HOW THEY VOTED: MAINE’S CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION, OCT. 5-11, 2007 House examines war profiteering

House votes

Democratic Reps. Michael Michaud and Tom Allen

Vote 1: War Profiteering Prevention Act (HR 400): The House on Oct. 9 passed a bill sponsored by Rep. Neil Abercrombie, D-Hawaii, that makes war profiteering a felony punishable by a fine of up to $1 million and a maximum of 20 years in prison. Proponents said that $8.8 billion is missing from relief and reconstruction funds in Iraq and Afghanistan. They said contractors who defraud the government must be held accountable. Opponents said the bill could allow prosecution for simple mistakes and was a ploy by the majority for political gain. The vote was 375 yeas to 3 nays.

YEAS: Michaud, Allen

Vote 2: National Affordable Housing Trust Fund Act (HR 2895): The House on Oct. 10 passed a bill sponsored by Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., that establishes a trust fund to create or rehabilitate 1.5 million housing units over the next decade. The annual $800 million to $1 billion for the trust fund would come from Federal Housing Administration savings and from a tax on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Proponents said the bill will help alleviate the pressing need for affordable housing. Opponents said that existing housing programs should be changed to accommodate housing needs rather than creating another program. The vote was 264 yeas to 148 nays.

YEAS: Michaud, Allen

Vote 3: Tax Collection Responsibility Act (HR 3056): The House on Oct. 10 passed a bill sponsored by Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., that ends Internal Revenue Service use of private debt collectors. Proponents said taxpayers had complained of harassment by the collection agencies. They added that program start-up costs originally estimated at $14 million had reached $70 million. Opponents said that complaints of harassment had been exaggerated and that most states use private collection agencies for tax collections. The vote was 232 yeas to 173 nays.

YEAS: Michaud, Allen

There were no key votes in the Senate this week.

Compiled by Targeted News Service for the Bangor Daily News