House votes

Democratic Reps. Tom Allen (1st District) and Michael Michaud (2nd District)

Vote 1: Extending Housing Assistance for Hurricane Victims: The House on March 21 accepted an amendment sponsored by Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, to the Gulf Coast Hurricane Housing Recovery Act (H.R. 1227) that extends to the end of this year FEMA housing assistance to victims of hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma. After the deadline, only those qualifying for Section 8 housing assistance would receive aid. Proponents said that FEMA has been moving the final deadline at three-month intervals. They argued it was time to set a realistic deadline and have only those eligible for Section 8 aid receive benefits. Opponents said the administration should be allowed to work through the housing problems with FEMA without interference. The vote was 242 yeas to 184 nays.

YEAS: Allen, Michaud

Vote 2: Gulf Coast Hurricane Housing Recovery Act (H.R. 1227): The House on March 21 passed a bill sponsored by Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., that frees from FEMA restrictions $1.2 billion already approved for use in rebuilding efforts in Louisiana. It also establishes 4,500 temporary Section 8 vouchers and requires that the government provide sufficient subsidized housing units in New Orleans for displaced resident who wish to return. Proponents argued that those displaced because of the storm should be given the opportunity to return to their home city. Opponents said the bill calls for a continuation of a failed housing system. The vote was 302 yeas to 125 nays.

YEAS: Allen, Michaud

Vote 3: Emergency Supplemental Appropriations (H.R. 1591): The House on March 23 passed a bill sponsored by Rep. David Obey, D-Wis., for $124 billion in additional spending, about $4 billion more than requested by the president. It requires the removal of all U.S. troops from Iraq by August 2008. Included is $95 billion for the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. It also includes $4.5 billion in additional veterans care and care for those wounded in the current conflicts; about $3 billion to fund overall troop increases in the Army and Marines; $3.1 billion to fund base alignment activities; $2.5 billion for troop readiness; $1.4 billion for military housing; and $1.4 billion for mine-resistant vehicles. In noncombat-related domestic programs, the bill adds $2.5 billion more than requested for airport, border and port security; provides $1.3 billion for the Army Corps of Engineers for repairs in New Orleans; $3.7 billion in agricultural aid; and $1 billion for flu vaccines. It requires that the president certify by July 1 that the Iraqi government has made progress in meeting certain benchmarks; by Oct. 1 that those benchmarks have been met; and that U.S. troops will begin moving out of Iraq no later than March 2008 with complete withdrawal completed in August 2008. It prohibits permanent U.S. bases in Iraq. It prohibits the deployment of Army personnel in Iraq for more than one year and for 210 days for the Marines with equal time out of the theater. It requires that before deployment in Iraq, units must be fully trained and equipped. The bill also includes an increase in the minimum wage and small business tax cuts. Proponents said the Iraqis are embroiled in a civil war that they must solve themselves. They said that the bill reinforces efforts in Afghanistan, where terrorists are re-establishing influence. Congress, they added, has the responsibility to tell the executive when it has gone off course. Opponents said the bill contains pork barrel spending and unrelated issues such as increasing the minimum wage simply to get votes. They argued that the bill ties the hands of the commander in chief during a war. Rep. Jerry Lewis, R-Calif., ranking member of the Appropriations Committee, said that because the bill was considered under a rule allowing no amendments, “all bets are off on getting our committee work done this year. It simply will not happen.” The vote was 218 yeas to 212 nays.

YEAS: Allen

NAYS: Michaud

Senate votes

Republican Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins

Vote 1: Independence of U.S. Attorneys (S. 214): The Senate on March 20 passed a bill sponsored by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., that reinstates the 120-day limit on interim appointments of U.S. attorneys. Proponents said that a clause change inserted by the staff into the Patriot Act probably without the knowledge of any senator gives the executive branch the right to indefinitely appoint interim U.S. attorneys without Senate approval. While there was little opposition to the sense of the bill, some members objected to the provision to have the U.S. attorneys appointed by the court if the interim appointment does not clear the Senate in the time frame. The vote was 94 yeas to 2 nays.

YEAS: Collins, Snowe

Vote 2: Middle Class Tax Relief and Children’s Health Care: The Senate on March 21 accepted an amendment sponsored by Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., to the congressional budget resolution (S.Con.Res. 21) that makes the 10 percent income tax bracket permanent, keeps the child tax credit at $1,000 per child, continues marriage tax relief, exempts combat pay from consideration for the earned income tax credit and shores up the Children’s Health Insurance Program. Proponents said there will be a $132 billion surplus in 2012 that should be used to provide tax relief for working families and children. The vote was 97 yeas to 1 nay.

YEAS: Collins, Snowe

Vote 3: Point of Order on Tax Increases: The Senate on March 21 accepted an amendment sponsored by Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, to the congressional budget resolution (S.Con.Res. 21) that allows for a point of order, requiring a three-fifths majority in the chamber to overturn, on any bill that would increase personal income tax rates. Proponents said the amendment will ensure that Congress looks at alternative ways to fund increased spending rather than of out of the pockets of taxpayers. Opponents said it was not good policy to establish a point of order for tax increases, although none are contemplated. The vote was 63 yes to 35 nays.

YEAS: Collins, Snowe

Vote 4: Point of Order to Protect Social Security Surplus: The Senate on March 21 accepted an amendment sponsored by Sen. Jim Bunning, R-Ky., that allows for a point of order, requiring a three-fifths majority in the chamber to overturn, on any budget resolution that does not achieve balance within five years without touching the Social Security surplus. Proponents said the budget calls for using up to $1 trillion in surplus Social Security funds in the budget years through 2012. The funds will be needed for the baby boomers’ retirement. While no one voted in opposition, Democrats noted that their proposal spent less than the president’s of the Social Security surplus. They added that the Republicans had dug a deep budget hole and it would take a bit to get out. The vote was 98 yeas to 0 nays.

YEAS: Collins, Snowe

Vote 5: Investment in Technology and Education: The Senate on March 21 accepted an amendment sponsored by Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., to the congressional budget resolution (S.Con.Res. 21) that allows agencies to carry out tasks in legislation being considered that would increase aid to education in cutting-edge technology and math and science. Proponents said the amendment ensures that there will be an additional $1.9 billion in funding available for programs to increase math, science and technology initiatives so the country can remain competitive in the global economy. The vote was 97 yeas to 1 nay.

YEAS: Collins, Snowe

Vote 6: Increasing Medicare Drug Premiums for the Wealthy: The Senate on March 22 rejected an amendment sponsored by Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., to the congressional budget resolution (S.Con.Res. 21) that would have required those with incomes of $80,000 ($160,000 for couples) to pay part of the cost of the prescription drug coverage. Proponents said the amendment would save $1 trillion over 75 years. Opponents said the amendment was disingenuous since the budget committee does not have jurisdiction on the specifics, only the overall funding level. They also said that while the idea is good, with more than 1,500 private plans implementation would require detailed analysis. The vote was 44 yeas to 52 nays.

YEAS: Collins

NAYS: Snowe

Vote 7: Energy Tax Incentive Reserve Fund: The Senate on March 22 accepted an amendment sponsored by Sen. Kent Conrad, D-N.D., to the congressional budget resolution (S.Con.Res. 21) that creates a deficit-neutral fund for energy projects including tax incentives for electricity from alternative sources and technology to increase efficiency in factories, buildings and homes. Proponents said the fund was necessary to ensure the programs to aid energy independence made it through the House-Senate conference on the bill. The energy funding is bundled in a fund with many other programs that would be rejected. Opponents said the funding already included was a better alternative and the Senate should fight to keep the reserve funding intact in conference. The vote was 54 yeas to 42 nays.

YEAS: Collins

NAYS: Snowe

Compiled by Targeted News Service for the Bangor Daily News