HOW THEY VOTED: MAINE’S CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION, MARCH 2-8, 2007 Lawmakers consider water, 9-11 Commission measures

House votes

Democratic Reps. Michael Michaud and Tom Allen

Vote 1: PAYGO for Water and Sewer Investment: The House on March 7 rejected an amendment sponsored by Rep. Tom Price, R-Ga., to the Water Quality Investment Act (HR 569) that would have required an offset to the spending authorized in the bill. Proponents said the amendment would ensure that the Democrats would keep the campaign promise to offset new spending. Opponents said an authorizing bill did include spending and the amendment would be better placed in an appropriations bill, where programs are funded. The vote was 166 yeas to 260 nays.

NAYS: Allen, Michaud

Vote 2: Water Quality Investment Act (HR 569): The House on March 7 passed a bill sponsored by Rep. Bill Pascrell, D-N.J., that reauthorizes a section of the Clean Water Act that allows $1.7 billion in federal assistance to municipalities to modernize sewer systems. Proponents said decaying infrastructure in small systems is a health issue affecting 40 million people. The vote was 367 yeas to 58 nays.

YEAS: Allen, Michaud

Senate votes

Republican Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins

Vote 1: Collective Bargaining for TSA: The Senate on March 6 tabled, thereby killing, an amendment sponsored by Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., to a bill (S4) to implement additional recommendations of the 9-11 Commission. The amendment would have stricken a section that gives employees at the Transportation Security Administration similar rights as other federal employees, including whistleblower protection and collective bargaining. Proponents of the amendment argued that to allow employees to negotiate presented a threat to national security if they refused tasks not in the contract. Collective bargaining was not a commission recommendation. Opponents said the right to negotiate would not apply to emergencies and that national security was not compromised on the U.S. borders where agents have similar rights. The vote was 51 yeas to 46 nays.

NAYS: Collins, Snowe

Vote 2: Homeland Security Grants: The Senate on March 6 tabled, thereby killing, an amendment sponsored by Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., to a bill (S4) to implement additional recommendations of the 9-11 Commission. The amendment would have increased the allocation of funds based on risk and reduced the guaranteed grant to each state. Proponents of the amendment argued that national security would be better served by protecting areas such as ports and major cities. Opponents argued that funding would be cut to 34 states and the District of Columbia. They argued that the allocation method was flawed, decreasing funding to some border and coastal states, and that critical infrastructure is often found outside of populated areas. The vote was 56 yeas to 43 nays.

YEAS: Collins, Snowe

Vote 3: Restoring Minimum Homeland Security Grants: The Senate on March 6 rejected an amendment sponsored by Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., to a bill (S4) to implement additional recommendations of the 9-11 Commission. The amendment would have restored the minimum allocation to each state to current levels. Proponents said that all states have been asked to carry an additional security burden that would not be covered by the new minimum in the bill. The vote was 48 yeas to 50 nays.

NAYS: Collins, Snowe

Vote 4: Collective Bargaining Rights for TSA Employees: The Senate on March 7 passed an amendment sponsored by Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., to a bill (S4) to implement additional recommendations of the 9-11 Commission. The amendment bars employees of the Transportation Security Administration from striking but allows collective bargaining and employee grievances. Proponents said the amendment would help with employee retention and give TSA employees the same rights as border patrol agents and immigration agents. Opponents said the amendment would jeopardize national security and argued it was the Democrats’ payback for union support. The vote was 51 yeas to 48 Nays.

NAYS: Collins, Snowe

Vote 5: Whistleblower Rights for TSA Employees: The Senate on March 7 rejected an amendment sponsored by Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, to a bill (S4) to implement additional recommendations of the 9-11 Commission. The amendment would have given employees of the Transportation Security Administration protection under whistleblower legislation and would have allowed appeals of disciplinary actions or firings to an independent board. It stipulates that employees have the right to join a union. Proponents said the amendment balances the national security needs while affording more rights to workers. The vote was 47 yeas to 52 nays.

YEAS: Collins, Snowe

Vote 6: Communication Equipment Grants: The Senate on March 7 tabled, thereby killing, an amendment sponsored by Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., to a bill (S4) to implement additional recommendations of the 9-11 Commission. The amendment would have combined existing and proposed grant programs for the development and implementation of a system that allows communication between a cross-section of emergency personnel. Proponents of the amendment said the programs are a waste of taxpayer money. Opponents argued that much progress has been made on communication and that it would delay the funding of the program. The vote was 71 yeas to 25 nays.

YEAS: Snowe

NAYS: Collins

Compiled by Targeted News Service for the Bangor Daily News.