House votes

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

Vote 1: Congressional Budget (House Version): The House on May 8 passed a resolution (S.Con.Res. 21) covering the congressional view of the fiscal 2008 budget. The House struck out all of the Senate language and inserted a different House version (H.Con.Res. 99), setting up a scenario where a House-Senate Conference Committee would reconcile the differences. The vote was 212 yeas to 207 nays.

YEAS: Allen, Michaud

Vote 2: Department of Homeland Security Authorization for Fiscal 2008 (HR 1684): The House on May 9 passed a bill sponsored by Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., that authorizes programs in the Department of Homeland Security. The $39.8 billion includes increased collective bargaining rights for department employees, a provision opposed by President Bush, who has threatened to veto the bill. Proponents said the bill supports first responders and strengthens the inspector general’s ability to investigate border security and response programs. Opponents, who opposed the manager’s amendment that essentially replaced the bill, which came out of committee with a unanimous vote, said the revamped legislation strips many necessary provisions from the bill. The vote was 296 yeas to 126 nays.

YEAS: Allen, Michaud

Vote 3: Small Business Fairness in Contracting Act (HR 1873): The House on May 10 passed a bill sponsored by Rep. Bruce Braley, D-Iowa, that increases the federal goal for contracts issued to small businesses. Proponents said while federal contract awards have increased, the number given to small businesses has decreased. They said the legislation will prevent large businesses from getting small-business contracts and strengthens accountability. The vote was 409 yeas to 13 nays.

YEAS: Allen, Michaud

Vote 4: Redeployment of U.S. Forces and Contractors from Iraq (HR 2237): The House on May 10 failed to pass a bill sponsored by Rep. James McGovern, D-Mass., that required the beginning of withdrawal of U.S. troops and contractors from Iraq within 90 days. Proponents said that the U.S. military should not be in the midst of a civil war in Iraq. They argued that the conflict there has now lasted longer than the U.S. involvement in World War II. They also expressed dismay that the Iraqi Parliament is slated for a two-month summer vacation when issues critical to the country’s well-being are left unsettled. Opponents said the president’s plan must be given more time to work. They said leaving Iraq abruptly would cause chaos in the region and endanger the security of the U.S. The vote was 171 yeas to 255 nays.

YEAS: Allen, Michaud

Vote 5: Funding for the Iraq Conflict (HR 2206): The House on May 10 passed a bill sponsored by Rep. David Obey, D-Wis., that provides $42.8 billion in funding for the Defense Department and supports the military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan through July. An additional $52.8 billion was withheld pending a presidential report on progress in Iraq against certain issues such as equitable oil revenue sharing, contribution towards rebuilding of infrastructure and equitable treatment of minorities. The bill prohibits permanent bases in Iraq. Procedures written into the bill ensure a post-report vote on an amendment for troop redeployment. The bill includes $6.8 billion in relief for victims of Hurricane Katrina, but other disaster relief included in the emergency funding bill (HR 1591) recently vetoed by the president is included in a separate measure. The president has said he will veto the bill. Proponents said the bill holds the Iraqis accountable for restoring their nation. Opponents said the bill forces a retreat from the war on terror and doles out funds as if the troops were kids getting an allowance. The vote was 221 yeas to 205 nays.

YEAS: Allen

NAYS: Michaud

Vote 6: Funding for Agricultural and Katrina Relief (HR 2207): The House on May 10 passed a bill sponsored by Rep. David Obey, D-Wis., that provides agricultural relief that was originally included in another bill (HR 1591) vetoed by the president. This bill includes $3.5 billion in agricultural assistance while providing additional funds for rural schools and wildfire suppression. President Bush has said he will veto this bill. The vote was 302 yeas to 120 nays.

YEAS: Allen, Michaud

Vote 7: Intelligence Authorization for Fiscal 2008 (HR 2082) The House on May 10 passed a bill sponsored by Rep. Silvestre Reyes, D-Texas, that authorizes U.S. intelligence activities. The bill specifies that domestic surveillance used to collect foreign intelligence is governed by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. The bill includes funding to study global warming and requires reports on North Korea and Iran’s progress on nuclear weapons. Proponents said the bill increases funding for increased intelligence and training. Opponents said the focus on global warming was wasteful and that insistence on a FISA court approval for domestic surveillance would hamstring efforts to gather information on terrorists. The vote was 225 yeas to 197 nays.

YEAS: Allen, Michaud

Senate votes

Republican Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins

Vote 1: Increasing Civil Penalties for Violations of Drug Safety Plans: The Senate on May 9 accepted an amendment sponsored by Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, to a bill reauthorizing prescription programs (S. 1082). The amendment would increase the penalties for drug companies that do not follow safety plans. Proponents said that before approval, drug companies have an incentive to test the safety of a drug, but after approval, there it little additional incentive to pursue additional testing after real-world use. While there are penalties in the bill, they are not large enough to be a deterrent. Opponents said the penalties are new, and while the monetary amount might be affordable for a drug company, the loss of reputation would not be. The vote was 60 yeas to 30 nays.

YEAS: Collins, Snowe

Vote 2: Conflict of Interest on FDA Advisory Committees: The Senate on May 9 rejected an amendment sponsored by Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., to a bill reauthorizing prescription programs (S. 1082). The amendment would limit the number of waivers that the Food and Drug Administration can issue to members of an advisory committee as they are associated with potential conflicts of interest. Proponents said several conflicts of interest on advisory panels are common and it is in the public interest to eliminate those when possible. They pointed to the advisory panel on Vioxx, where they said 10 members had conflicts of interest. Opponents said the amendment was too restrictive and that the FDA already has procedures in place that would prohibit those with financial stakes in the approval of a drug from voting on advisory committees and obtain a waiver from the commissioner for those whose stake exceeds $50,000. The vote was 47 yeas to 47 nays.

YEAS: Collins, Snowe

Vote 3: Food and Drug Administration Revitalization Act (S. 1082) The Senate on May 9 passed a bill sponsored by Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., that strengthens the Food and Drug Administration’s oversight powers and extends oversight after drug approval. Proponents said the bill would help restore public trust in the drug approval system. The vote was 93 yeas to 1 nay.

YEAS: Collins, Snowe

Compiled by Targeted News Service for the Bangor Daily News.