HOW THEY VOTED: MAINE’S CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION, MAY 11-17, 2007 Defense budget, Guantanamo detention facility in the spotlight

House votes

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

Vote 1: No Funds For Pre-emptive War with Iran: The House on May 16 rejected an amendment sponsored by Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., to the National Defense Authorization Act (HR 1585). The amendment would have prevented funds from being used in a pre-emptive military conflict with Iran. The White House threatened a veto. Proponents argued that the amendment ensured that the U.S. would not enter into a military action with Iran without congressional scrutiny but did not prevent a response to an attack. Opponents said the amendment would limit the president’s ability to take action based on the War Powers Act. They added that Iran has stepped up uranium production and has taken aggressive action against the U.S. in the past. The vote was 136 yeas to 288 nays.

YEAS: Allen, Michaud

Vote 2: Allowing Bases in Iraq: The House on May 17 rejected an amendment sponsored by Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, to the National Defense Authorization Act (HR 1585). The amendment would have authorized temporary bases in Iraq and allowed negotiations for bases and military installations. Proponents said the language in the bill prohibiting bases in Iraq was unclear. They argued that the U.S. right to have temporary bases to secure the country must be clarified. Opponents said the amendment could be construed by the Iraqi government as an intent to have permanent deployment within their borders. The vote was 201 yeas to 219 nays.

NAYS: Allen, Michaud

Vote 3: Plan for Guantanamo Detainees: The House on May 17 accepted an amendment sponsored by Rep. Jim Moran, D-Va., to the National Defense Authorization Act (HR 1585) that requires the Defense Department to come up with a plan to shut down the military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. It requires the Defense Department to submit a report on the number of detainees held, how many will be tried, how many will be released and how many the Pentagon wants to continue to hold. It also calls for a description of the actions taken to ensure that detainees have been released. Dubbing it micromanaging the prisoners, the White House threatened a veto. Proponents said the Guantanamo Bay prison is a symbolic recruiting tool for terrorists and that while detainees are dangerous, others were victims of circumstance. The amendment requires a plan that Congress can decide to implement or not. Opponents said some of the detainees are terrorists capable of mass killing and that putting them in other U.S. prisons would allow them to instruct and convert other inmates. The vote was 220 yeas to 208 nays.

YEAS: Allen, Michaud

Vote 4: National Defense Authorization Act Fiscal Year 2008 (HR 1585): The House on May 17 passed a bill sponsored by Rep. Ike Skelton, D-Mo., that authorizes programs in the Department of Defense, including military construction and troop strength. The $646 billion bill includes $141 billion for the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. The bill does not include a timetable for withdrawal from Iraq. The vote was 397 yeas to 27 nays.

YEAS: Allen

NAYS: Michaud

Vote 5: Conference Report Congressional Budget (SR 21): The House on May 17 passed the House-Senate conference report on the congressional budget, outlining a $2.9 trillion spending plan that includes a $251 billion federal deficit in 2008 and allows for an increase in the national debt to $9.5 trillion. The plan projects a $41 billion surplus in 2012. Also included is a PAYGO rule, but the budget assumes the expiration of some tax cuts set to expire in 2012. Proponents said the budget fulfills promises by expanding funding for veterans, homeland security, education and other domestic priorities. Opponents said the bill will increase taxes and that PAYGO is a sham. The vote was 214 yeas to 209 nays.

YEAS: Allen, Michaud

Senate votes

Republican Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins

Vote 1: Stopping Funding for the Conflict in Iraq, Cloture Motion: The Senate on May 16 rejected a cloture motion, a parliamentary procedure to prevent a filibuster, on an amendment sponsored by Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wis., to the Water Resources Development Act (HR 1495). The amendment would have stopped funding for the conflict in Iraq on April 1, 2008. Spending for counterterrorism and funds to train the Iraqi army were not included in the prohibition. Proponents said it was time for Congress to use the power of the purse to end the conflict in Iraq. Opponents said the issue was already debated and similar amendments rejected. The vote was 29 yeas to 67 nays.

NAYS: Collins, Snowe

Vote 2: Emergency Spending Bill by May 28, Cloture Motion: The Senate on May 16 passed a cloture motion, a parliamentary procedure to prevent a filibuster, on an amendment sponsored by Sen. Thad Cochran, R-Miss., to the Water Resources Development Act (HR 1495). The amendment expressed the sense of the Senate that an emergency spending bill acceptable to the president should be passed by the Memorial Day recess. The amendment later passed by voice vote. Proponents said the Defense Department is running out of funds for the troops in Iraq and it has been more than three months since the president requested the funding. Opponents said a bill was passed in a timely fashion and that the president rejected it. They also said the Senate leadership had committed to passing another version of the bill before the break. The vote was 87 yeas to 9 nays.

YEAS: Collins, Snowe

Vote 3: Water Resources Development Act (HR 1495): The Senate on May 17 passed a bill that provides funding for $13.9 billion in water development projects. The bill now goes to conference to reconcile differences with the House-passed version. In addition to $2 billion for wetlands restoration, the bill authorizes $1 billion to upgrade protection for Louisiana’s coastline and almost $1 billion to upgrade lower Mississippi River-area levees. The bill includes flood protection for several areas and the upgrading of dams and locks on the Upper Mississippi River. The vote was 91 yeas to 4 nays.

YEAS: Collins, Snowe

Vote 4: Conference Report Congressional Budget (SR 21): The House on May 17 passed the House-Senate conference report on the congressional budget, outlining a $2.9 trillion spending plan that includes a $251 billion federal deficit in 2008 and allows for an increase in the national debt to $9.5 trillion. The plan projects a $41 billion surplus in 2012. Also included is a PAYGO rule, but the budget assumes the expiration of some tax cuts set to expire in 2012. Proponents said the budget fulfills promises by expanding funding for veterans, homeland security, education and other domestic priorities. Opponents said the bill will increase taxes and that PAYGO is a sham. The vote was 52 yeas to 40 nays.

YEAS: Collins, Snowe

Compiled by Targeted News Service for the Bangor Daily News.