House votes

Democratic Reps. Michael Michaud and Tom Allen

There were no key votes in the House this week.

Senate votes

Republican Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins

VOTE 1: Confirmation to Appellate Court: The Senate, on May 26, confirmed Brett M. Kavanaugh of Maryland as a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Proponents said Kavanaugh, a Yale Law School graduate who clerked for Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy, was highly qualified. Opponents said that Kavanaugh, who has served at the White House since 2001, had been downgraded by the American Bar Association from “well qualified” to “qualified.” They said he was being rewarded for political loyalty and lacked the credentials to sit on what is considered the second highest court in the country. The vote was 57 yeas to 36 nays.

YEAS: Snowe, Collins

VOTE 2: Confirmation of CIA director: The Senate, on May 26, confirmed U.S. Air Force Gen. Michael Hayden, who had headed the National Security Agency and was serving as the top deputy to National Intelligence Director John Negroponte, as director of the CIA. Proponents said Hayden was highly qualified for the position. Opponents said Hayden had been the chief spokesperson justifying the Bush administration’s domestic spying program that was undertaken without approval of Congress. The vote was 78 yeas 15 nays.

YEAS: Snowe, Collins

VOTE 3: Nomination of new secretary of the Interior: The Senate, on May 26, passed a cloture motion brought by Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist on the confirmation of Gov. Dirk Kempthorne, R-Idaho, as the secretary of the Interior. The cloture motion was used to bring the nomination to a vote. Kempthorne subsequently was confirmed by voice vote. Proponents of the nomination said Kempthorne, also a former senator, had experience with water and land resource issues. Opponents of the nomination, and hence the vote, said Kempthorne would support misguided administration policies, including attempts at oil exploration off the coasts in areas where it is now prohibited. The vote was 85 yeas to 8 nays.

YEAS: Snowe, Collins

Compiled by Targeted News Service for the Bangor Daily News.