by Simon Alexander Blank

Abstract 

This study examines the determinants of voting on the 2006 Secure Fence Act in the U.S. House of Representatives. First, a simultaneous probit-Tobit model is used to account for the endogenous nature of campaign contributions. It reveals five significant determinants of campaign contributions from Agribusiness—political ideology, membership on the Committee on Agriculture, Mexican border geography, urbanization, and seniority—only to find that industry donations were not levered to affect Congress members’ votes. A multivariate probit analysis reveals that political posturing, constituent interests, political ideology, environmentalism, and district racial composition all helped determine representatives’ votes on the bill.

Professor Ed Tower, Faculty Advisor

JEL Codes: D72,

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