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)
TOBACCO REGULATION
For: 298/Against: 112 Members voted to start federal regulation of tobacco products. A yes vote was to pass a bill (HR 1256) empowering the Food and Drug Administration to ban marketing to children, regulate cigarette content and place fees on tobacco manufacturers.
Voting yes: DeGette, Polis, Markey, Perlmutter
Voting no: Lamborn, Coffman
Not voting: Salazar
EXECUTIVE-PAY LIMITS
For: 247/Against: 171 Members voted to limit executive compensation at certain firms receiving bailouts under the Troubled Assets Relief Program. The bill exempts community banks and repeals authority in the 2009 stimulus law for AIG bonuses. A yes vote was to pass HR 1664.
Voting yes: All Colo. Democrats
Voting no: All Colo. Republicans
BONUS LAWSUITS
For: 223/Against: 196 Members failed to reach a two-thirds majority needed to pass a bill expanding federal lawyers’ authority to file suits aimed at recouping bonuses awarded since September 2008 to executives of firms receiving taxpayer bailouts. A yes vote was to pass HR 1575.
Voting yes: All Colo. Democrats
Voting no: All Colo. Republicans
AMERICORPS EXPANSION
For: 275/Against: 149 Members voted to send President Barack Obama a bill more than tripling the ranks of AmeriCorps, the National Civilian Community Corps and Volunteers in Service to America. A yes vote backed a $6 billion five-year budget for national-service agencies. (HR 1388)
Voting yes: All Colo. Democrats
Voting no: All Colo. Republicans
2010-14 BUDGET
For: 233/Against: 196 Members passed a five-year Democratic budget that for 2010 projects $3.55 trillion in spending, a $1.2 trillion deficit and $284 billion in debt service. A yes vote backed a fiscal blueprint that embraces all of President Barack Obama’s major policy initiatives.
Voting yes: DeGette, Polis, Salazar, Perlmutter
Voting no: Markey, Lamborn, Coffman
GOP BUDGET ALTERNATIVE
For: 137/Against: 293 Members defeated a Republican alternative to the Democratic budget (above) that would, in part, permanently extend Bush-era tax cuts, freeze most nondefense discretionary spending and begin key entitlement reforms.
Voting yes: All Colo. Republicans
Voting no: All Colo. Democrats
SENATE
The Colorado delegation Michael Bennet (D) Mark Udall (D)
NATIONAL DEBT GROWTH
For: 43/Against: 54 Senators defeated a GOP bid to effectively bar debate on the Democrats’ budget plan (S Con Res 13) on grounds that it sanctions more national debt over the next 10 years than the U.S. accrued from 1789 to Jan. 20, 2009.
Voting no: Bennet, Udall
2010-14 BUDGET
For: 55/Against: 43 Senators passed a Democratic budget that sets spending and tax policies for the next five years. A yes vote was to pass a budget that would spend $3.5 trillion in 2010 while funding major administration plans in areas such as health care, energy and education. (SCR 13)
Voting yes: Bennet, Udall
RECONCILIATION BAN
For: 67/Against: 31 Senators voted to bar the use of “reconciliation” in SCR 13 (above) to further Obama’s cap-and-trade proposal for curbing emissions of greenhouse gases. A yes vote was to rule out a procedure that would deny the Republican minority its filibuster rights.
Voting yes: Bennet
Voting no: Udall
KEY VOTES AHEAD Congress is in Easter-Passover recess until the week of April 20.
