Cincinnati home to best-, worst- dressed lawmakers

Washingtonian magazine's annual lighthearted list of the "Best & Worst of Congress" is in the September issue that just hit newstands. And several of our local lawmaker made the cut, including new House Majority Leader John Boehner of West Chester and freshman Jean Schmidt of Miami Township.

The list is based on 1,700 ballots sent to congressional staff members from both parties. The magazine donates $1 for each returned ballot to a charity. Here are excerpts of the categories that mention area members of Congress:

SENATE:

No Rocket Scientist:
1. Jim Bunning (R-Ky.)
2. Tie: Rick Santorum (R-Pa.); George Allen (R-Va.)
Aides on both sides wish the Hall of Fame pitcher had more than a good arm.

HOUSE:

Straightest Shooter
1. Tie: John Boehner (R-Ohio); David Obey (D-Wisc.)
2. Tie: Steney Hoyer (D-Md.); Gene Taylor (D-Miss.); John Murtha (D-Pa.); Sam Johnson (R-Texas)
"Are you kidding? They're politicians!" wrote one aide in a category with little agreement and lots of choices.

Meanest
1. Bill Thomas (R-Calif.)
2. Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-Texas)
3. Jean Schmidt (R-Ohio)
Both sides have darts for Thomas and Jackson-Lee, while Schmidt has rubbed mostly Democrats the wrong way.

Best Dressed
1. David Dreier (R-Calif.)
2. Mark Foley (R-Fla.)
3. Tie: John Boehner (R-Ohio); Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.)
The natty Californian wins in a bipartisan landslide, as he did in the 2004 poll.

Fashion Victim
1. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.)
2. Jean Schmidt (R-Ohio)
3. Cynthia McKinney (D-Ga.)
DeLauro continues to get much bipartisan grief for her mismatched ensembles.

House Member I'd Like to See Win the Presidency in 2008:
1. Steney Hoyer (D-Md.)
2. John Boehner (R-Ohio)
3. John Spratt (D-S.C.)
Hoyer and Boehner get the nods from their party. But the last time a House member went directly to the White House was more than 100 years ago.