Owens's label doesn't match voting record

The national Republican Party does all it can to link Rep. William L. Owens to the liberal House Democratic leadership. But the label does not hold up well against his voting record, a Capitol Hill publication found.

Mr. Owens, D-Plattsburgh, ranked among the 10 most conservative Democrats in the House last year, when that party's numbers were much greater and Democrats held a sizable majority.

National Journal, in an annual vote study, ranked Mr. Owens the eighth most conservative Democrat.

The magazine gave Mr. Owens a conservative score of 56 and a liberal score of 44, and labeled him a political centrist.

Unlike report cards issued by interest groups, the Capitol Hill voting studies encompass many votes on a wide range of issues.

The National Journal ranking was based on 93 votes. Interest groups typically sample a fraction of that number, usually with a tilt toward such specific issues as environmental protection.

However, as with interest-group ratings, vote studies depend upon which matters actually come before the House, and that was determined mainly by a more liberal leadership.

This year, by contrast, the House is voting on matters set by a conservative Republican agenda.

Mr. Owens's office was all too glad to distribute the piece to reporters.

His office shared that news on the same day Mr. Owens sent an appeal to supporters for campaign cash, citing what he called the GOP's overreach on such issues as health-care reform and budget cuts.