House votes

Democratic Reps. Michael Michaud and Tom Allen

Vote 1: Health Information Technology Promotion Act (HR 4147): The House on July 28 passed a bill sponsored by Rep. Nancy Johnson, R-Conn., that sets federal guidelines for technology in medical record keeping. Proponents said the bill will allow for computerized prescriptions and streamline the cost of care. Opponents argued that the bill will reap no savings and does not provide sufficient medical privacy for patients. The vote was 270 yeas to 148 nays.

YEAS: Allen

NAYS: Michaud

Vote 2: Pension Protection Act (HR 4): The House on July 29 passed a bill sponsored by Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio, that modernizes pension laws. The bill requires employers to increase funding of pension plans and allows more flexibility in the kind of plans offered. Proponents said the bill will stabilize the pension system and provide transparency. Opponents said the bill will further burden employers causing many to drop pension benefits. The vote was 279 yeas to 131 nays.

NAYS: Michaud, Allen

Vote 3: Estate Tax Relief (HR 5970): The House on July 29 passed a bill sponsored by Rep. William Thomas, R-Calif., on a bill that exempts individual estates up to $5 million from federal taxes. The bill also raises the minimum wage to $7.25 per hour incrementally through 2009. Proponents said the bill protects small-business owners from unfair estate taxes and allows them to pay more to their workers. Opponents said the bill unfairly benefits the wealthy while giving little to the poorest workers. The vote was 230 yeas to 180 nays.

NAYS: Michaud, Allen

Senate votes

Republican Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins

Vote 1: Gulf of Mexico Energy Security (S 3711): The Senate on Aug. 1 passed a bill sponsored by Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., that directs the Department of the Interior to begin selling leases for exploration on about 8 million acres in the Gulf of Mexico. The bill increases revenues from leases to the Gulf states and Florida to 37.5 percent from the current 2 percent. Proponents said that the bill would increase oil and gas exploration and decrease dependence of foreign oil. Opponents said the bill could lead to drilling off the coasts where it is currently prohibited. The vote was 71 yeas to 25 nays.

YEAS: Collins

NAYS: Snowe

Vote 2: Estate Tax Relief (HR 5970): The Senate on Aug. 3 failed to pass by the required three-fifths majority a cloture motion to proceed to consideration of a bill that would exempt some estates from federal taxes and raise the minimum wage by increments to $7.25 per hour. Proponents said the bill addresses a broad spectrum of constituent needs by providing relief from burdensome taxes and also increasing the minimum wage by 40 percent. Opponents said the estate tax repeal would cost $750 billion over 10 years. They dubbed the minimum wage hike an election year ploy, adding that a provision allowing a higher amount of service tips to be considered as part of the minimum wage would decrease some workers’ wages. The vote was 56 yeas to 42 nays. (Three-fifths required.)

YEAS: Snowe, Collins

Compiled by Targeted News Service for the Bangor Daily News.