Senate votes

Republican Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins

Vote 1: Defense Department Supplemental Appropriations, cloture motion (HR 4156): The Senate on Nov. 16 rejected a cloture motion, a parliamentary procedure to prevent a filibuster, on a bill that would provide emergency funding primarily for the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. The bill also would have set December 2008 as the goal for complete withdrawal of U.S. combat troops from Iraq. Proponents said the Iraqi government is not making sufficient progress to a political solution and the war has been a drain on U.S. resources – financial and military. Opponents said the funding in the bill is insufficient to allow U.S. forces to complete the mission in Iraq. They said violence has abated and to mandate time-specific withdrawal without an evaluation could make a failure of a probable success. The vote was 53 yeas to 45 nays. (Three-fifths required for acceptance.)

YEAS: Collins, Snowe

Vote 2: Food and Energy Security Act, cloture motion: (HR 2419): The Senate on Nov. 16 rejected a cloture motion, a parliamentary procedure to prevent a filibuster, on an amendment sponsored by Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, on a bill that authorizes farm and nutrition programs. Proponents said the bill continues needed supports and investments to farmers. Opponents said the majority would allow only a fixed number of amendments, already filled by majority requests, and that no minority amendments would be considered. The vote was 55 yeas to 42 nays. (Three-fifths required for acceptance.)

NAYS: Collins, Snowe

Compiled by Targeted News Service for the Bangor Daily News.