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)
CHILD-ABUSE PROGRAMS
For: 318/Against: 103 Members approved $1 billion over five years for federal efforts to prevent child abuse and deal with its impact. A yes vote was to pass a bill (HR 6358) that sets federal health and safety rules for residential facilities that oversee troubled teenagers.
Voting yes: All Colorado Democrats
Voting no: All Colorado Republicans
MEDICARE’S DOCTOR PAYMENTS
For: 355/Against: 59 Members approved a bill that would avert the administration’s planned 10.6 percent cut in Medicare payments to doctors set for Tuesday. A yes vote backed a bill (HR 6331) that also would equalize Medicare coverage of physical and mental-health ailments.
Voting yes: DeGette, Udall, Salazar, Musgrave, Perlmutter
Voting no: Lamborn
Not voting: Tancredo
TEMPORARY TAX RELIEF
For: 233/Against: 189 Members approved a bill to exempt 22 million middle-income filers from the Alternative Minimum Tax in 2008. The bill’s $61.5 billion cost would be partly offset by tax increases on oil and gas firms and hedge-fund managers.
Voting yes: All Colorado Democrats
Voting no: All Colorado Republicans
“USE IT OR LOSE IT”
For: 223/Against: 195 Members voted to place a “use it or lose it” mandate for oil companies to either drill on federal land they have leased or give up the right to do so. The bill was directed at dormant leases on 68 million acres in the West and Alaska. A yes vote was to pass HR 6251.
Voting yes: All Colorado Democrats
Voting no: Musgrave, Lamborn
Not voting: Tancredo
COMMUTER-FARE SUBSIDIES
For: 322/Against: 98 Members voted to authorize $1.7 billion over two years for grants that transit authorities would use to reduce commuter fares or expand services.
Voting yes: DeGette, Udall, Salazar, Musgrave, Perlmutter
Voting no: Lamborn
Not voting: Tancredo
OIL-MARKET SPECULATION
For: 402/Against: 19 Members directed the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to root out “excessive speculation” in oil-futures trading but did not define the term. A yes vote backed a bill spurred by arguments that the agency is soft on energy firms. (HR 6377)
Voting yes: DeGette, Udall, Salazar, Musgrave, Lamborn, Perlmutter
Voting no: None
Not voting: Tancredo
SENATE
The Colorado delegation Wayne Allard (R); Ken Salazar (D)
HOUSING RECOVERY
For: 83/Against: 9 Senators agreed to debate a bill that would enable lenders to rework 400,000 or so at-risk mortgages; issue tax credits to first-time buyers of vacant, foreclosed homes, and fund community efforts to buy and sell foreclosed homes. A yes vote was to debate HR 3221.
Voting yes: Salazar
Not voting: Allard
WAR FUNDING, GI BILL
For: 92/Against: 6 Senators voted to appropriate $162.5 billion for additional war costs in Afghanistan and Iraq, establish a new GI Bill for veterans who enlisted after 9/11 and fund 13 more weeks of unemployment checks for the long-term jobless. A yes vote was to pass HR 2642.
Voting yes: Salazar
Voting no: Allard
MEDICARE’S DOCTOR PAYMENTS
For: 58/Against: 40 Senators failed to reach the 60 votes needed to end GOP blockage of a House-passed measure that would kill the administration’s plan to cut Medicare payments to doctors by 10.6 percent on Tuesday. A yes vote was to advance the legislation (HR 6331).
Voting yes: Salazar
Voting no: Allard
KEY VOTES AHEAD Congress is in Independence Day recess until the week of July 7.
