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: Scott Tipton (R) District 4: Cory Gardner (R) District 5: Doug Lamborn (R) District 6: Mike Coffman (R) District 7: Ed Perlmutter (D)
CONCEALED, LOADED GUNS
For: 272/Against: 154 Members voted to make it easier for people to carry concealed, loaded handguns in their out-of-state travel. A yes vote was to pass a bill (HR 822) allowing the “concealed carry” law of one’s home state to pre-empt any stricter laws carriers encounter in other states.
Voting yes: Tipton, Lamborn, Coffman
Voting no: DeGette, Polis, Perlmutter
Not voting: Gardner
TERRORISTS, SEX OFFENDERS
For: 161/Against: 263 Members refused to amend HR 822 (above) to prohibit terrorists, stalkers, pedophiles, perpetrators of domestic violence and certain other people from receiving authority to carry concealed handguns across state lines. A yes vote backed the prohibition.
Voting yes: DeGette, Polis, Perlmutter
Voting no: Tipton, Lamborn, Coffman
Not voting: Gardner
STATES’ RIGHTS VS. GUN RIGHTS
For: 140/Against: 283 Members refused to preserve reciprocity agreements by which 40 states allow residents of other states to carry concealed handguns if they meet the host state’s requirements in areas such as firearms training. A yes vote was to protect states’ rights that the national standard in HR 822 (above) would weaken or void.
Voting yes: Polis, Perlmutter
Voting no: DeGette, Tipton, Lamborn, Coffman
Not voting: Gardner
HIRING JOBLESS VETERANS
For: 422/Against: 0 Members approved employer tax credits of $9,600 a person for hiring disabled veterans and lesser credits for hiring other veterans. A yes vote was to send President Barack Obama a bill (HR 674) that also repeals a law withholding 3 percent from some government contracts as a credit against any taxes owed the IRS.
Voting yes: DeGette, Polis, Tipton, Lamborn, Coffman, Perl mutter
Not voting: Gardner
FISCAL 2012 BUDGET
For: 298/Against: 121 Members passed a bipartisan bill (HR 2112) that combines three regular appropriations bills for fiscal 2012 totaling $182 billion with stopgap funding through Dec. 16 for the remaining agencies of the federal government. A yes vote was to send the Senate a bill that takes a timeout from ongoing fiscal warfare between the parties.
Voting yes: DeGette, Perlmutter Voting no: Polis, Tipton, Lam born, Coffman
Not voting: Gardner
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING
For: 239/Against: 167 Members passed the rule for debating a bill blocking a National Labor Relations Board proposal to quicken the pace of union-organizing elections. A yes vote was to advance a bill delaying voting on whether to unionize for at least 35 days to give employers more time to talk with their workers. (HR 3094)
Voting yes: All Colo. Republicans Voting no: All Colo. Democrats
BALANCED FEDERAL BUDGET
For: 261/Against: 165 Members failed to reach a two-thirds majority needed to pass a constitutional amendment requiring a balanced federal budget unless three-fifths majorities in both chambers vote to waive the standard. A yes vote was to send the amendment (HJ Res 2) to the Senate.
Voting yes: All Colo. Republicans Voting no: All Colo. Democrats
SENATE
The Colorado delegation Michael Bennet (D) Mark Udall (D)
FISCAL 2012 BUDGET
For: 70/Against: 30 Senators passed a bipartisan fiscal 2012 budget bill (HR 2112, above) that combines three of the 12 appropriations bills that run the government with stopgap funding through Dec. 16 for those agencies still awaiting regular appropriations for the budget year that began Oct. 1. A yes vote was to send the bill to President Obama.
Voting yes: Bennet, Udall
JUDGE YVONNE GONZALEZ ROGERS
For: 89/Against: 6 Senators confirmed Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, 46, as a federal judge for the Northern District of California — the court’s first Latina jurist. A yes vote was to confirm Gonzalez Rogers, who had served on the Alameda County Superior Court.
Voting yes: Bennet, Udall
KEY VOTES AHEAD Congress will be in Thanksgiving recess this week.
This article has been corrected in this online archive. Jared Polis and Ed Perlmutter voted for a motion to prohibit terrorists, stalkers, pedophiles, perpetrators of domestic violence and other individuals from receiving authority to carry handguns across state lines.
