HOW THEY VOTED: MAINE’S CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION, APRIL 11-17, 2008 Plain language, debt relief in the spotlight

House votes

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

Vote 1: PLAIN LANGUAGE IN GOVERNMENT DOCUMENTS: The House on April 14 approved a measure (HR 3548) sponsored by Rep. Bruce Braley, D-Iowa, instructing government agencies to use a plain writing style in documents issued to the public. Proponents of the bill said it would improve public comprehension of government information and would create added efficiency and save citizens money. No members spoke in opposition to the bill. A two-thirds majority was required to ensure passage and the vote was 376 yeas to 1 nay.

YEAS: Michaud

NOT VOTING: Allen

Vote 2: INTERNATIONAL FEDERAL LENDING PROVISIONS: The House on April 16 passed an amendment to a bill (HR 2634) sponsored by Rep. Dana Rorabacher, R-Calif., that would add a provision to the Jubilee Act for Responsible Lending and Expanded Debt Cancellation of 2008 defining what criteria constitute an “eligible low-income country.” The criteria included say that the government of a country eligible for debt relief or cancellation must have been chosen by and must permit free election. Proponents said that not allowing countries run by dictators or other nondemocratic entities to be eligible will help the U.S. avoid being essentially robbed by greedy rulers. Opponents cautioned that the U.S. government should be careful not to try to manage the type of democracy a country chooses for itself. The vote was 382 yeas to 41 nays.

YEAS: Allen, Michaud

Vote 3: JUBLIEE ACT EXPANDS CANCELLATION OF DEBTS OWED TO U.S.: The House on April 16 passed a bill (HR 2634) sponsored by Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., calling for greater responsibility in lending and expanding the cancellation of debts owed to the U.S. by low-income countries as well as those owed to international financial institutions. Proponents pointed to the extreme poverty in low-income countries preventing citizens of those countries from affording safe drinking water, health care and education, and noted that 25 additional countries would now be able to afford basic necessities, providing they meet certain criteria. Opponents called the bill illogical and said that hardworking, taxpaying Americans would bear the brunt of the debt. They also said there are plenty of people living without basic necessities in the U.S. who would benefit from the much-needed funds brought in from debt repayment. The vote was 285 yeas to 132 nays.

YEAS: Allen, Michaud

Senate votes

Republican Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins

Vote 1: TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS REJECTED FOR TRANSPORTATION EQUITY ACT: The Senate on April 16 rejected a motion sponsored by Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C, to recommit a bill (HR 1195) to the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works containing certain technical corrections to the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act. The new version of the bill would contain instructions for including an amendment that would strike all new earmarks and would increase spending for existing earmarks. Proponents said the recommitted bill would provide full disclosure of all items in the legislation and that adding earmarks would be an inefficient use of funds. Opponents said the corrections would kill the bill entirely and that the bill could be considered a minieconomic stimulus plan and could affect the creation of jobs, and that forcing amendments would cause further delay. The Senate essentially passed on April 17 the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act by a vote of 88 yeas to 2 nays. The vote on the amendment was 78 yeas to 18 nays.

YEAS: Collins, Snowe

Compiled by Targeted News Service for the Bangor Daily News.