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)
FINANCIAL BAILOUT
For: 263/Against: 171 Members approved a bailout (HR 1424) in which the Treasury would pay up to $700 billion to relieve troubled financial firms of their weakest assets while raising deposit insurance to $250,000 per person and providing $150 billion in tax breaks.
Voting yes: DeGette, Tancredo, Perlmutter
Voting no: Udall, Salazar, Musgrave, Lamborn
FAILED RESCUE PLAN
For: 205/Against: 228 Members rejected a bailout proposal, HR 3997, that was essentially the same as the one in HR 1424 (above) but unsweetened by add-ons such as an increase in deposit insurance and $150 billion in business and personal tax breaks.
Voting yes: DeGette, Tancredo, Perlmutter
Voting no: Udall, Salazar, Musgrave, Lamborn
INDIAN NUCLEAR DEAL
For: 298/Against: 117 Members backed a plan to sell U.S. nuclear fuel and reactors to India for civilian uses even though India, a nuclear state, shuns the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. A yes vote was to pass HR 7081 over arguments it undermines global controls on nuclear arms.
Voting yes: Udall, Salazar, Musgrave, Lamborn, Tancredo
Voting no: DeGette, PerlmutterSENATE
The Colorado delegation Wayne Allard (R); Ken Salazar (D)
FINANCIAL BAILOUT
For: 74/Against: 25 Senators approved a bill that authorizes the Treasury to spend up to $700 billion to bail out troubled financial firms in hopes of stabilizing the U.S. economy. A yes vote backed HR 1424, which enables the Treasury to save at-risk mortgages and limit executive pay.
Voting yes: Salazar
Voting no: Allard
INDIAN NUCLEAR DEAL
For: 86/Against: 13 Senators sent President Bush a bill (HR 7081) authorizing U.S. sales of civilian nuclear materials to India even though India disavows the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Foes called this a bad example for rogue states such as Iran and North Korea.
Voting yes: Salazar, Allard
RAILROAD SAFETY
For: 74/Against: 24 Senators voted to authorize new budgets for Amtrak and the Federal Railroad Administration while requiring technology by 2015 to automatically brake trains facing collision or derailment. A yes vote was to pass a bill (HR 2095) providing $2.6 billion annually for Amtrak.
Voting yes: Salazar
Voting no: Allard
KEY VOTES AHEAD Congress is scheduled to meet next in January.
