In their 18 months in Congress, New Hampshire Reps. Paul Hodes and Carol Shea-Porter have been hard to distinguish - at least when it comes to their voting records. On dozens of the most significant bills, the two have voted identically, according to a Monitor analysis.

Hodes and Shea-Porter, both Democrats, have also voted alongside their party's leadership the vast majority of the time. Both have sided with House Democratic leaders on about 98 percent of votes, according to congressional voting records records. (The typical congressman voted with his or her party 89 percent of the time, according to tallies by the Washington Post.) Those percentages put Hodes and Shea-Porter in the top fifth of House members when it comes to voting with their own party.

As the 2008 congressional campaigns take shape over the coming months, those records - which include hundreds of votes - will come under greater scrutiny. Republicans say they plan to focus on the frequency that both Democrats voted with their party's leadership. In interviews last week, Hodes and Shea-Porter stood by their records, saying they were delivering on promises they made to voters.

"I think my voting record reflects a responsible and independent approach," Hodes said. "If the agenda is the right agenda, and the votes are the right votes for the country and New Hampshire, I will take those votes."

"I am very proud of this agenda," Shea-Porter said. "It's the agenda of the American people."

Since joining Congress in January 2007, Hodes and Shea-Porter have each cast nearly 1,600 votes, including votes to:

• Require President Bush to reduce the number of U.S. troops in Iraq.

• Expand the State Children's Health Insurance Program, which provides health insurance for children.

• Increase the federal minimum wage from $5.15 an hour to $7.25 an hour over two years.

• Repeal tax cuts to oil companies and fund renewable energy programs.

• Lower the interest rate on student loans.

• Pass a $290 billion farm bill.

• Extend emergency unemployment benefits.

• Make it easier for states to purchase foreclosed housing.

• Promote alternative energy incentives.

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