WASHINGTON — Here's a look at how area members of Congress voted over the previous week.
House votes
House vote 1
Extending renewable and other tax credits: The House passed the Renewable Energy and Job Creation Tax Act (H.R. 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.
Approving nuclear development pact with India: The House passed a bill (H.R. 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 non-proliferation 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: Pearce, Wilson
Nays: Udall
House vote 3
Rejecting increased regulation of railroad mergers: The House rejected the Taking Responsible Action for Community Safety Act (H.R. 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 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: Udall, Wilson
Nays: Pearce
House 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: Pearce, Udall, Wilson
House vote 5
Rejecting $700 billion treasury bailout of financial markets: The House rejected the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act (H.R. 3997) sponsored by Rep. Charles B. Rangel, D-N.Y., that would have authorized $700 billion of funding to the Treasury Department to attempt to resolve the credit crisis by purchasing defaulted mortgages and other devalued financial assets. Supporters said the funding was necessary to limit an economic downturn by keeping credit markets open for access by companies and individuals. Opponents called the bill an overreach of federal authority that would primarily benefit financial firms and end free economic markets without helping the broader economy. The legislation subsequently cleared Congress and was signed into law by President Bush after a Senate vote. The vote, on Sept. 29, was 205 yeas to 228 nays.
Yeas: Wilson
Nays: Pearce, Udall
Senate votes
Senate vote 1
Funding Homeland Security and Defense for 2009: The Senate passed an amendment to a bill (H.R. 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 of 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: Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M.; Sen. Pete V. Domenici R-N.M.
Senate vote 2
U.S. nuclear agreement with India: The Senate passed the United States-India Nuclear Cooperation Approval and Nonproliferation Enhancement Act (H.R. 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: Domenici
Nays: Bingaman
Senate vote 3
Economic stimulus bailout: The Senate used the Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act to include the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act and reverse an earlier House vote killing the financial system bailout. The legislation, H.R. 1424, originally sponsored by Rep. Patrick Kennedy, D-R.I., amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, Public Health Service Act and Internal Revenue Code to require the provision of benefits for mental health and substance abuse issues under group health plans. It then included the bailout provisions, with significant safeguards, to protect consumer and homeowner interests, while stabilizing the U.S. financial and housing markets. With U.S. credit markets drying up, the goal of the $700 billion package was focused on reinvigorating the U.S. economy. The vote, on Oct. 1, was 74 yeas to 25 nays.
Yeas: Bingaman, Domenici
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