House votes

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

Vote 1: Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Reauthorization Act (HR 4299): The House on Dec. 12 passed a bill sponsored by Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., that provides a seven-year extension to the program that aids insurers after a terrorist attack. The bill also decreases the trigger for federal aid to $50 billion in losses from $100 billion and adds life insurance as a covered area. Proponents said the private market insurance for terrorism had not developed sufficiently to meet the demand. They argued that construction in large cities, specifically New York, would halt if terrorism insurance were unavailable. They added that the Senate had sent over an amended version of an earlier House bill (HR 2761) without attempting to reconcile the differences. Opponents said the Senate would not accept the bill and the White House had threatened a veto. They argued that the private market for insurance against terrorism losses had developed and the program should be discontinued. The vote was 303 yeas to 116 nays.

YEAS: Allen, Michaud

Vote 2: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 2008, Conference Report (HR 1585): The House on Dec. 12 accepted the joint House-Senate conference report on a bill that authorizes $506.9 billion for Defense Department programs and national security programs in the Energy Department. The bill provides for $189.4 billion in emergency spending primarily for the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Included in the bill is the Wounded Warriors Act, which provides a resource center to assist service members recovering from injuries and requires inspections of housing facilities for recovering service members. The bill authorizes a 3.5 percent pay increase for service members; requires regulations for contractor conduct and accountability; authorizes $17.6 billion for Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles and $10.8 billion for armored vehicles, body armor and countermeasures for improvised explosive devices. The bill increases the size of the Army and Marines and provides $27 billion to repair, replace and refurbish equipment. The vote was 370 yeas to 49 nays.

YEAS: Allen

NAYS: Michaud

Vote 3: AMT Relief Act (HR 4351): The House on Dec. 12 passed a bill sponsored by Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., that raises the income threshold for the alternative minimum tax to $44,350 for individuals and $66,250 for couples. To pay for the estimated $52.9 billion loss in revenue, the bill alters rules for deferred compensation from foreign entities and delays a liberalized method of determining the limitation of foreign tax credits. Proponents said an additional 19 million people would have to pay the alternative minimum tax if the limits were not raised. They said not offsetting the revenue loss would force the government to borrow more money. Opponents argued that the revenue loss was included in the president’s budget so there was no reason to include a tax increase to balance the package. The vote was 226 yeas to 193 nays.

YEAS: Allen, Michaud

Vote 4: Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act (HR 3963): The House on Dec. 12 passed a motion to delay until Jan. 23 consideration of the veto message on a bill that provides health insurance for poor children. Proponents said there are enough votes in the Senate to override the veto and that also should be able to be achieved in the House. Opponents said the date for the vote, a week before the State of the Union address, was a political ploy. They argued that the majority should work with the minority to find a solution to ensure children will continue to have health coverage. The vote was 211 yeas to 180 nays.

YEAS: Allen, Michaud

Vote 5: Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal 2008, Conference Report (HR 2082): The House on Dec. 13 accepted the joint House-Senate conference report on a bill that authorizes intelligence-gathering programs. While the funding authorized is classified, the bill requires Senate confirmation of the directors of the National Security Agency and the National Reconnaissance Office and creates an inspector general for the intelligence community. The bill also requires a report on compliance with laws on interrogation techniques used on prisoners and withholds certain funding until Congress is briefed on an Israeli military action against Syria last fall. The vote was 222 yeas to 199 nays.

YEAS: Allen, Michaud

Vote 6: Continuing Appropriations for Fiscal 2008 (House Joint Resolution 69): The House on Dec. 13 passed a resolution that extends until Dec. 21 funding for government operations in areas where no appropriations bill has been enacted. Proponents said the bill is necessary to allow the government to continue operating while a compromise between Congress and the White House is hammered out on the remaining appropriations bills. Opponents said that the Democratic majority had failed to heed the president’s statement that he would veto spending bills that exceeded his request. The vote was 385 yeas to 27 nays.

YEAS: Allen, Michaud

Senate votes

Republican Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins

Vote 1: Limiting Farm Subsidies: The Senate on Dec. 13 failed to accept an amendment sponsored by Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., to a bill (HR 2419) that extends programs for farms. The amendment would have limited subsidy payments to farms to $250,000 annually. The amendment was withdrawn because it did not receive a three-fifths majority. Proponents said the subsidies were never meant for large corporate farms, but to help family farmers. Opponents said that reforms in the bill, such as increased transparency and reducing the income limit for subsidies, are a better solution than an arbitrary payment limit. The vote was 56 yeas to 43 nays.

YEAS: Collins

NAYS: Snowe

Vote 2: Energy Bill, Cloture Motion (HR 6): The Senate on Dec. 13 rejected a cloture motion, a parliamentary procedure to prevent a filibuster, on a bill designed to promote energy efficiency, use of renewable fuels and conservation. The bill raises fuel economy standards for cars and light trucks to 35 mpg by 2020, and calls for increased renewable fuel production and increased energy efficiency in appliances and buildings. The bill removed $21 billion in tax breaks for oil and gas companies to fund incentives for development of renewable fuels and hybrid cars. The bill passed by a wide margin later in the day without the elimination of the oil and gas company tax breaks. Proponents said the bill will decrease dependency on oil and will decrease harmful impacts on the environment. Opponents said the bill amounted to a tax hike on oil and gas companies and would raise costs for consumers. They added that the bill does not address nuclear power, clean coal technology or additional refineries. The vote was 59 yeas to 40 nays. (Three-fifths required.)

YEAS: Collins, Snowe

Vote 3: Farm Bill Extension Act, Cloture Motion (HR 2419): The Senate on Dec. 13 passed a cloture motion, a parliamentary procedure to prevent a filibuster, on a bill that extends farm and dairy supports and nutrition programs. The rules allow for 30 hours to complete work on the bill and only germane amendments will be considered. Proponents said the bill strengthens conservation efforts and supports food programs for the needy. Opponents said that some amendments, such as increased home heating assistance and tax relief for those who have had home foreclosures, would now be prohibited. The vote was 78 yeas to 12 nays.

YEAS: Snowe

NAYS: Collins

Compiled by Targeted News Service for the Bangor Daily News.