HOW THEY VOTED: MAINE’S CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION, MARCH 6-13, 2008 Federal budget, ethics in spotlight

House votes

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

Vote 1: INTELLIGENCE AUTHORIZATION ACT VETO OVERRIDE: The House on March 11 failed to override President Bush’s veto of the Intelligence Authorization Act (HR 2082), sponsored by Rep. Silvestre Reyes, D-Texas. The measure authorized appropriations for fiscal 2008 for intelligence and intelligence-related activities of the U.S. government and the Central Intelligence Agency Retirement and Disability System. Supporters of sustaining the president’s veto said the bill was an example of the failure of the Democratic leadership in the House to give the intelligence community the tools it needs to protect the American people against radical jihadists who have sworn to wage holy war. Proponents of voting to override the veto – including most Democrats – said the legislation would strengthen oversight of the intelligence community, something they say the president seems to consistently want to fight against. There were 225 yeas to 188 nays (A veto override requires two-thirds of those present for an override; in this case, 275 votes).

YEAS: Allen, Michaud

Vote 2: OFFICE OF CONGRESSIONAL ETHICS: The House on March 11 approved a resolution (HR 1031) providing for the adoption of a measure sponsored by Rep. Michael Capuano, D-Mass., that establishes an Office of Congressional Ethics in the House. Supporters said the resolution will help end the culture of abuses that have hurt the image of Congress. Opponents said the resolution would weaken ethics enforcement in the House by adding an unnecessary and unconstitutional layer of bureaucracy to the already failing ethics process. The vote was 229 yeas to 182 nays.

YEAS: Allen, Michaud

Vote 3: CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET REVISIONS: The House on March 13 passed a resolution (H.Con.Res. 312) introduced by Rep. John Spratt, D-S.C, to consider further revisions to the U.S. government’s federal budget for fiscal 2008 as well as to establish a budget of recommended levels for fiscal 2009. The resolution also sets budget levels for fiscal 2010 through 2013. Proponents of the resolution said it contained a disciplined approach to fiscal issues in the U.S. and would spur economic growth. Opponents said the budget does not cut Medicare and Medicaid costs, but rather increases them, and the additional spending over five years would cause a massive tax increase and lay a much heavier burden on the American people, who are already trying to manage price increases. The vote was 212 yeas to 207 nays.

YEAS: Allen, Michaud

Senate votes

Republican Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins

Vote 1: CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION REFORM: The Senate on March 6 tabled an amendment to the Consumer Product Safety Commission Reform Act (S. 2663), sponsored by Sen. David Vitter, R-La. The amendment would have allowed judges to require that the losing party in consumer product safety civil lawsuits pay attorney’s fees for the winning party. Proponents said the amendment would aid consumer safety while discouraging frivolous lawsuits. Opponents said it would discourage state attorneys general from suing to protect consumers or to promote consumer safety and would violate a core tradition of the U.S. legal system. The vote to table the amendment was 56 yeas to 39 nays.

YEAS: Snowe

NAYS: Collins

Compiled by Targeted News Service for the Bangor Daily News