[1]	The DeLay Rankings measure how close a member of Congress is to Tom DeLay by adding together values from six different measurements. The perfect score is ten points—the closer to 10 points a representative receives, the closer he or she is to Tom DeLay. Each of the measurements is described below.

Here’s an example. Rep. Tom Feeney, R-Florida, ranks #1 on the DeLay Rankings because he has taken a lot of money from Tom DeLay’s PAC ($10,000), for which he gets three points, given money to DeLay’s legal defense fund ($5,000), for which he receives two points; voted with DeLay 97.4% of the time (which we double on a two point scale), for which he gets 1.95 points; and so on. While other members of Congress have received more contributions from DeLay’s PAC, given more to DeLay’slegal defense, or voted more frequently the way DeLay does, Feeney is high up on enough of these categories to be ranked number one when all the elements are added together.

Here are the six things we measured:

1. $ From DeLay's (ARMPAC). Shows the total amount DeLay has contributed through his leadership PAC, ARMPAC, to campaign committees of current House members since 1993. Data downloaded from Federal Election Commission on October 17, 2005.
   Scoring: 3 points for receiving $5,000 or more; 1.5 points for receiving $1 to 4,999.
   Source: Center for Responsive Politics [2].


2. $ to DeLay (legal defense fund). Displays the total amount current House Members have contributed to Tom DeLay's legal defense fund. Reflects contributions through March 2005.
   Scoring: 2 points for making a contribution.
   Source: Public Citizen [3].


3. Vote %. Reflects the percentage of votes where a House Member has voted the way Tom DeLay voted on the House floor, from January 1, 1991 through October 12, 2005, excluding non-controversial votes.
   Scoring: Double the percentage. 2 total possible points.
   Source: ProgressivePunch.org [4].


4. $ From DeLay's campaign. Shows whether a House member has received contributions from DeLay’s campaign fund. Data covers period from 1989 through present (last contribution given in 2002).
   Scoring: 1 point for taking money from DeLay's campaign fund.
   Source: Center for Responsive Politics [5].


5. Receiving Substantial Fundraising Help from DeLay. Twenty House Members recently collected at least $150,000 from the Retain Our Majority Program (ROMP) fundraisers organized by DeLay and allies.
   Scoring: 1 point for benefiting from DeLay’s ROMP program.
   Source: The Hill, March 17, 2005; Roll Call, June 28, 2005 [6].


6. Voting for the DeLay Rule. On November 17, 2004, the House Republican Conference voted to change a rule requiring members in leadership positions to step down if indicted by state grand juries.
   Scoring: 1 point for voting for DeLay Rule. 0.5 points for refusing to answer.
   Source: Public Campaign Action Fund [7].