HOW THEY VOTED: MAINE’S CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION, JUNE 6-12, 2008 Amtrak funding in the spotlight

House votes

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

Vote 1: REJECTING HALT TO FUNDING OF WORST-PERFORMING AMTRAK ROUTE: The House rejected an amendment to the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act (HR 6003) sponsored by Rep. Pete Sessions, R-Ala., that would have blocked funding for the highest-cost long distance Amtrak route unless the secretary of transportation deemed the route vital to homeland security. Supporters said the amendment would stop wasteful spending on poor-performing Amtrak services and spur Amtrak to improve its financial results. Opponents said Congress was already moving to require greater efficiency at Amtrak and that the route in question was a vital service to the states it ran through. The vote, on June 11, was 150 yeas to 275 nays.

NAYS: Allen, Michaud

Vote 2: REAUTHORIZING AMTRAK: The House approved a bill (HR 6003) sponsored by Rep. James Oberstar, D-Minn., to reauthorize funding for Amtrak. Supporters said that at a time of elevated gas prices, travel by train was a needed alternative to both airplane and automotive travel. They added that the bill would help create high-speed rail corridors. There were no speakers in opposition. The vote, on June 11, was 311 yeas to 104 nays.

YEAS: Allen, Michaud

Vote 3: REFERRING IMPEACHMENT CHARGES AGAINST PRESIDENT BUSH: The House has agreed to refer a resolution (H.Res. 1258) sponsored by Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, that calls for the impeachment of President Bush for high crimes and misdemeanors to the House Judiciary Committee. Kucinich, a one-time Democratic presidential hopeful, wanted to draw attention to the way the president has handled the war in Iraq. The matter was referred to committee, where it was expected to languish without a hearing through the remainder of President Bush’s term of office. The vote, on June 11, was 251 yeas to 166 nays.

YEAS: Allen, Michaud

Vote 4: REJECTING EXTENSION OF UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS: The House rejected the Emergency Extended Unemployment Compensation Act (HR 5749) sponsored by Rep. Jim McDermott, D-Wash., which would have extended unemployment compensation for an added 13 weeks in all states and 13 weeks beyond that in states with unemployment rates over 6 percent. Supporters said the extension was needed to help the unemployed as the economy weakened and unemployment rose. Opponents said the bill would weaken the employment requirement for citizens to collect benefits for up to a year. They also criticized the rapid manner in which the bill was brought up for a vote. The vote, on June 11, was 279 yeas to 144 nays, with a two-thirds majority required for approval.

YEAS: Allen, Michaud

Vote 5: U.S. ENCOURAGED TO BUY AMERICAN: The House has agreed to a measure (H.Res. 977) sponsored by Rep. Bruce Braley, D-Iowa, to express a sentiment of the House that purchasing American-made products, goods and services with tax rebate checks would stimulate the U.S. economy. Supporters of the opinion said that the general consensus is that the U.S. is in an economic recession and that supporting American-owned companies would help lower unemployment and put money back into the hands of lower-income Americans. No one spoke in opposition. The vote, on June 11, was 404 yeas to 6 nays.

YEAS: Allen, Michaud

Senate votes

Republican Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins

Vote 1: DENYING CLOTURE FOR CLIMATE CHANGE BILL: The Senate has declined to close further debate on an amendment to the Climate Security Act (S. 3036), sponsored by Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., to establish a cap-and-trade program for greenhouse gas emissions allowances. Supporters said the bill would enhance energy security by prompting the development of alternatives to imported fossil fuels. Opponents criticized the proposal for halting debate on the grounds that it would prematurely cut off discussion of bill amendments and debate over appropriate climate change policies. The vote, on June 6, was 48 yeas to 36 nays, with a three-fifths majority needed for cloture.

YEAS: Collins, Snowe

Compiled by Targeted News Service for the Bangor Daily News