Here’s how some major bills fared recently in Congress and how Colorado’s congressional members voted, as provided by Thomas’ Roll Call Report Syndicate. N/V means not voting.
HOUSE
U.S. attorney confirmations
For: 306/Against: 114
Members voted to repeal a USA Patriot Act provision used by the administration to appoint U.S. attorneys without Senate confirmation. A yes vote was to pass
S 214.
Diana DeGette (D) N/V
Doug Lamborn (R) No
Marilyn Musgrave (R) Yes
Ed Perlmutter (D) Yes
Mark Udall (D) Yes
John Salazar (D) Yes
Tom Tancredo (R) No
John Murtha dispute
For: 219/Against: 189
Members voted to table a GOP bid for a reprimand of Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa. The GOP alleges Murtha vowed improper legislative action against a Republican member who had upset him. A yes vote opposed any reprimand.
Diana DeGette (D) N/V
Doug Lamborn (R) No
Marilyn Musgrave (R) No
Ed Perlmutter (D) Yes
Mark Udall (D) Yes
John Salazar (D) Yes
Tom Tancredo (R) No
War appropriations
For: 280/Against: 142
Members approved $96 billion in Iraq and Afghanistan war appropriations through Sept. 30. The bill specifies political, security and economic benchmarks on which the Iraqi government must show progress. A yes vote was to send HR 2206 to the Senate.
Diana DeGette (D) N/V
Doug Lamborn (R) Yes
Marilyn Musgrave (R) Yes
Ed Perlmutter (D) No
Mark Udall (D) Yes
John Salazar (D) Yes
Tom Tancredo (R) Yes
Minimum-wage hike
For: 348/Against: 73
Members passed a bill to raise the minimum wage from $5.15 an hour to $7.25 an hour over 26 months and provide about $17 billion in non-war spending. The legislation was later combined with HR 2206 (above).
Diana DeGette (D) N/V
Doug Lamborn (R) No
Marilyn Musgrave (R) Yes
Ed Perlmutter (D) Yes
Mark Udall (D) Yes
John Salazar (D) Yes
Tom Tancredo (R) No
Lobbyist oversight
For: 396/Against: 22
Members voted to increase regulation and public scrutiny of registered lobbyists. A yes vote was to pass a bill (HR 2316) requiring lobbyists to publish detailed reports of their activities.
Diana DeGette (D) N/V
Doug Lamborn (R) Yes
Marilyn Musgrave (R) Yes
Ed Perlmutter (D) Yes
Mark Udall (D) Yes
John Salazar (D) Yes
Tom Tancredo (R) Yes
SENATE
Guest-worker program
For: 74/Against: 24
Senators voted to scale back the guest-worker program in a pending immigration bill (S 1348). The vote capped guest-worker visas at 200,000 annually, down from 400,000 or more in the underlying bill. A yes vote was to at least halve the number of worker visas.
Wayne Allard (R) Yes
Ken Salazar (D) No
War budget
For: 80/Against: 14
Senators approved $96 billion for war in Iraq and Afghanistan, $17 billion for domestic programs and military health care and $6.2 billion for certain overseas programs. A yes vote was to send President Bush a bill (HR 2206) that also raises the minimum wage to $7.25 an hour.
Wayne Allard (R) Yes
Ken Salazar (D) Yes
Immigrant legalization
For: 29/Against: 66
Senators refused to strip a pending immigration bill (S 1348) of its section providing America’s estimated 12 million illegal immigrants with legal status if they pay heavy fines, clear criminal checks and meet other requirements. A yes vote opposed the legalization plan.
Wayne Allard (R) Yes
Ken Salazar (D) No
KEY VOTES AHEAD
When Congress returns June 4 from its Memorial Day recess, the Senate will resume debate on immigration reform. The House schedule for that week has not been announced.
