Overcoming Income and Interest Groups: Saliency and Representative Responsiveness

• In Event: Public Opinion and Public Policy

Abstract

Previous research finds political participation increases with income, which, in turn increases elected officials’ responsiveness to higher income voters. The literature also demonstrates interest group contributions are able to influence policy outcomes. However, largely missing from these studies is the inclusion of issue salience, particularly the interaction of saliency and income. I argue when an issue is salient to an income group in the public, regardless of income, those voters will participate at a higher rate, therefore becoming able to overcome both the preferences of those in other income groups and the preferences of interest groups, to influence policy. I borrow Guisinger’s (2009) measure of saliency, which measures saliency in terms of voter knowledge of an issue, voter knowledge of an elected official’s position, and voters holding a candidate electorally accountable for their voting record on an issue. Using data from the Cooperative Congressional Election Study and interest group contributions to members of Congress, I examine the influence various income groups and interest groups have on votes in Congress on domestic and international issues, as well as economic and social issues. I expect to find a strong positive relationship between issue saliency among an income group and responsiveness of members of Congress, regardless of the preferences of other income groups who find the issue less salient or interest group contributions. I also expect when an issue is not salient members of Congress will defer to the preferences of interest groups or the preferences of higher income groups.

Author

• Brian Fitzpatrick, West Liberty University