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)
CONSERVATION
For: 282/Against: 144 Members failed to reach a two-thirds majority for passing a bill to give wilderness protection to 2.1 million acres in California, Colorado, Idaho, Michigan, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Virginia and West Virginia and protect federal land in other states.
Voting yes: All Colo. Democrats
Voting no: All Colo. Republicans
CLEAN WATER
For: 317/Against: 101 Members voted to authorize $1.8 billion over five years for programs to keep raw waste from overflowing into water ducts and $13.8 billion over five years to help communities build and maintain sewage and water systems. A yes vote was to pass the bill (HR 1262).
Voting yes: DeGette, Polis, Salazar, Markey, Coffman, Perlmutter
Voting no: Lamborn
DAVIS-BACON ACT
For: 140/Against: 284 Members refused to strip HR 1262 (above) of a requirement that workers on projects funded by the bill be paid at prevailing, or union-equivalent, levels for the particular region. A yes vote was to remove the so-called Davis-Bacon requirement from the legislation.
Voting yes: Polis, Lamborn, Coffman
Voting no: DeGette, Salazar, Markey, PerlmutterSENATE
The Colorado delegation Michael Bennet (D) Mark Udall (D)
DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL
For: 65/Against: 28 Senators confirmed David W. Ogden as deputy attorney general, the second-ranking post at the Department of Justice.
Voting yes: Bennet, Udall
$410 BILLION BUDGET
For: 62/Against: 35 Senators advanced $410 billion in spending for agencies operating on stopgap 2009 budgets. A yes vote was to advance HR 1105, which funds $7.7 billion in both parties’ earmarks while denying lawmakers a pay raise next January. The bill was passed by voice vote.
Voting yes: Bennet, Udall
AUTOMATIC PAY RAISES
For: 52/Against: 45 Senators upheld existing rules under which lawmakers get a cost-of-living raise each January unless both chambers vote to deny it. Separately, the bill at hand (HR 1105) would deny a raise in 2010. A yes vote was to retain autopilot rules for raising members’ pay.
Voting yes: Bennet, Udall
D.C. SCHOOL VOUCHERS
For: 39/Against: 58 Senators refused to strip HR 1105 (above) of language giving the District of Columbia City Council the option to end D.C.’s school voucher program after the 2009-10 academic year. A yes vote was to preserve the school voucher program.
Voting no: Bennet, Udall
KEY VOTES AHEAD This week the House will take up a bill on volunteerism and national service, while the Senate will debate bills to preserve Revolutionary War and War of 1812 historic sites and protect certain public lands in their natural state.
