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.
HOUSE
The Colorado delegation District 1: Diana DeGette (D) District 2: Mark Udall (D) District 3: John Salazar (D) District 4: Marilyn Musgrave (R) District 5: Doug Lamborn (R) District 6: Tom Tancredo (R) District 7: Ed Perlmutter (D)
MEDICAID FUNDS DISPUTE
For: 349/Against: 62 Members imposed a hold until April 2009 on new administration rules to 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. A yes vote was to pass HR 5613.
Voting yes: All Colo. Democrats
Voting no: All Colo. Republicans
COAST GUARD BUDGET
For: 395/Against: 7 Members approved an $8.4 billion fiscal 2008 budget for the Coast Guard that funds the agency’s traditional marine-safety mission along with post- 9/11 national-security duties. A yes vote backed a bill (HR 2830) adding 1,500 personnel slots for a total of 47,000.
Voting yes: DeGette, Udall, Salazar, Musgrave, Lamborn, Perlmutter
Voting no: Tancredo
SENATE
The Colorado delegation Wayne Allard (R); Ken Salazar (D)
PAYDAY EQUALITY
For: 56/Against: 42 Senators failed to reach 60 votes needed to advance a bill making it easier for plaintiffs to file suits alleging pay bias based on gender, disability or race. A yes vote backed a bill (HR 2831) allowing such suits to be filed within 180 days of the date of the latest paycheck.
Voting yes: Salazar
Voting no: Allard
VETERANS’ BENEFITS
For: 96/Against: 1 Senators approved a bill to authorize $1 billion through 2012 for expanding veterans’ benefits such as burial payments, job-training aid, pensions and disability compensation. A yes vote backed a bill (S 1315) that also grants benefits to certain Filipino veterans of World War II.
Voting yes: Allard, Salazar
FILIPINO VETERANS
For: 41/Against: 56 Senators defeated a bid to strip S 1315 (above) of authority for the U.S. government to award pensions and survivors’ benefits to some 13,000 Filipino veterans who fought under U.S. command in World War II. A yes vote was to remove the benefits from the bill. Voting yes: Allard
Voting no: Salazar
GENE-TESTING BIAS
For: 95/Against: 0 Senators approved a bill making it illegal for parties such as employers and insurance firms to penalize individuals on the basis of their genetic-testing results. The bill also would ban employers from requiring employees to take gene-tests. A yes vote backed HR 493.
Voting yes: Allard, Salazar
KEY VOTES AHEAD This week the House will take up bills that would outlaw discrimination based on genetic testing and set regulations to protect workers from dust explosions and fires. The Senate will debate the Federal Aviation Administration budget.
