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)
$816 BILLION STIMULUS
For: 244/Against: 188 Members approved an $816 billion package composed of $541 billion in spending and $275 billion in tax relief, with most of the stimulus to be injected into the economy by the end of 2010.
Voting yes: All Colorado Democrats
Voting no: All Colorado Republicans
REPUBLICAN STIMULUS PLAN
For: 170/Against: 266 Members defeated a GOP alternative to HR 1 (above) that proposed a stimulus consisting almost totally of wide-ranging business tax cuts, personal tax cuts for all brackets and extended jobless benefits.
Voting yes: All Colorado Republicans
Voting no: All Colorado Democrats
REPUBLICAN PRIORITIES
For: 159/Against: 270 Members defeated a GOP bid to revamp spending in HR 1 (above) by adding $36 billion for road construction and $24 billion for Army Corps of Engineers projects while cutting other accounts by $160 billion.
Voting no: All Colorado representatives
AMTRAK FUNDS
For: 116/Against: 320 Members refused to strip HR 1 (above) of $800 million for equipment upgrades at Amtrak. A yes vote opposed Amtrak aid over arguments that the agency needs more reliable rolling stock to handle a surge in passengers.
Voting yes: All Colorado Republicans
Voting no: All Colorado Democrats
LILLY LEDBETTER ACT
For: 250/Against: 199 Members sent President Barack Obama a bill giving plaintiffs more standing to sue for pay bias under the 1964 Civil Rights Act. A yes vote was to pass a bill (S 181) to allow filings within 180 days of the latest offense.
Voting yes: All Colorado Democrats
Voting no: All Colorado Republicans
DIGITAL-TV DELAY
For: 258/Against: 168 Members failed to reach a two-thirds majority needed to delay the deadline for converting U.S. television signals from analog to digital. A yes vote was to pass S 328, a bill that would move the deadline from Feb. 17 to June 12 but enable some stations to switch earlier.
Voting yes: DeGette, Polis, Salazar, Markey
Voting no: Lamborn, Coffman, Perlmutter
SENATE
The Colorado delegation Michael Bennet (D) Mark Udall (D)
SECRETARY OF TREASURY GEITHNER
For: 60/Against: 34 Senators confirmed Timothy Geithner as Treasury secretary.
Voting yes: Bennet, Udall
CHILDREN’S HEALTH
For: 66/Against: 32 Senators voted to renew the State Children’s Health Insurance Program for children of the working poor at a cost of $60 billion annually. The bill would raise tobacco taxes to pay $25 billion in added costs.
Voting yes: Bennet, Udall
ROE VS. WADE
For: 39/Against: 59 Senators refused to write into law a Bush administration rule for the State Children’s Health Insurance Program that life begins at conception. Under Roe vs. Wade, a fetus does not gain viability until a pregnancy’s third trimester.
Voting no: Bennet, Udall
KEY VOTES AHEAD This week the House will debate $400 billion in fiscal 2009 appropriations, while the Senate will take up a nearly $900 billion economic stimulus package.
