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: Jared Polis (D) District 3: John Salazar (D) District 4: Betsy Markey (D) District 5: Doug Lamborn (R) District 6: Mike Coffman (R) District 7: Ed Perlmutter (D)
TIGHTER BAILOUT RULES
For: 260/Against: 166 Members voted to tighten rules for the $700 billion Troubled Assets Relief Program. A yes vote was to pass a bill (HR 384) that, in part, requires TARP spending to avert home foreclosures and pressures banks to allocate some of their TARP funds to new lending.
Voting yes: All Colo. Democrats
Voting no: All Colo. Republicans
$700 BILLION BAILOUT
For: 270/Against: 155 Members voted to block the Obama administration from disbursing the remaining half of the $700 billion Troubled Assets Relief Program. The vote was only symbolic because the Senate refused to go along. A yes vote backed the resolution of disapproval (HJ Res 3).
Voting yes: Salazar, Markey, Lamborn, Coffman
Voting no: DeGette, Polis, Perlmutter
SENATE
The Colorado delegation Mark Udall (D) Michael Bennet (D)
SECRETARY OF STATE CLINTON
For: 94/Against: 2 Senators voted to confirm Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., as the U.S. secretary of state. Sens. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., and David Vitter, R-La., cast the negative votes. A yes vote was to confirm Clinton as the nation’s 67th secretary of state.
Voting yes: Udall
Not voting: Bennet, who had not yet been sworn in
PAY-BIAS SUITS
For: 61/Against: 36 Senators approved a bill giving plaintiffs more standing to file pay-bias claims. A yes vote was to pass S 181, which would allow filings within 180 days of the last offense, thus voiding a Supreme Court rule that suits must be filed within 180 days of the first offense.
Voting yes: Udall, Bennet
GOP PAY-BIAS PLAN
For: 40/Against: 55 Senators defeated a bid by Republicans to narrow the statute of limitations in S 181 (above) for filing pay-discrimination claims. A yes vote was to require filings within 180 days of the time the plaintiff first knew or should have known of the alleged paycheck bias.
Voting no: Udall
Not voting: Bennet, who had not yet been sworn in
“RIGHT TO WORK” LAW
For: 66/Against: 31 Senators tabled a bid to add a federal right-to-work law to S 181 (above). Such laws, in force in 22 states, make it illegal to require union membership or dues payments as a condition of employment. A yes vote was to kill the right-to-work amendment.
Voting yes: Udall, Bennet
KEY VOTES AHEAD This week the House will take up an $850 billion economic stimulus package, while the Senate will debate an expansion of children’s health insurance and continue to vote on Obama administration appointees.
