83%
2005-2006
83%
2001-2002
83%
2000
50%
1999
100%
2004
0%
2003
71%
2006
71%
2006
58%
2005
58%
2005
60%
2004
60%
2004
78%
2003
78%
2003
60%
2002
60%
2002
50%
2001
50%
2001
40%
2000
40%
2000
45%
1999
45%
1999
63%
1998
63%
1998
17%
1997
17%
1997
50%
1996
50%
1996
42%
1995
42%
1995
80%
2001-2002
80%
2001-2002
100%
2001-2002
100%
2001-2002
100%
2000
100%
1999
100%
1998
75%
1997
80%
1996
50%
2003-2004
50%
2003
25%
2006
19%
2005
11%
2004
25%
2003
26%
2002
16%
2001
11%
1999
14%
1998
14%
1997
16%
1995
25%
2004
35%
2003
50%
2002
32%
2001
17%
2000
44
1999
38%
1998
17%
1997
2%
2007
42%
2006
100%
2001
100%
2001
100%
1997-1998
100%
1997-1998
87%
1995-1996
87%
1995-1996
0%
2007
100%
2007
29%
2005-2006
100%
2005-2006
0%
2003
60%
2007
75%
2004
80%
2003-2004
50
2007
100%
2003
100%
2006
75%
2007
60%
2005-2006
60%
2005-2006
33%
2004
0%
2003
75%
2001-2002
75%
2001-2002
0%
2007
0%
2007
0%
2006
0%
2006
0%
2001
0%
2001
83%
2001-2002
100%
2000
82%
1999
83%
1997-1998
100%
1995-1996
7%
2005-2008
7%
2005-2008
7%
2005-2006
7%
2005-2006
3%
2003-2006
3%
2003-2006
0%
2003-2005
0%
2003-2005
9%
2003
9%
2003
10%
2002
10%
2002
8%
2001
8%
2001
100%
2005-2006
66%
2005
66%
2005
100%
2004
100%
2004
0%
2003-2004
50%
1997-1998
F
2007-2008
F
2007-2008
86%
2001-2002
100%
1991
67%
2003-2004
67%
2003-2004
44%
2001-2002
44%
2001-2002
88%
1999-2000
88%
1999-2000
100%
1998
100%
1997
73%
1996
80%
1995
89%
1994
89%
1993
100%
2007
38%
2005-2006
38%
2005-2006
77%
2003-2004
77%
2003-2004
100%
2001-2002
100%
2001-2002
100%
2001
100%
1999-2000
100%
1999-2000
90%
1999
100%
1997-1998
100%
1997-1998
78%
1995-1996
78%
1995-1996
22%
2003
50%
2001-2002
60%
2006
67%
2005
100%
2003-2004
100%
2003-2004
91%
2001
70%
2000
80%
1999
63%
1998
100%
1997
93%
1996
100%
2001
100%
2007
18%
2005-2006
18%
2005-2006
63%
2003-2004
63%
2003-2004
32%
1998-2002
50%
1997
57%
1996
77%
2005
73%
2003-2004
78%
2001-2002
43%
1999-2000
71%
2006
71%
2006
58%
2005
58%
2005
60%
2004
60%
2004
78%
2003
78%
2003
60%
2002
60%
2002
50%
2001
50%
2001
40%
2000
40%
2000
45%
1999
45%
1999
63%
1998
63%
1998
17%
1997
17%
1997
50%
1996
50%
1996
42%
1995
42%
1995
75%
2007
50%
2006
50%
2005
61%
2003-2004
45%
2003
55%
2001-2002
70%
1999-2000
63%
1999
55%
1998
50%
1997
77%
1995-1996
-3
2001-2002
67%
2013-2014
67%
2013-2014
100%
2001-2002
100%
2001-2002
100%
2000
100%
1999
100%
1998
75%
1997
80%
1996
100%
2003
49%
2004
33%
2004
33%
2003
17%
2002
15%
1999-2000
13%
1997-1998
11%
1997
14%
1995-1996
8%
1991-1992
8%
1991-1992
31%
2005-2006
40%
2003-2004
50%
2003
28%
2001-2002
31%
2000
50%
1997-1998
25%
1995-1996
100%
2005
100
2005
80%
2005-2006
80%
2005-2006
20%
2007
34%
2006
25%
2005
11%
2004
38%
2004
50%
2003
33%
2002
15%
2001
19%
2000
14%
1999
16%
1998
16%
1997
26%
1995-1996
26%
1995-1996
0%
1995-1996
0%
1995-1996
50%
2003
50%
2003
100%
2006
38%
2005-2006
38%
2005-2006
77%
2003-2004
77%
2003-2004
100%
2001-2002
100%
2001-2002
100%
2001
100%
1999-2000
100%
1999-2000
90%
1999
100%
1997-1998
100%
1997-1998
78%
1995-1996
78%
1995-1996
92%
1991-1992
100%
2001
100%
2007
100
2007
50%
2006
50%
2005
57%
2004
80%
2003
0%
2005-2006
67%
2003
67%
2003
19%
2005-2006
32%
2003-2004
32%
2003-2004
37%
2003
37%
2003
19%
2001-2002
19%
2001-2002
31%
1999-2000
31%
1999-2000
14%
2007-2008
33%
2004
33%
2004
33%
2003
33%
2003
17%
2002
17%
2002
15%
1999-2000
15%
1999-2000
13%
1997-1998
13%
1997-1998
11%
1997
11%
1997
14%
1995-1996
14%
1995-1996
8%
1991-1992
8%
1991-1992
0%
2008
0%
2008
0%
2007
0%
2007
0%
2007
0%
2007
43%
2005-2006
43%
2005-2006
30%
2007
25%
2007
30%
2007
47%
2005
41%
2005
53%
2005
53%
2005
47%
2005
41%
2005
26%
2004
26%
2004
35
2003
35
2003
35
2003
35
2003
35
2003
35
2003
34
2002
34
2002
34
2002
34
2002
34
2002
34
2002
24%
2001
24%
2001
28%
2000
28%
2000
21%
2007-2008
21%
2007-2008
20%
2007
20%
2007
34%
2006
34%
2006
25%
2005
25%
2005
38%
2004
11%
2004
11%
2004
38%
2004
50%
2003
50%
2003
33%
2002
33%
2002
15%
2001
15%
2001
19%
2000
19%
2000
14%
1999
14%
1999
16%
1998
16%
1998
16%
1997
16%
1997
26%
1995-1996
26%
1995-1996
26%
1995-1996
26%
1995-1996
67%
2005-2006
73%
2005-2006
73%
2005-2006
73%
2005-2006
73%
2005-2006
5%
2005-2006
5%
2005-2006
82%
2001-2002
55%
2007-2008
0%
1995-1996
0%
1995-1996
50%
2006
21%
2005
20%
2004
20%
2003
20%
2002
20%
2001
20%
2000
20%
1999
5%
1998
67%
2005-2006
67%
2005-2006
0%
2007
0%
2007
50%
2006
50%
2006
24%
2005
24%
2005
9%
2003-2004
9%
2003-2004
15%
2001-2002
15%
2001-2002
3%
2005-2006
3%
2003-2004
6%
2001-2002
6%
1999-2000
9%
1997-1998
8%
1995-1996
25%
2006
19%
2005
11%
2004
25%
2003
26%
2002
16%
2001
11%
1999
14%
1998
14%
1997
16%
1995
2%
2007
42%
2006
56%
2006
56%
2006
75%
2007
75%
2007
100%
2007
100%
2002
83%
2005-2006
83%
2001-2002
83%
2000
50%
1999
46%
2003-2004
46%
2003-2004
67%
2003
67%
2003
59%
2001-2002
59%
2001-2002
53%
1999-2000
53%
1999-2000
32%
1997-1998
32%
1997-1998
18%
1997
18%
1997
65%
1995-1996
65%
1995-1996
80%
2001-2002
80%
2001-2002
100%
2007
21%
2007-2008
82%
2002
78%
2006
100%
2001-2002
100%
2001-2002
100%
2000
100%
1999
100%
1998
75%
1997
80%
1996
75%
2005-2006
75%
2005-2006
A+
2007
67%
2003-2004
50%
2003
100%
2005
100%
2004
50%
2003
100%
2001
100%
1999
100%
2007-2008
60%
2003
38%
2003-2004
66%
2001
33%
1997-1998
46%
2003-2004
43%
2003
82%
2001-2002
31%
2005-2006
40%
2003-2004
50%
2003
28%
2001-2002
31%
2000
50%
1997-1998
25%
1995-1996
arrow_upward