House votes

Democratic Reps. Michael Michaud and Tom Allen

VOTE 1: Tax Relief Extension Reconciliation Act (H.R. 4297): The House, on May 10, agreed to the joint House-Senate conference report on a $70 billion tax package that extends decreased tax rates on interest and dividends; extends exemptions from the alternative minimum tax; and extends increased deductions for small businesses. Proponents said that the bill will continue to spur economic growth. Opponents said that the alternative minimum tax relief provision was insufficient. The vote was 244 yeas to 185 nays.

NAYS: Allen, Michaud

VOTE 2: Lifting the Ban on Privately Funded Abortions at Military Facilities Overseas: The House, on May 10, rejected an amendment sponsored by Rep. Robert Andrews, D-N.J., to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 2007 (H.R. 5122) that would have allowed U.S. military hospitals overseas to perform privately funded abortions. Proponents argued that women fighting to defend the Constitution should have the same protections afforded to those at home. Opponents argued that hospitals were allowed to perform abortions in cases of rape or incest and that in other instances that women wanted an abortion, they were free to go to an outside clinic or come back to the U.S. The vote was 191 yeas to 237 nays.

YEAS: Allen

NAYS: Michaud

VOTE 3: Use of the Military for Border Protection: The House, on May 11, accepted an amendment sponsored by Rep. Virgil Goode, R-Va., to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 2007 (H.R. 5122) that allows the non-emergency deployment of troops to protect the country’s borders. Proponents said the troops were necessary to stem the tide of people crossing the border illegally. Opponents said the Defense Department said it was unnecessary since Homeland Security could ask for assistance under existing law. The vote was 252 yeas to 171 nays.

NAYS: Allen, Michaud

VOTE 4: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 2007 (H.R. 5122): The House, on May 11, passed a bill sponsored by Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., that authorizes $512.9 billion for the Defense Department. Included in the bill is $50 billion for supplemental funding for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. It also allows for personnel increases of 30,000 in the U.S. Army and 5,000 in the U.S. Marine Corps; eliminates proposed Tri-Care co-pay increases; and authorizes a 2.7 percent pay raise for members of the armed forces. The bill also includes $108 million for devices to jam roadside bombs. The vote was 396 yeas to 31 nays.

YEAS: Allen, Michaud

Senate votes

Republican Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins

VOTE 1: Medical Care Access Protection Act (S. 22): The Senate, on May 8, failed to pass a cloture motion by the required three-fifths majority on a bill sponsored by Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., that would have capped pain and suffering damages for medical malpractice to $250,000 for a single provider and $750,000 if multiple providers were found liable. Proponents of the cloture motion, led by Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., sought to cut off debate on the legislation and move toward a prompt vote. Proponents of the legislation said that there is a shortage of doctors because of the increased costs associated with malpractice insurance. Opponents of the bill objected that the bill had never been through committee, where a consensus could be reached. They argued that the caps were unfair to those most seriously injured, would not bring down malpractice insurance costs and that the beneficiaries would be insurance companies and large medical companies. The vote was 48 yeas to 42 nays (three-fifths required.)

YEAS: Collins, Snowe

VOTE 2: Healthy Mothers and Healthy Babies Access to Care Act (S. 23): The Senate, on May 8, failed to pass a cloture motion by the required three-fifths majority on a bill sponsored by Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa., that would have capped noneconomic damages in lawsuits for obstetrical and gynecological malpractice at $250,000 for a single provider and $750,000 if multiple providers were found liable. The cloture motion would have stopped debate and moved the legislation toward a prompt vote. Proponents said the bill was necessary because women with high-risk pregnancies were having trouble finding health care due to the high cost of malpractice insurance. Opponents said there are more obstetricians and gynecologists now than there were in 2000 and that malpractice is less than 1 percent of health care costs. The vote was 49 yeas to 44 nays. (three-fifths required.)

YEAS: Collins, Snowe

VOTE 3: Tax Relief Extension Reconciliation Act (H.R. 4297): The Senate, on May 11, agreed to the joint House-Senate conference report on a $70 billion tax package that extends decreased tax rates on interest and dividends; extends exemptions from the alternative minimum tax; and extends increased deductions for small businesses. Proponents said the bill continues the policies that have spurred job growth. Opponents said that working families had been left out of the bill, which dropped tax deductions for college tuition and teacher’s supplies and tax credits for research and development jobs. The vote was 54 yeas to 44 nays, clearing the measure for President Bush, who has said he would sign the bill.

YEAS: Collins

NAYS: Snowe

VOTE 4: Health Insurance Marketplace Modernization and Affordability Act (S. 1955): The Senate, on May 11, failed to pass a cloture motion by the required three-fifths majority on a bill sponsored by Sen. Michael Enzi, R-Wyo., that would have allowed small businesses to band together across state lines to buy health insurance. It also would have lifted state-mandated coverage such as breast cancer screening and diabetic care. The cloture motion would have stopped debate and moved the legislation toward a prompt vote. Proponents of the bill argued it would allow small businesses to negotiate with insurance companies for better rates and provide coverage from many workers who are now uninsured. Opponents argued that the bill stripped states of the right to regulate health insurance and allowed all employers, not just small businesses, to stop providing certain coverages. The vote was 55 yeas to 43 nays. (three-fifths required.)

YEAS: Collins, Snowe

Compiled by Targeted News

Service for the Bangor Daily News