House votes

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

Vote 1: Manager’s Amendment: The House on March 27 accepted an amendment sponsored by Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., that strengthens whistleblower protections and puts the Transportation Department in charge of disbursing grants, although the Department of Homeland Security would still set criteria and award the grants. Proponents said it makes a technical correction in the whistleblower provision and clarifies the relationship between DHS and DOT. Opponents said the amendment adds an unneeded layer of bureaucracy. They also said the amendment allows states to override safety rules. The vote was 222 yeas to 197 nays.

YEAS: Allen, Michaud

Vote 2: Minimizing Rail Transport of Toxic Inhalants: The House on March 27 accepted an amendment sponsored by Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tenn., to the Rail and Public Transportation Security Act (HR 1401) that calls for Transportation Department coordination with states and localities and other federal agencies to minimize the consequences of derailment of a train car transporting toxic chemicals. Proponents said the potential casualties after a toxic spill in a populated area were second only to a nuclear explosion. Opponents said the amendment was too narrowly drawn and would result in increased highway danger from the transportation of such chemicals. The vote was 234 yeas to 184 nays.

YEAS: Allen, Michaud

Vote 3: Rail and Public Transportation Security Act (HR 1401): The House on March 27 passed a bill sponsored by Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., that establishes additional security measures for trains and mass transit systems. The bill requires the Department of Homeland Security to develop a strategy for rail security and the completion of security plans by railroads and mass transit systems. The bill also requires the routing of dangerous substances by the most secure route. Proponents said that since rail and mass transit systems had been used for terrorism overseas, it was prudent to take security precautions before an attack here. Opponents said the bill does not consider shipping safety in addition to security, which could result in more accidents. They also said the bill allows states to override federal safety regulations, forcing the railroads to comply with differing state and local laws. The vote was 299 yeas to 124 nays.

YEAS: Allen, Michaud

Vote 4: Hawaii Home Ownership (HR 835): The House on March 28 passed a bill sponsored by Rep. Neil Abercrombie, D-Hawaii, that reauthorizes programs to help low-income native Hawaiians purchase homes on Hawaiian homelands. The bill failed last week on the suspension calendar, 18 votes shy of the two-thirds majority required. Proponents said the bill reauthorizes a program that assists native Hawaiians with home financing. Opponents expressed concern that the bill could be construed to give native Hawaiians the same kind of rights as American Indian tribes. The vote was 272 yeas to 150 nays.

YEAS: Allen, Michaud

Vote 5: Wounded Warrior Act (HR 1538): The House on March 28 unanimously passed a bill sponsored by Rep. Ike Skelton, D-Mo., that would provide a case manager for all armed forces members receiving outpatient care, a service advocate and a toll-free number to report problems. The bill also requires the secretary of defense to begin a pilot program based on the Marine Corps’ Wounded Warrior Program. It also requires semiannual inspections of facilities and bars contracts for outsourcing studies for one year and a report to Congress on the current public-private competitions. Proponents said the bill begins to address deficiencies in the military health care system in the wake of deplorable conditions found at outpatient residence facilities at Walter Reed Medical Center. The vote was 426 yeas to 0 nays.

YEAS: Allen, Michaud

Vote 6: Republican Alternative Congressional Budget for Fiscal Year 2008: The House on March 29 rejected an amendment sponsored by Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., to the congressional budget resolution (H.Con.Res. 99) that would have substituted a Republican version of the bill. The amendment would have retained the tax cuts from 2001 and 2003, extended alternative minimum tax relief and a deduction for sales tax. Proponents said the amendment curbs increased growth in entitlement spending. They said the Democratic budget would yield the biggest tax increase in U.S. history. Opponents said the bill has cuts in Medicare that are impractical and that when coupled with a tax cut would yield an increase to the deficit of $168 billion. The vote was 160 yeas to 268 nays.

NAYS: Allen, Michaud

Vote 7: Congressional Budget for Fiscal Year 2008 (H.Con.Res. 99): The House on March 29 passed a resolution sponsored by Rep. John Spratt, D-S.C., for a $2.9 trillion spending plan for the fiscal year 2008. The bill provides relief from the alternative minimum tax and promises a surplus in 2012. Proponents said the bill balances funding for priorities such as education and heath care that the majority of the electorate supports. Opponents said the budget, while purporting to abide by PAYGO rules, will raise taxes by allowing the tax cuts from 2001 and 2003 to expire. The vote was 216 yeas to 210 nays.

YEAS: Allen, Michaud

Senate votes

Republican Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins

Vote 1: Tobacco Tax for Children’s Health: The Senate on March 23 accepted an amendment sponsored by Sen. Gordon Smith, D-Ore., to the congressional budget resolution (S.Con.Res. 21) that allows an increase to the tax on cigarettes up to 0.61 cents a pack to fund the Children’s Health Insurance Program. Proponents said as much as $35 billion could be raised to offset an increase in the program. The vote was 59 yeas to 40 nays.

YEAS: Collins, Snowe

Vote 2: Increasing Funding for the COPS Program: The Senate on March 23 accepted an amendment sponsored by Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., to the congressional budget resolution (S.Con.Res. 21) that adds $1.15 billion for the Community Oriented Policing Service Program. Proponents said that the program reduced violent crimes by more than 8 percent for seven consecutive years. Opponents argued that the program should been eliminated five years ago. While it is a good program, there was no longer the money to keep it going, they said. The vote was 65 yeas to 33 nays.

YEAS: Collins, Snowe

Vote 3: Congressional Budget Resolution (S.Con.Res. 21): The Senate on March 23 passed a resolution sponsored by Sen. Kent Conrad, D-N.D., that sets a $2.9 trillion spending blueprint for the government fiscal year 2008. The bill holds steady the number of people subject to the alternative minimum tax for two years. Proponents said the budget will be balanced by 2012 and it provides only a 1.4 percent increase over the base in discretionary spending. Opponents said the budget proposes too much spending and increases the size of government. The vote was 52 yeas and 47 nays.

YEAS: Collins, Snowe

Vote 4: Rejecting Troop Withdrawal from Iraq: The Senate on March 28 rejected an amendment sponsored by Sen. Thad Cochran, R-Miss., to the emergency supplemental appropriations bill (HR 1591) that would have struck the section of the bill requiring the removal of U.S. troops from Iraq. Proponents said the president’s new strategy should be given a chance to work. They argued that the president will veto the bill if the restrictive language remains. Opponents argued that the majority of Americans want the troops home as quickly as possible. They argued that language is a compromise that allows training, security and counterterrorism forces to remain in Iraq. The vote was 48 yeas to 50 nays.

YEAS: Collins, Snowe

Vote 5: Funding for Rural Schools: The Senate on March 28 accepted an amendment sponsored by Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., to the emergency supplemental appropriations bill (HR 1591) that establishes payments to communities that are dominated by public lands. The practice started by President Theodore Roosevelt was to compensate areas for restricted development. Proponents said that the funding affects 4,400 school districts with 8 million students. Opponents favoring another amendment on the same issue that was defeated said that 80 percent of the money should be specifically restricted to schools. They said several states have been spending more of the money on roads than on schools. The vote was 74 yeas to 23 nays.

NAYS: Collins, Snowe

Vote 6: Funding for Implementation of the Adam Walsh Act: The Senate on March 28 unanimously accepted an amendment sponsored by Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., to the emergency supplemental appropriations bill (HR 1591) that removes funding from the Educational and Cultural Exchange Program to fund additional personnel to track and prosecute 100,000 unregistered sex offenders. Proponents said the money was better spent at home. Opponents said that while attractive, the money had been included in the president’s request as a means of diplomacy to discourage extremism and foster cross-cultural understanding. The vote was 93 yeas to 0 nays.

YEAS: Collins, Snowe

Vote 7: Armored Vehicles for Troops: The Senate on March 28 unanimously accepted an amendment sponsored by Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., to the emergency supplemental appropriations bill (HR 1591) that adds $1.5 billion in spending to purchase 2,500 mine-resistant vehicles. Proponents said the funding is slated for the fiscal 2008 spending bill, but moving it to the emergency bill would get the vehicles to the troops faster. The vote was 98 yeas to 0 nays.

YEAS: Collins, Snowe

Vote 8: Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Bill (HR 1591): The Senate on March 28 passed a bill that authorizes $123.2 billion in spending with $97.5 billion for the Defense Department. The bill also requires the gradual withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq. It also includes $6.7 billion in relief for victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita; $4.3 billion in funding for military and veterans health, and $4.2 billion in aid for farmers and ranchers. Proponents said the bill requires the redeployment of troops from Iraq, which is long overdue. Opponents said that Congress had authorized the war and should continue to provide funding for the mission. They also argued that the bill was layered with lard such as money for sugar growers and tour guides, but doesn’t provide enough funding for the armed forces. The vote was 51 yeas to 47 nays.

NAYS: Collins, Snowe

Compiled by Targeted News Service for the Bangor Daily News