This is an impressive work. Burdens argument that ideology is important butis not everything is compelling. It does not tear down what we know but ratherbuilds ... » 

This is an impressive work. Burdens argument that ideology is important butis not everything is compelling. It does not tear down what we know but ratherbuilds on the existing literature with a new take. What he gives usthat someissues may not reflect the standard leftright continuum and that legislatorspersonal experiences and values come into play hereis both highly originaland very important.Eric M. Uslaner University of Maryland This bookrepresents a major contribution to the study of legislative politics. Itspurpose is to explore how legislators are influenced by their own personalbackgrounds and experiences as they go about their legislative activitiesincluding rollcall voting floor speeches and cosponsoring legislation. Itwill be widely read by legislative scholars and will influence how they thinkabout the determinants of legislative behavior.James Garand Louisiana StateUniversity «