Over the last three years, Renzi’s effectiveness as a legislator declined dramatically, according to Congress.org, a public-service Web site that said Renzi’s power ranking among fellow congressmen plunged from 84th in 2005 to 435th, or least influential in the House, during 2008.

Among Arizona’s 10-member congressional delegation, Sen. John McCain and U.S. Rep. Rick Renzi — both for different reasons — missed the most votes in the 110th Congress, according to a report by Congressional Quarterly.

Renzi, who has spent much of his time with attorneys fighting various felony charges of corruption, voted 83 percent of the time and supported President Bush-backed legislation 61 percent of the time.

A lawyer for U.S. Rep. Rick Renzi on Friday accused the Justice Department of leaking information on an investigation of the Arizona congressman so he would talk about it on a wiretapped cell phone.

Renzi attorney Reid Weingarten told Magistrate Bernardo Velasco in Tucson that the leaks to media amount to misconduct. A prosecutor said the government investigated the leaks but couldn’t find a source.

?This wiretap over a month recorded over 50 calls with lawyers,? Weingarten said during the second day of a hearing on the retiring Republican’s request to have corruption charges dismissed. ?These were real lawyers, and they were real attorney-client privileged conversations.?

The House counsel, in a friend-of-the-court brief, said federal prosecutors and the FBI repeatedly violated the Constitution’s speech or debate clause, which grants members of Congress protections for their legislative acts.

GovExec.com declares CD1 one of eight open seats that GOP is in danger of losing.

I’m taking a break from the site… as fun as Congress watching is, I can’t do it every day anymore. Trust that I am not getting disinterested or lazy, or have become complacent with a Democrat-controlled Congress. Far from it. It’s more like I’ve gotten three promotions in the last year and a half and quite a bit of responsibility is now on my shoulders. I’m burning out. Calgon, take me away.

Earlier this week, famous political progrnosticator, Charlie Cook, released his quarterly House ratings, forecasting that both Nancy Boyda and Dennis Moore would likely face competitive races.

Nancy Boyda, despite the fact that she back-tracked on her ‘independent campaign’ promises and accepted national Democratic money, was designated as a ‘lean Democrat seat,’ the lowest rating of all Democratic incumbents. In fact, only one Republican, Arizona Congressman Rick Renzi, was rated lower than Boyda – and Renzi will face serious challenges in the Primary and General.

Yea: Renzi, Franks, Shadegg, Mitchell, Flake
Nay: Pastor, Grijalva, Giffords

H R 2776, the Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act of 2007, passed 221 – 189. The bill seeks to provide tax incentives for the production of renewable energy and energy conservation.

Yea: Pastor, Mitchell, Grijalva, Giffords
Nay: Renzi, Franks, Shadegg, Flake

Aye: Pastor, Mitchell, Grijalva, Giffords
No: Renzi, Franks, Shadegg, Flake

Voted Aye: Nobody
Voted No: Renzi, Franks, Shadegg, Pastor, Mitchell, Flake, Grijalva, Giffords

In the Senate, Jon Kyl opposes lifting the ban.

H R 1495, the Water Resources Development Act, passed its Conference Report 381 – 40. Renzi and the Democrats voted to agree; Franks, Shadegg and Flake voted against agreement.

H R 3248, SAFETEA-LU Technical Corrections Act of 2007, passed the House 422 – 1; Flake was the 1. The bill would make technical corrections to the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act.

H R 3162, the Children’s Health and Medicare Protection Act of 2007, passed the House 225 – 204. Read more about the bill here.

Yea: Pastor, Mitchell, Grijalva, Giffords
Nay: Renzi, Franks, Shadegg, Flake

Yesterday in the House

H R 2722, the Integrated Deepwater Program Reform Act, passed 426 – 0. The bill would restructure the Coast Guard Integrated Deepwater Program.

H R 957, To amend the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996 to expand and clarify the entities against which sanctions may be imposed, passed 415 – 11. Everyone in AZ voted for it except Flake.

H R 176, the Shirley A. Chisholm United States-Caribbean Educational Exchange Act, passed 371 – 55. The bill seeks to authorize the establishment of educational exchange and development programs for member countries of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).

Yea: Renzi, Pastor, Mitchell, Grijalva, Giffords
Nay: Franks, Shadegg, Flake

Motion to Instruct Conferees on H R 2272, the 21st Century Competitiveness Act, passed 258 – 167.

Yea: Franks, Shadegg, Pastor, Flake,
Nay: Renzi, Mitchell, Grijalva, Giffords

H R 2831, the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, passed 225 – 199. The bill seeks to clarify that a discriminatory compensation decision or other practice that is unlawful under certain Acts occurs each time compensation is paid pursuant to the discriminatory compensation decision or other practice.

Yea: Pastor, Mitchell, Grijalva, Giffords
Nay: Renzi, Franks, Shadegg, Flake

H R 986, the Eightmile Wild and Scenic River Act, passed 253 – 172. THe bill seeks to to designate certain segments of the Eightmile River in the State of Connecticut as components of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System.

Yea: Pastor, Mitchell, Grijalva, Giffords
Nay: Renzi, Franks, Shadegg, Flake

H R 180, the Darfur Accountability and Divestment Act, passed 418 – 1. Everyone in the House voted for it except Ron Paul.

S 1, Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007, passed 411 – 8. The bill seeks to provide greater transparency in the legislative process. Everyone in Arizona voted for it except Flake.