HOW THEY VOTED: MAINE’S CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION, FEB. 11-15, 2008 FISA, contempt of Congress in spotlight

House votes

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

Vote 1: Protect America Act Extension (HR 5349): The House on Feb. 13 failed to pass a bill sponsored by Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich., for a 21-day extension of a law that allows for surveillance of communications that pass through the U.S. President Bush said he would veto the extension. Proponents argued that additional time is necessary to resolve the differences between the House and Senate versions of the bill amending the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (S. 2248). The differences center on immunity for telecommunications companies that assisted investigations after Sept. 11. They argued that Senate Republicans held the bill up, leaving too little time. Opponents argued that the extension is unnecessary because the Senate version would pass if brought to the floor for a vote. They said there had been ample time to pass the amendments to FISA. The vote was 191 yeas to 229 nays.

YEAS: Allen, Michaud

Vote 2: Citing Miers, Bolten for Contempt of Congress (HR 979) The House on Feb. 14 passed a resolution (HR 982) sponsored by Rep. Louise Slaughter, D-N.Y., that adopted a resolution citing former White House Counsel Harriet Miers and Chief of Staff Joshua Bolten with contempt of Congress for refusing to comply with subpoenas issued by the Judiciary Committee during an investigation of the dismissal of several U.S. attorneys. The resolution also adopts a resolution (HR 980) that allows the committee to enter court proceedings to enforce the subpoenas. Proponents said that the White House claims of executive privilege in not complying with the subpoena were overly broad. They said Congress was obligated by the Constitution to act as a check on presidential actions. Opponents said that more important issues should be discussed, citing the pending legislation to amend the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (S 2248). Republicans left the House floor in protest. The vote was 223 yeas to 32 nays.

YEAS: Allen, Michaud

Senate votes

Republican Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins

Vote 1: Amending the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (S 2248): The Senate on Feb. 12 passed a bill sponsored by Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., that amends the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. The bill grants immunity from lawsuits to telecommunications companies that cooperated with investigators’ surveillance requests after Sept. 11. Proponents said the bill is necessary to intercept terrorists’ communications. Opponents said the bill is too broad and could allow for monitoring of U.S. citizens without a warrant. The vote was 68 yeas to 29 nays.

YEAS: Collins, Snowe

Vote 2: Conference Report Intelligence Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 2008 (HR 2082): The Senate on Feb. 12 accepted the joint House-Senate conference report on a bill that authorizes intelligence-gathering activities. The bill also creates an inspector general in the Office of the Director of National Intelligence; makes directors of the National Reconnaissance Office and the National Security Agency subject to Senate confirmation; and requires use of the standards in Army Field Manual during interrogation. Proponents said the bill allows for greater oversight and specifies what interrogation techniques are allowable. Opponents said that the Army Field Manual was created for soldiers, not the intelligence community, and is subject to change by the executive branch. They added that language was added in conference and had not been part of the bill in either chamber. The vote was 51 yeas to 45 nays.

YEAS: Collins, Snowe

Vote 3: HIV, AIDS Testing for Rape: The Senate on Feb. 12 passed an amendment sponsored by Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., to the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (S 1200) that would allow rape victims using the program’s benefits the right to have tests for HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases performed on their assailants. The vote was 95 yeas to 0 nays.

YEAS: Collins, Snowe

Compiled by Targeted News Service for the Bangor Daily News.