Lawmaker personalities still shape decisions despite institutional pressures

Evidence

But it still seems naive to believe that the personalities of lawmakers have no influence on their decisions. We all have our values, our priorities, our attitudes, which can shape what is decided in caucus and in those fabled smoke-filled rooms out of public view. If RWA Scale scores have no connection to the stands people and parties take on the issues, then you should have been very surprised by the relationships that turned up regarding abortion, gun control, taxation policies, calls to restrict anti-war protests, and so on. Well, how surprised were you? — Bob Altemeyer, The Authoritarian Specter, 3730