Maine’s congressional delegation, Sept. 30-Oct. 3, 2008

House votes

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

Vote 1: EXTENDING RENEWABLE AND OTHER TAX CREDITS: The House passed the Renewable Energy and Job Creation Tax Act (HR 7060) sponsored by Rep. Charles B. Rangel, D-N.Y., to extend renewable and other energy tax credits, as well as research and development and other tax credits. Supporters called the bill a fiscally responsible way to extend credits needed for economic development. Opponents warned that because the House version of the bill differed from a bill version passed by the Senate, the bill would not become law. The vote, on Sept. 26, was 257 yeas to 166 nays. The legislation stalled in the Senate, however, and was eventually rolled into the financial bailout legislation that was signed into law.

YEAS: Allen, Michaud.

Vote 2: APPROVING NUCLEAR DEVELOPMENT PACT WITH INDIA: The House passed a bill (HR 7081) sponsored by Rep. Howard L. Berman, D-Calif., to approve a pact with India under which the U.S. would support India’s nuclear power development program. Supporters said the pact would bolster a critical alliance and bring India into an international framework for controlling nuclear weapons. Opponents warned that the bill would damage nuclear nonproliferation agreements by aiding the nuclear development of a country that has violated past agreements. The vote, on Sept. 27, was 298 yeas to 117 nays.

YEAS: Allen.

NAYS: Michaud.

Vote 3: REJECTING INCREASED REGULATION OF RAILROAD MERGERS: The House rejected the Taking Responsible Action for Community Safety Act (HR 6707), sponsored by Rep. James L. Oberstar, D-Minn., that would have required the Surface Transportation Board to take into account the impact of proposed railroad mergers on communities situated along rail lines. Supporters said the bill would clarify the agency’s duty to protect the interests and safety of taxpayers in merger proposals. Opponents argued that the bill was intended merely to block a rail merger in the Chicago area that could relieve rail congestion nationwide and would harm both the rail industry and the communities it serves. The vote, on Sept. 27, was 243 yeas to 175 nays, short of the two-thirds majority required for approval.

YEAS: Allen, Michaud.

Vote 4: REFORMING PENALTIES FOR THEFT OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY: The House passed the Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights Act (S 3325), sponsored by Sen. Patrick J. Leahy, D-Vt., to make reforms to penalties and enforcement policies associated with violations of intellectual property laws. Supporters said the bill provided more funding to enforcement actions and would help prevent an estimated $250 billion in annual losses to U.S. companies from copyright infringement. Opponents criticized a provision allowing federal agencies to seize equipment used in the theft of intellectual property as an overreach of federal powers. The vote, on Sept. 28, was 381 yeas to 41 nays.

YEAS: Allen, Michaud

Senate Votes

Republican Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins

Vote 1: FUNDING HOMELAND SECURITY AND DEFENSE FOR 2009: The Senate passed an amendment to a bill (HR 2638) sponsored by Rep. David E. Price, D-N.C., providing funding for the Homeland Security Department, Defense Department and Department of Veterans Affairs in fiscal 2009. Supporters cited bill provisions providing added funding for veterans’ health care and $25 billion in loans to auto manufacturers as critical elements of economic policy. Opponents said the bill was an irresponsible packaging of three separate appropriations bills and would do little more than continue the war in Iraq. The vote, on Sept. 27, was 78 yeas to 12 nays.

YEAS: Snowe, Collins.

Vote 2: U.S. NUCLEAR AGREEMENT WITH INDIA: The Senate passed the United States-India Nuclear Cooperation Approval and Nonproliferation Enhancement Act (HR 7081), originally sponsored by Rep. Howard Berman, D-Calif. Proponents of the bill said it would help promote clean energy resources for India, provide new business in nuclear energy in the U.S. and still provide for U.S. interests in nonproliferation. Opponents of the bill called the bill “deeply unwise” and said it would only serve to reward India for “flouting the most important arms control agreement in history” and could lead other hostile nations to expect the similar benefits. The vote, on Oct. 1, was 86 yeas to 13 nays.

YEAS: Snowe, Collins.

Compiled by Targeted News Service for the Bangor Daily News.