House votes

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

Vote 1: SUSPENDING PURCHASES FOR THE STRATEGIC PETROLEUM RESERVE: The House on May 13 passed a bill (HR 6022) sponsored by Rep. Peter Welch, D-Vt., ordering the Department of Energy to stop buying oil for the rest of 2008 to add to the strategic petroleum reserve. Supporters said the change will bring down oil prices by eliminating a source of demand and partly alleviate the continued surge in prices. Opponents criticized the hasty manner with which the bill was brought to a vote and its failure to consider broader issues affecting oil prices. The vote was 385 yeas to 25 nays, with a two-thirds majority required for passage.

YEAS: Allen, Michaud

Vote 2: FARM BILL REPORT ACCEPTED: The House on May 14 agreed to a conference report on the Food, Conservation and Energy Act (HR 2419), sponsored by Rep. Collin Peterson, D-Minn. Proponents said the bill would be a safety net for the future of the programs and for farmers and that it includes a bioenergy reserve program. Opponents said report was not a safety net, but was an entitlement program for farmers who would be allowed to operate under an inflated gross income cap of $2.5 billion while taxpayers paid the price. The vote was 318 yeas to 106 nays.

YEAS: Allen, Michaud

Senate votes

Republican Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins

Vote 1: HALTING PURCHASES FOR STRATEGIC PETROLEUM RESERVE: The Senate on May 13 passed an amendment to the Flood Insurance Reform and Modernization Act (HR 3121), ordering the Department of Energy to stop buying oil for the rest of 2008 to add to the strategic petroleum reserve. Supporters said the change would bring down oil prices and help alleviate the continued surge in prices by increasing the supply and eliminating a source of demand. They added that the department’s purchases were contrary to the spirit of the 2005 energy bill. The vote was 97 yeas to 1 nay.

YEAS: Collins, Snowe

Vote 2: ARMED FORCES EDUCATION AMENDMENT TABLED: The Senate on May 14 voted to table an amendment to the Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act (S 2123), sponsored by Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., to enhance recruitment and retention for the U.S. military through improved education. The amendment provided for opportunities to obtain higher education degrees and to increase assistance funding under the Montgomery G.I. bill. The vote was 55 yeas to 42 nays.

YEAS: Collins, Snowe

Vote 3: FARM BILL REPORT ACCEPTED: The Senate on May 15 agreed to the conference report on the Food, Conservation and Energy Act (S 2302), a bill sponsored by Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, that would grant provisions for agricultural programs to continue through fiscal 2012. Proponents said the report showed that the bill saves the American people a great deal of money and will not add to the national deficit. Opponents said the bill was essentially a giant welfare program for farmers. The vote was 81 yeas to 15 nays.

YEAS: Snowe

NAYS: Collins

Vote 4: MOTION TO REJECT BUDGET REVENUES REJECTED: The Senate on May 15 rejected a motion, introduced by Sen. Judd Gregg, R-N.H., to reject the revenue levels in budget resolutions passed by both the Senate and the House for fiscal 2009. Proponents of the motion said the budget was solely Democrat-based and lacked Republican comment. Proponents balked at the $1.2 trillion tax increase in the current budget resolution (S.Con.Res. 70). Opponents to the motion disagreed and said the budget contained not only tax cuts but also provisions for education and energy tax relief. The vote was 44 yeas to 51 nays.

YEAS: Collins

NAYS: Snowe

Vote 5: MOTION APPROVED TO SUSPEND FURTHER GREENHOUSE GAS LEGISLATION: The Senate on May 15 agreed to a motion sponsored by Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., that would prohibit any further legislation on greenhouse gas emissions from being enacted unless the bill had provisions for dealing with imports from countries, such as China and India, with no emissions programs similar to those in the U.S. Proponents said the motion protected Congress from enacting legislation that would counteract current efforts to fight global warming. Opponents said the motion would add tariffs to imports and cost the American people more just because other countries don’t do exactly as the U.S. does. The vote was 55 yeas to 40 nays.

YEAS: Collins, Snowe

Vote 6: MOTION TO INCLUDE FUNDS FOR ENERGY EXPLORATION IN BUDGET REJECTED: The Senate on May 15 rejected a motion introduced by Sen. David Vitter, R-La., that would adjust the fiscal 2009 budget resolution to mandate a provision for a reserve fund that would be used in the event a governor and the state’s legislature seek to increase energy exploration along the Outer Continental Shelf if gas prices in the U.S. reach $5 per gallon.The vote was 44 yeas to 51 nays.

NAYS: Collins, Snowe

Compiled by Targeted News Service for the Bangor Daily News