Mon, Jul 06, 2009
ez access
Subscriber services | Subscribe now
Custom clipper icon

Washington

Capitol link in Washington

Tucson, Arizona | Published: 04.27.2008
WASHINGTON — Here's how area members of Congress voted on major roll calls last week.
House
MEDICAID FUNDS DISPUTE
The House on April 23 passed, 349 for and 62 against, a bill (HR 5613) placing a hold until April 2009 on new administration rules that would cut the federal share of Medicaid by $13 billion over five years and leave it up to the states to replace the funds or cut health services to the poor. In part, the new rules concern hospital and nursing-home services, graduate medical education, the placing of retarded children in family settings and transportation for disabled children. President Bush has threatened to veto this bill.
A yes vote was to block the Medicaid cuts.
Yes: Rick Renzi, R-1, Ed Pastor, D-4, Harry Mitchell, D-5, Raul Grijalva, D-7, Gabrielle Giffords, D-8
No: Trent Franks, R-2, John Shadegg, R-3, Jeff Flake, R-6
Not voting: None
COAST GUARD BUDGET
Voting 395 for and seven against, the House on April 24 approved an $8.4 billion fiscal 2008 budget (HR 2830) for the Coast Guard that funds the agency's traditional marine-safety mission along with post-9/11 national-security duties.
The bill establishes a pilot program to deploy gear for detecting nuclear and radiological cargo; adds 1,500 personnel slots for a total of 47,000; upgrades security for liquefied-natural-gas facilities; expands safety- training for commercial fishing vessels; requires that by 2013 non- private vessels possess survivor craft in which individuals are not immersed in water; funds a pilot project in biometric identification; steps up the use of canine teams to detect narcotics and explosives, and requires cruse-ship crime statistics to be made publicly available.
Additionally, the bill requires new procedures to keep commercial vessels from discharging ballast water containing invasive species, requires vessels built after 2008 to contain systems for treating ballast water, gives the government subpoena power to investigate ballast-water violations and gives new protections to whistle-blowers who report such violations.
A yes vote was to pass the bill.
Yes: Renzi, Franks, Shadegg, Pastor, Mitchell, Grijalva, Giffords
No: Flake
Not voting: None
Senate
PAYDAY EQUALITY
Voting 56 for and 42 against, the Senate on April 23 failed to get 60 votes needed to advance a bill (HR 2831) making it easier for plaintiffs to file lawsuits alleging pay bias based on gender, race or disability. The vote affirmed a 2007 Supreme Court ruling, in Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co., that the 1964 Civil Rights Act requires such suits be filed within 180 days of the first act of discrimination even if the employee was unaware of the infraction. This bill (HR 2831) sought to start counting the 180-day filing period on the date of the most recent paycheck.
A yes vote was to advance the bill.
Yes: None
No: Jon Kyl, R
Not voting: John McCain, R
VETERANS' BENEFITS
Senators on April 24 voted, 96 for and one against, to authorize $1 billion through fiscal 2012 to expand veterans' benefits such as disability compensation, pensions, burial payments, life insurance and job training. In part, the bill (S 1315) would increase burial allowances from $300 to $1,200 for veterans who are without next of kin and from $2,000 to $4,100 for survivors of veterans who die of a service-connected ailment — and begin indexing all burial benefits for inflation.
A yes vote was to send the bill to conference with the House.
Yes: Kyl
Not voting: McCain
FILIPINO VETERANS' BENEFITS
Voting 41 for and 56 against, the Senate on April 24 defeated an amendment to strip S 1315 (above) of provisions to award pensions and survivors' benefits to some 13,000 Filipino veterans who fought under U.S. command in World War II. The individuals are citizens of the Philippines, do not have service-related disabilities and already receive pensions from their government. The U.S. benefits would cost $221 million over 10 years. The issue is now before the House.
A yes vote opposed new benefits for Filipinos.
Yes: Kyl
Not voting: McCain
GENETIC-TESTING BIAS
The Senate on April 24 passed, 95 for and none against, a bill (HR 493) making it illegal for parties such as employers or insurance firms to penalize individuals on the basis of their genetic-testing results.
A yes vote was to pass the bill.
Yes: Kyl
Not voting: McCain
Thomas Voting Reports
Get Arizona Daily Star home delivery and SAVE BIG!
Go Back