Party: Democratic

Overview: Incumbent Mel Watt beat challengers Greg Dority (Republican) and Lon Cecil (Libertarian). Watt supports decreases in military spending, and increases in spending on the arts, education, the environment, medical research, and welfare. He is for slight increases in alcohol, capital gains, cigarette, and gasoline taxes, as well as income taxes for high-income families. He supports raising the minimum wage, environmental regulations, a ban on assault rifles, and a public health insurance option.

On the record: “I certainly favor protecting our country against attacks from people or groups plotting to do our citizens harm. But we must not require the American people to sacrifice their right of privacy and trample the principles underlying the individual rights of each citizen in the name of fighting terrorism.” (From wattforcongress.com)

Websites: http://www.watt.house.gov/ & http://wattforcongress.com/

Voting Record: http://www.votesmart.org/voting_category.php?can_id=26997