16. Peter King

Despite the Democratic takeover of the House, Senate and White House in the recent elections, the nine-term Republican Congressman remains as visible and vocal as ever. The former chair of the Homeland Security Committee, King currently serves as its ranking member in the House. He’s been an outspoken critic of President Barack Obama’s stimulus bill, voted against it, and has been a staunch advocate of increased transparency throughout its spending. He’s not afraid, or reluctant, to reach across the aisle, either, to get the job done. Last month, King teamed up with Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-Manhattan) to co-sponsor the “TARP Accountability and Disclosure Act,” legislation to ensure greater oversight and transparency over the bailout funds. We also hear he’s a closet Obama fan. That’s good news for LI.