House votes

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

Vote 1: Increasing Security Funding to Cities: The House on June 12 accepted an amendment sponsored by Rep. Joe Crowley, D-N.Y., to the Homeland Security appropriations bill (H.R. 2638) to increase security funding to cities by $50 million. The money for the Urban Area Security Initiative was offset by cuts to the agency’s administrative budget. Proponents said the additional funds would help strengthen security to areas with the greatest risk. Opponents said $800 million is included for the program and that the cuts to administrative funding could threaten programs to protect privacy and civil rights. The vote was 244 yeas to 174 nays.

YEAS: Allen

NAYS: Michaud

Vote 2: Increasing Funding for Homeland Security Intelligence: The House on June 12 accepted an amendment sponsored by Rep. David Reichert, R-Wash., to the Homeland Security appropriations bill (H.R. 2638) to add $10 million in funding for intelligence gathering activities of the department and remove $12 million in funding from the Office of the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Office of the Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Management. Proponents said the funding decision restores cuts and adds a modest increase to programs for intelligence gathering. Opponents said intelligence gathering funding had been cut because prior appropriations had not been spent and that the bulk of the cuts in the amendment were from the management of the Border Patrol. The vote was 218 yeas to 205 nays.

NAYS: Allen, Michaud

Senate votes

Republican Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins

Vote 1: No Confidence in U.S. Attorney General: The Senate on June 11 rejected a cloture motion, a parliamentary procedure to prevent a filibuster, on a resolution (S.J.Res.14) sponsored by Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., that expressed the sense of the Senate that Attorney General Alberto Gonzales no longer has the confidence of the body. Proponents said Gonzales has lost credibility, misled Congress and has shown disregard for the rule of law. Opponents said the motion was not binding and would do little except get time on the evening news. The vote was 53 yeas to 38 nays. (Three-fifths required)

YEAS: Collins, Snowe

Vote 2: Decreasing Domestic Oil Consumption: The Senate on June 12 passed an amendment sponsored by Sen. Evan Bayh, D-Ind., to the energy bill (H.R. 6) that asks the executive branch to prepare a plan to reduce U.S. oil consumption by 10 million barrels daily by 2031. Proponents said that more than 40 percent of imported oil comes from countries with governments hostile to the U.S. They added oil dependence is hampering security and influencing foreign policy. Opponents said it was a feel-good measure that would accomplish little. The vote was 63 yeas to 30 nays.

YEAS: Collins, Snowe

Vote 3: Encouraging Construction of Refineries: The Senate on June 12 rejected an amendment sponsored by Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-Okla., to the energy bill (H.R. 6) that would have streamlined the permitting process for new refineries, set deadlines for permitting, provide an incentive for coal-to-liquid and ethanol refineries built on closed military bases and Indian reservations and provided incentives for coal-to-liquids technologies. Proponents said rising gasoline prices can be attributed to the lack of domestic refineries. They said the amendment encouraged biofuel production with incentives. Opponents said the bill was another give-away to big oil interests and that the permitting process had already been revamped. They argued that it would subvert environmental laws. The vote was 43 yeas to 52 nays.

NAYS: Collins, Snowe

Vote 4: Exploration for Natural Gas Off Virginia Coast: The Senate on June 12 rejected an amendment sponsored by Sen. John Warner, R-Va., to the energy bill (H.R. 6) that would have allowed exploration for natural gas off the Virginia coast. Virginia’s governor would have been allowed to request a permit from the U.S. Department of the Interior to explore the area. Proponents said the amendment returned to the state the right to explore the Outer Continental Shelf for gas and then to decide whether to proceed to develop the site if gas is found. Opponents said the amendment would have little effect since an executive order prohibits drilling in the area. They added that natural gas was rarely found alone and drilling increased the likelihood that oil spills would mar the beaches. The vote was 43 yeas to 44 nays.

NAYS: Collins, Snowe

Compiled by Targeted News Service for the Bangor Daily News