House votes

Democratic Reps. Michael Michaud and Tom Allen

Vote 1: Flood Insurance Reform and Modernization Act (H.R. 4973): The House on June 27 passed a bill sponsored by Rep. Richard Baker, R-La., that revamps the National Flood Insurance Program. In addition to increasing the program’s borrowing authority to $25 billion, it raises the insurance premiums; raises the limits on residential and business properties; allows for additional coverage; and phases out insurance for second homes. The bill also allows the Department of Homeland Security to investigate claims administered through private insurance companies to ensure they are properly attributed to the program. The vote was 416 yeas to 4 nays.

YEAS: Allen, Michaud

Vote 2: Allowing Medical Marijuana: The House on June 28 rejected an amendment sponsored by Rep. Maurice Hinchey, D-N.Y., to the appropriations bill for Science and the Departments of State, Justice and Commerce (H.R. 5672) that would have prohibited the use of the funds to enforce federal laws on marijuana where states had passed a law allowing the use of marijuana for medical reasons. Proponents argued that the federal government should not interfere with states that had determined the drug appropriate for terminal patients and those in severe pain. Opponents argued that marijuana was a harmful gateway drug with no proven therapeutic benefit. They argued that THC, the beneficial component in marijuana, is available in pill form. The vote was 163 yeas to 259 nays.

YEAS: Allen, Michaud

Vote 3: Stopping Mars Missions: The House on June 28 rejected an amendment sponsored by Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., to the appropriations bill for Science and the Departments of State, Justice and Commerce (H.R. 5672) that would have prohibited NASA from using funds for the development of a manned flight to Mars. Proponents said with problems funding Social Security, medical and education programs, spending money on developing a Mars program was imprudent. Opponents said NASA was cash-strapped and would be unable to continue work on some critical programs because the amendment was too broadly worded. The vote was 145 yeas to 274 nays.

YEAS: Allen, Michaud

Vote 4: Prohibiting Multi-Lingual Voter Materials: The House on June 28 rejected an amendment sponsored by Rep. Cliff Stearns, R-Fla., to the appropriations bill for Science and the Departments of State, Justice and Commerce (H.R. 5672) that would have prohibited the use of funds to require voting materials in a language other than English. Proponents argued that citizens should assimilate into the mainstream by learning English and that encouraging the use of another language diminished their chances for success. Opponents argued that for many U.S. born citizens, such as American Indians and some Hispanics, English was not their primary language. The vote was 167 yeas to 254 nays.

NAYS: Allen, Michaud

Vote 5: Gun Trigger Locks: The House on June 28 accepted an amendment sponsored by Rep. Marilyn Musgrave, R-Colo., to the appropriations bill for Science and the Departments of State, Justice and Commerce (H.R. 5672) that prohibits the use of federal funds to enforce a law requiring trigger locks on the sale certain firearms. Proponents argued that requiring locks amounted to a tax on gun owners and that many common items used improperly could result in injury. Opponents argued that the locks, which cost $5 to $7 each, had been enacted in a bipartisan measure to reduce medical costs and injuries to children. The vote was 230 yeas to 191 nays.

NAYS: Allen, Michaud

Vote 6: Deep Ocean Energy Resources Act (H.R. 4761): The House on June 29 passed a bill sponsored by Rep. Bobby Jindal, R-La., that allows drilling 50 miles off the U.S. coasts, while allowing states to approve drilling closer to shore. It also changes revenue sharing between the states and federal government. Proponents said the bill will allow states to decide if drilling can be done and allows for expanded exploration for gas and oil. Opponents said the bill would be a windfall for Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas, which will receive billions of dollars in revenues that should be going to the federal government. Additionally, the bill makes it difficult for states to stop drilling within 100 miles of the coast. The vote was 232 yeas to 187 nays.

NAYS: Allen, Michaud

Senate votes

Republican Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins

Vote 1: Flag Burning Democratic Alternative: The Senate on June 27 rejected an amendment by Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., to the resolution for a constitutional amendment to prohibit flag burning (S.J.Res. 12) that would have set criminal penalties for desecrating the American flag. Proponents said that the Supreme Court had said flag burning could be punished in a content-neutral manner in circumstances such as burning a flag to start violence. They added that the constitutional amendment could take seven years to be ratified, whereas the alternative could be passed immediately. Opponents said that the Supreme Court had overturned legislative attempts to protect the flag. The vote was 36 yeas to 64 nays.

NAYS: Collins, Snowe

Vote 2: Flag Burning Amendment (S.J.Res. 12): The Senate on June 27 failed by one vote to pass a resolution sponsored by Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, that would have given Congress the right to make laws prohibiting desecration of the American flag. Both sides agreed that flag burning is reprehensible. Proponents said that laws prohibiting flag burning had been enacted before a Supreme Court decision banning them. They asserted that the amendment would restore the balance of power between the three branches of government. Opponents said that amending the Bill of Rights violated the principles the Founding Fathers intended in the Constitution and that the flag represented. They also said flag-desecration incidents in the U.S. were uncommon. The vote was 66 yeas to 34 nays. (Two-thirds required for passage.)

YEAS: Collins, Snowe

Vote 3: Oman Free Trade Agreement (S. 3569): The Senate on June 29 passed a bill sponsored by Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, that removes tariffs between the U.S. and Oman on most agricultural products within 10 years and allows tariffs on textile goods to be removed on a case-by-case basis. Proponents said the agreement bolsters the U.S. relationship with an important Middle Eastern ally. Opponents said some clothing from Oman is made using slave labor and that the administration ignored congressional requests for safeguards against human trafficking and other human rights abuses. The vote was 60 yeas to 34 nays.

NAYS: Collins, Snowe

Compiled by Targeted News Service for the Bangor Daily News