HOW THEY VOTED: MAINE’S CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION, JUNE 13-19, 2008 Farm bill override, NASA, parental leave in the spotlight

House votes

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

Vote 1: BANNING IMPORTATION AND SALE OF PRIMATES: The House passed the Captive Primate Safety Act (HR 2964) sponsored by Rep. Eddie Johnson, D-Texas. The legislation would ban the sale or importation of primate species. Supporters said the bill would protect public health by preventing the transmission of diseases by primates kept as pets while also protecting the welfare of the primates. Opponents said the bill duplicated enforcement efforts already in place at the state level. The vote, on June 17, was 302 yeas to 96 nays, with a two-thirds majority needed for approval.

YEAS: Allen, Michaud

Vote 2: OVERRIDING BUSH VETO OF AGRICULTURE BILL: The House overrode the veto by President Bush of the Food, Conservation and Energy Act (HR 6124), sponsored by Rep. Collin Peterson, D-Minn. The legislation, an authorization bill, provides guidance for the Agriculture Department through fiscal year 2012 for the programs under its authority. In vetoing the bill, Bush said it contained unacceptable levels of crop subsidies while distorting markets for farm products. Supporters said the bill reformed agriculture policies while guaranteeing a reliable food supply. Opponents said it contained excessive expenditures, needlessly subsidized the wealthiest farm owners, and was shaped without sufficient debate or public participation. The vote, on June 17, was 317 yeas to 109 nays, with a two-thirds majority required to override the veto.

YEAS: Allen, Michaud

Vote 3: AUTHORIZING NASA SCIENCE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR WOMEN: The House approved an amendment to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act (HR 6063), sponsored by Rep. Paul Hodes, D-Vt. The amendment would allow for the creation of a program for granting scholarships to women pursuing math, science and engineering degrees related to NASA’s mission. The program, to be named after Christa McAuliffe, who died in the 1986 Challenger Space Shuttle disaster, would grant three $10,000 scholarships annually to women. The vote, on June 18, was 423 yeas to 3 nays.

YEAS: Allen, Michaud

Vote 4: AUTHORIZATION OF NASA PROGRAMS: The House passed the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act (HR 6063), sponsored by Rep. Mark Udall, D-N.M. The legislation authorizes the operation of NASA programs for fiscal year 2009. The bill would provide guidance for $20 billion of funding for NASA, including its studies of the Earth’s climate, international space station project, Hubble telescope and manned space exploration. Supporters said the NASA educational programs would stimulate increased enrollment in science and engineering degree programs. The vote, on June 18, was 409 yeas to 15 nays.

YEAS: Allen, Michaud

Vote 5: RURAL WATER SYSTEMS FUNDING: The House passed the Eastern New Mexico Rural Water System Authorization Act (HR 5710) sponsored by Rep. Tom Udall, D-N.M. The legislation will grant the Interior secretary permission to provide funding on behalf of the Bureau of Reclamation for the planning, design and construction of the Eastern New Mexico Rural Water System. The vote, on June 19, was 301 yeas to 124 nays. A two-thirds vote was necessary for approval of this legislation.

YEAS: Allen, Michaud

Vote 6: PAID PARENTAL LEAVE ACT: The House passed the Federal Employees Paid Parental Leave Act (HR 5781) sponsored by Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y. The legislation would allow parents working as federal employees to have eight paid weeks out of 12 weeks that are available as parental leave. Proponents said that the bill would make it easier to hire and retain qualified workers by allowing the time to deal with child-related issues at home without suffering an extensive loss in pay. Opponents said the multimillion-dollar spending this bill required came at a time when the economic recession was already costing enough. The vote, on June 19, was 248 yeas to 146 nays.

YEAS: Allen, Michaud

Senate votes

Republican Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins

Vote 1: REJECTING CLOTURE FOR TAX PACKAGE BILL: The Senate failed to approve cloture for the Renewable Energy and Job Creation Act (HR 6049), sponsored by Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y. The legislation would extend various energy production and efficiency tax incentives while establishing other incentives and extending individual income tax deductions. In voting to continue debate, opponents of the renewables legislation scuttled it for the time being. Supporters of the bill said it encouraged the expansion of renewable power at a time of high energy prices and authorized tax policies that would help the economy. Opponents said it included several ineffective tax provisions and inappropriately adopted the general strategy of offsetting temporary tax incentive extensions with permanent tax increases. The vote, on June 17, was 52 yeas to 44 nays, with a three-fifths majority needed to approve cloture.

YEAS: Collins, Snowe

Vote 2: OVERRIDING BUSH VETO OF AGRICULTURE BILL: The Senate overrode the veto by President Bush of the Food, Conservation and Energy Act (HR 6124), sponsored by Rep. Collin Peterson, D-Minn. The legislation authorizes programs managed by the Agriculture Department through fiscal 2012. The Senate followed the House lead in overriding the veto. The vote, on June 17, was 80 yeas to 14 nays, with a two-thirds majority needed to override the veto.

YEAS: Snowe

NAYS: Collins

Compiled by Targeted News Service for the Bangor Daily News.