Hillarack Oblinton

Now that the Democratic race for the nomination has, for all practical purposes, been winnowed down to two candidates--Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama--it is time to get out the fine-toothed combs and decide which of these Senators is more deserving to be the nominee. The central distinguishing proposition of the race thus far has been that of Experience (Clinton) vs. Change (Obama). At the same time, however, I've heard more than a few Clinton supporters say that, when it comes to the issues before the Senate, Hillary and Barack have overwhelmingly voted in the same fashion.

A look at GovTrack.us sheds some light on the legislative priorities and accomplishments of each would-be president. You can learn a lot about a candidate by seeing what kinds of laws he or she wants passed. So let's have a gander.
In 2007, Hillary sponsored or co-sponsored 100 pieces of legislation. Some practical and important--such as S. Res. 649, a bill that requires an independent safety inspection for New York's Indian Point Nuclear plant--and some symbolic--such as S. Con. Res. 10 which recognizes and praises the NAACP on its 98th birthday.

Of the 100 bills brought to the floor by Clinton this year, 6 have been enacted into law:

1. support for the goals and ideals of "National Purple Heart Recognition Day"
2. a concurrent resolution recognizing the 75th anniversary of the Military Order of the Purple Heart
3.a bill to recognize the goals of Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month
4. a bill to urge a international organization to allow access to Holocaust archives
5. a resolution calling for Hamas and Hezbollah to release Israeli soldiers held captive
6. recognition of the uncommon valor of Wesley Autrey, the man who jumped on to the subway tracks and saved a man's life

Over to Obama's year in the Senate. The Illinois Senator sponsored or co-sponsored 63 bills this year. As with Hillary, some of them would have immediate practical effect--such as S. 1306, the Lead Free Toys Act of 2007-- and some are less urgent--such as S. Con. Res. 5 which honors the life of Percy Lavon Julian, the first African American to be inducted into the Academy of Sciences.

Of Obama's proposed legislation, 3 bills passed in 2007.

1. a resolution celebrating the life of Bishop Gilbert Earl Patterson.
2. the designation of July 12, 2007 as "National Summer Learning Day."
3. a condemnation of Zimbabwe's governmental oppression of its citizens.

The takeaway from all of this? It's much easier to pass non-binding, symbolic laws than ones that actually do much to change the world. Congress is a team sport, after all. One could do a similar treatment of John McCain's past year, too. What' is really instructive about all of this is the list of items each Senator sponsored. Both Clinton and Obama are very progressive. Both have introduced bills to protect the middle class, aid veterans, and increase public safety oversight.

So, what of their differences? While it is statistically true to say that Obama and Clinton have voted together over 90 percent of the time, during their overlapping time in the Senate, they have also voted differently 40 times. The important issues, nicely outlined by the Washington Post, have largely to do with energy.

Clinton voted against an amendment in the Energy Bill establishing an ethanol mandate for refineries.
Obama voted for the amendment, which became law.

Clinton voted to expand oil production in the Gulf of Mexico.
Obama opposed the expansion.

Obama voted for an increase in fuel-efficiency standards
Hillary voted against the idea.

Obama voted against funding for pet projects (this one's tricky)
Hillary voted against.

Clinton voted to keep funding TV Marti, the American anti-Cuban station
Obama voted against

Clinton voted in favor of a measure that allowed confiscation of legally-owned hand guns during natural disasters
Obama voted against


So there you have look at the issues. The similarities and the differences. Govtrack considers Clinton the more liberal of the two contenders, but both push the needle toward the blue end of the binary color-spectrum.