House votes:

Democratic Reps. Michael Michaud and Tom Allen

Vote 1: Reporting Status of a Plan for Troop Redeployment from Iraq (HR 3087): The House on Oct. 2 passed a bill sponsored by Rep. John Tanner, D-Tenn., that would require the defense secretary to submit a report to Congress within 60 days on the status of plans to re-deploy the troops now stationed in Iraq. Additional reports would be required every 90 days. It requires a departmental briefing to Congress within two weeks after a plan is submitted. Proponents said the bill ensures that there is a plan in place to re-deploy troops and it allows for congressional oversight. Opponents said the troop presence in Iraq is not a war but an illegal military occupation. They said the bill would allow plan after plan to be submitted with no action. They objected to a part of the bill that indicates the vote to allow invasion of Iraq was the proper choice. The vote was 377 yeas to 46 nays.

Yeas: Michaud, Allen

Vote 2: Postponing Consideration of the Presidential Veto on the Children’s Health Bill (HR 976): The House on Oct. 3 agreed to postpone until Oct. 18 a vote that would potentially override a presidential veto of the Children’s Health Insurance Program. Proponents said the bipartisan bill ensures that children receive adequate health care and that the veto should be overridden. Opponents said the Democratic majority simply wanted time to play politics with the bill and it should go back to committee where a compromise could be achieved. The vote was 222 yeas to 197 nays.

Yeas: Michaud, Allen

Vote 3: Holding Civilian Contractors Accountable for Crimes in War Zones (HR 2740): The House on Oct. 4 passed a bill sponsored by Rep. David Price. D-N.C., that amends the Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act to make civilian contractors working close to military operations subject to prosecution for felonies. It also requires the FBI to establish an office to investigate allegations and requires a report from the Justice Department’s inspector general on the status of investigations. Proponents said that recent allegations that civilian contractors had been shooting at and killing Iraqi civilians showed the need for the legislation. Opponents said most contractors were covered by the existing law that would be weakened by the new legislation. The vote was 389 yeas to 30 nays.

Yeas: Michaud, Allen

Vote 4: Regional Economic and Infrastructure Development Act (HR 3246): The House on Oct. 4 passed a bill sponsored by Rep. James Oberstar, D-Minn., that authorizes two existing economic development commissions – the Delta Regional Commission and Northern Great Plains Regional Commission – and establishes three new economic commissions (Southeast Crescent Regional Commission, Southwest Border Regional Commission, and Northern Border Regional Commission). These commissions are designed to address poverty and underdevelopment in their service areas. The bill authorizes $1.25 billion annually from 2008 to 2012. Proponents said the bill addresses high poverty rates in areas such as border counties from New York to Maine, where population growth and median income are well below the national average. Opponents said there already were entities engaged in economic development in those areas. They added that the bill has a provision requiring prevailing wages for projects. The vote was 264 yeas to 154 nays.

Yeas: Michaud, Allen

Vote 5: Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act (HR 3648): The House on Oct. 4 passed a bill sponsored by Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., that would not require taxes to be paid on loans forgiven by banks on certain home loans for a principal residence in certain circumstances where the market has declined and there is an equity loss. Proponents said the legislation is necessary to prevent those who lost their homes from facing the additional burden of tax on loan forgiveness. Opponents said the funding of the bill, disallowing capital gains status on second homes, could create a crisis in that market and that it amounted to a luxury tax on second homes. The vote was 386 yeas to 27 nays.

Yeas: Michaud, Allen

Senate votes:

Republican Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins

Vote 1: National Defense Authorization Act, Fiscal 2008 (HR 1585): The Senate on Oct. 1 passed a bill authorizing $648 billion for Defense Department programs, military construction and Energy Department defense activities for fiscal 2008. Included in the bill is a 3.5 percent pay increase for military personnel. The bill increases the strength of the U.S. Army by 13,000 to 525,400 and increases the U.S. Marine Corps by 9,000 to a force of 189,000. It also includes $142 billion for the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. The vote was 92 yeas to 3 nays.

Yeas: Snowe, Collins

Vote 2: Emergency Spending for Border Security: The Senate on Oct 2 accepted an amendment sponsored by Sen. Lindsay Graham, R-S.C., to the Defense appropriations bill (HR 3222) which provides $3 billion in spending for border security operations including additional agents, detention beds and border fencing. Proponents said protecting the border is vital to national security. The vote was 95 yeas to 1 nay.

Yeas: Snowe, Collins

Vote 3: Redeploying Troops from Iraq in 2008: The Senate on Oct. 2 rejected an amendment sponsored by Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wis., to the Defense appropriations bill (HR 3222) that would require the withdrawal of combat forces from Iraq by June 30. Proponents said the defeat of the terrorists hinges on Afghanistan, where attacks are on the increase due to lack of sufficient ground troops. Opponents said the new strategy in Iraq has begun to work and needs additional time. The vote was 28 yeas to 68 nays.

Nays: Snowe, Collins

Vote 4: Motion to Table Prosecuting Civil Rights Crimes: The Senate on Oct. 4 tabled, thereby killing, an amendment by Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., to an appropriations bill (HR 3093) for the Justice Department and other agencies that would have eliminated six earmarks and used the funds for the Civil Rights Division to examine cold cases. Proponents said that although some of the earmarks are for worthy purposes, those projects could be funded elsewhere without increasing the federal debt. Opponents said each earmark was scrutinized and had to meet project and funding criteria before it was included in the bill. They added that there was adequate funding for the civil rights program. The vote was 61 yeas to 31 nays.

Yeas: Snowe

Nays: Collins

Compiled by Targeted News Service for the Bangor Daily News.