House votes

Democratic Reps. Michael Michaud and Tom Allen

Vote 1: Water Quality Financing Act (HR 720): The House on March 9 passed an authorization bill sponsored by Rep. James Oberstar, D-Minn., that would provide $14 billion to replenish state revolving loan funds for water treatment projects. Proponents said the bill would help municipalities repair and upgrade water system infrastructure. Opponents objected to the bill’s inclusion of a pro-labor provision known as “Davis-Bacon” that ensures workers on projects are paid the local prevailing wage. The vote was 303 yeas to 108 nays.

YEAS: Allen, Michaud

Vote 2: Amending the Presidential Records Act: The House on March 14 passed a bill (HR 1309) sponsored by Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., that overrides an executive order issued by President Bush in 2001 giving former presidents and their heirs the right to withhold records from public scrutiny. Proponents said the Bush executive order had gutted the Presidential Records Act and gave presidents and their families the ability to alter history. The vote was 333 yeas to 93 nays.

YEAS: Allen, Michaud

Vote 3: Amending the Freedom of Information Act: The House on March 14 passed a bill (HR 1309) sponsored by Rep. Lacy Clay, D-Mo., that limits an agency’s ability to withhold documents requested under the Freedom of Information Act. The bill requires information to be disclosed unless it would cause harm. It also establishes an ombudsman to settle disputes and establishes penalties for agencies that take longer than 20 days to furnish requested information. Proponents said the bill increases transparency in government. Opponents said the bill requires disclosure of possibly sensitive materials on national security. The vote was 308 yeas to 117 nays.

YEAS: Allen, Michaud

Vote 4: Removing Section on Scientific Studies: The House on March 14 rejected an amendment sponsored by Rep. Bill Sali, R-Idaho, that would have removed the section of the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act (HR 985) that gives scientists protection from having research rewritten to favor government policies. Proponents said science was sometimes a matter of opinion when studies conflict. Opponents said the Bush administration had consistently rewritten reports with a bias toward policy. They cited scientists’ statements that an edited report from the Environmental Protection Agency no longer represented the consensus opinion on climate change. The vote was 159 yeas to 271 nays.

NAYS: Allen, Michaud

Vote 5: Allowing Publication of Scientific Studies: The House on March 14 accepted an amendment sponsored by Rep. Bart Stupak, D-Mich., that adds interference with the publication of scientific studies to the classes covered under the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act (HR 985). Proponents said the amendment was necessary to ensure that scientists are not pressured to suppress or change studies and allows the public to learn the results of government-funded research. They cited interference by the Food and Drug Administration of publication of a study exposing the dangers of the drug Vioxx. Opponents said the amendment was misplaced in the bill and that giving government scientists the right to publish without agency review could have national security implications. The vote was 252 yeas to 173 nays.

YEAS: Allen, Michaud

Vote 6: Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act (HR 985): The House on March 14 passed a bill sponsored by Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., that strengthens protection for federal government workers who report waste, fraud and abuse. The bill extends protections to employees of contractors performing services for the government and to workers at national security agencies and at the Transportation Security Administration. Proponents said the court interpretations of the existing bill had stripped most workers of protection. The vote was 331 yeas to 94 nays.

YEAS: Allen, Michaud

Vote 7: Accountability in Contracting Act (HR 1362): The House on March 15 passed a bill sponsored by Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., that requires federal agencies to use competitively bid, fixed-cost contracts whenever possible. It requires agency justification for sole-source contracts and requires a report to Congress when an audit reveals a discrepancy of $10 million or more in a contract. It also bars federal contract officers from taking a job with a contractor for one year. Proponents said that cost reimbursement contracts allow companies to pass on inefficiencies and mistakes to taxpayers. Opponents said the bill was well intended but would be ineffective. The vote was 347 yeas to 73 nays.

YEAS: Michaud

NOT VOTING: Allen

Senate votes

Republican Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins

Vote 1: Tabled Assessment of Homeland Security Spending: The Senate on March 13 tabled, thereby killing, an amendment sponsored by Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., to a bill (S 4) implementing the additional recommendations of the 9-11 Commission. The amendment would have prohibited the U.S. Department of Homeland Security from awarding grants until it had created a risk assessment for improper payments, a statistical estimate projecting improper payments and a plan for corrective action as required in the Improper Payments Act. Proponents of the amendment said the department should ensure that taxpayers are receiving value for money spent. Opponents said that the amendment would prevent awards to first-responders and others who have been waiting for the funding. The vote was 66 yeas to 31 nays.

YEAS: Collins, Snowe

Vote 2: Tabled Rerouting of Hazardous Materials: The Senate on March 13 tabled, thereby killing, an amendment sponsored by Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., to a bill (S 4) implementing the additional recommendations of the 9-11 Commission. The amendment would have required the Department of Homeland Security to assess the risk to areas when hazardous materials are being transported and to have the materials rerouted if necessary. Proponents of the amendment said that possible casualties in a populated area that cannot be evacuated quickly outweigh the additional costs. Opponents said the Senate Commerce Committee had jurisdiction and it was working with the rail industry on a more developed solution. They argued that additional transit time from rerouting would increase risk. The vote was 73 yeas to 25 nays.

YEAS: Collins, Snowe

Vote 3: Improving America’s Security Act (S 4): The Senate on March 13 passed a bill sponsored by Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., to implement additional recommendations of the 9-11 Commission. The bill authorizes $9.3 billion in funding over three years for grants, most of which would be awarded based on a risk assessment. It also creates a program to develop a communications system over a cross-section of federal departments and municipalities and improves the system for intergovernment and interagency information sharing. The vote was 60 yeas to 38 nays.

YEAS: Collins, Snowe

Vote 4: Withdrawing from Iraq (SJ Res. 9): The Senate on March 15 rejected a motion sponsored by Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., that would have directed the president to begin the withdrawal of U.S. combat troops from Iraq within 180 days, with a goal of completing the withdrawal by March 31, 2008. Troops to guard infrastructure, train Iraqi forces and conduct counterterrorism activities would have been exempt from the withdrawal. It also called for diplomatic and economic strategies to stabilize the country. Proponents said the majority of Americans favor a withdrawal from Iraq and that a change of course is called for. Opponents said the new strategy offered by President Bush should be given a chance to work. They also said that withdrawing troops over the time period cited would result in chaos and additional combat in the future and that passage of the nonbinding Senate resolution would do little more than demoralize the troops. The vote was 48 yeas to 50 nays.

NAYS: Collins, Snowe

Vote 5: Continuing Funding for the Troops (S Con.Res. 20): The Senate on March 15 passed a nonbinding resolution sponsored by Sen. Judd Gregg, R-N.H., that states Congress would not eliminate funding that would endanger U.S. troops in the field. Proponents said the resolution pledges congressional support for the troops. Opponents said the resolution leaves the decision on caring for the troops solely in the hands of the president in his role as commander-in-chief of the military. The vote was 82 yeas to 16 nays.

YEAS: Collins, Snowe

Compiled by Targeted News Service for the Bangor Daily News.