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)
“DON’T ASK, DON’T TELL”
For: 234/Against: 194 Members voted to make it legal for gay men and lesbians to serve openly in the U.S. military. A yes vote was to repeal the 17-year-old “don’t ask, don’t tell” law, under which 13,500 troops have been discharged because of their homosexuality. (HR 5136)
Voting yes: All Colo. Democrats
Voting no: All Colo. Republicans
2011 MILITARY BUDGET
For: 229/Against: 186 Members passed a $680 billion military budget for fiscal 2011, nearly 7 percent over the comparable 2010 figure. A yes vote was to budget $159 billion for wars in Afghanistan and Iraq while repealing the “don’t ask, don’t tell” law barring gays from serving openly in the military. (HR 5136)
Voting yes: All Colo. Democrats
Voting no: All Colo. Republicans
F-35 FIGHTER ENGINE
For: 193/Against: 231 Members refused to strip HR 5136 (above) of its $485 million for building a backup engine for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. This vote repudiated the argument of Defense Secretary Robert Gates that the spending is wasteful. The measure, which was defeated, would have eliminated the money.
Voting yes: DeGette, Polis, Salazar, Markey, Coffman, Perlmutter
Voting no: Lamborn
BP MILITARY CONTRACTS
For: 372/Against: 52 Members stipulated that BP could lose eligibility for U.S. defense contracts if the Pentagon finds it is not a “responsible” contractor. BP has acknowledged its role in causing the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. A yes vote backed possible BP contract sanctions. (HR 5136)
Voting yes: DeGette, Polis, Salazar, Markey, Coffman, Perlmutter
Voting no: Lamborn
JOBLESS, BUSINESS BENEFITS
For: 215/Against: 204 Members passed a nearly $100 billion bill, partly deficit spending, to extend jobless checks through November for the long-term unemployed and renew a wide range of tax breaks, such as R&D credits, for corporations. A yes vote backed HR 4213.
Voting yes: DeGette, Perlmutter
Voting no: Polis, Salazar, Markey, Lamborn, Coffman
SENATE
The Colorado delegation Michael Bennet (D) Mark Udall (D)
EMERGENCY SPENDING
For: 67/Against: 28 Senators approved $59 billion in emergency appropriations, including $33 billion for war actions mainly in Afghanistan; $14 billion for entitlement programs; and $5.1 billion for recovery from flooding and tornadoes. A yes vote was to send HR 4899 to the House.
Voting yes: Bennet, Udall
BORDER SECURITY
For: 51/Against: 46 Senators failed to get 60 votes needed to fund 6,000 National Guard troops at the U.S.-Mexico border, rather than the 1,200 just deployed by President Barack Obama. A yes vote backed the GOP bid over arguments that it would usurp the president’s role as commander in chief. (HR 4899)
Voting yes: Bennet
Voting no: Udall
BUDGET DISPUTE
For: 50/Against: 47 Senators tabled a GOP bid for spending cuts to offset nearly $60 billion in emergency spending for war in Afghanistan and Iraq and disaster aid at home. A yes vote opposed this bid to use only spending cuts, not tax hikes, to keep the bill from adding to the deficit. (HR 4899)
Voting yes: Bennet, Udall
AFGHANISTAN WITHDRAWAL
For: 18/Against: 80 Senators defeated an amendment requiring President Barack Obama to submit a nonbinding timetable for withdrawing troops from Afghanistan. A yes vote was to require more details of the president’s announced plan to start a pullout in July 2011. (HR 4899)
Voting no: Bennet, Udall
This article has been corrected in this online archive. Originally, due to an error, the U.S. House proposal regarding the 2011 budget for building a backup engine for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter was incorrectly stated. The measure, which was defeated, would have eliminated the money.
