Congressional votes

House votes

WATER DIVERSION IN IDAHO FORESTS: The House approved the Idaho Wilderness Water Facilities Act (H.R. 4474), sponsored by Rep. Walter Minnick, D-Idaho, to authorize the continuance of private water diversions in national forests in Idaho by giving the Agriculture Secretary the authority to issue a special use authorization to owners of water storage, transport, or diversion facilities located on National Forest System lands in the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness or the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness, for continued operation, maintenance, and reconstruction of applicable facilities. Proponents said the legislation would be good for Idaho as well as for the wilderness. The vote, on Jan. 27, was unanimous with 415 yeas.

YEAS: Rep. W. Todd Akin R-MO (2nd), Rep. Roy Blunt R-MO (7th), Rep. Russ Carnahan D-MO (3rd), Rep. Wm. Lacy Clay Jr. D-MO (1st), Rep. Emanuel Cleaver D-MO (5th), Rep. Jo Ann Emerson R-MO (8th), Rep. Sam Graves R-MO (6th), Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer R-MO (9th), Rep. Ike Skelton D-MO (4th)

EXTENDING SMALL BUSINESS PROGRAMS: The House approved a measure (H.R. 4508), sponsored by Rep. Nydia Velazquez, D-N.Y., to add a temporary extension to programs authorized by the Small Business Act and the Small Business Investment Act of 1958. Proponents said the extension of capital access programs would help small businesses survive the credit crunch and would help "programs at the SBA that help new businesses form and existing firms grow." The vote, on Jan. 27, was 410 yeas to 4 nays.

ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK ACT: The House approved a resolution (H. Res. 1020), sponsored by Rep. Betsy Markey, D-Colo., to honor the 95th anniversary of the signing of the Rocky Mountain National Park Act. Proponents said the park "offers invaluable opportunities for visitors to learn and enjoy the great outdoors" and that it embodies the spirit of the conservation and preservation movement at the turn of the century. The vote, on Jan. 27, was unanimous with 408 yeas.

YEAS: Rep. W. Todd Akin R-MO (2nd), Rep. Russ Carnahan D-MO (3rd), Rep. Wm. Lacy Clay Jr. D-MO (1st), Rep. Emanuel Cleaver D-MO (5th), Rep. Jo Ann Emerson R-MO (8th), Rep. Sam Graves R-MO (6th), Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer R-MO (9th), Rep. Ike Skelton D-MO (4th)

NOT VOTING: Rep. Roy Blunt R-MO (7th)

Senate votes

PRESERVING SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS: The Senate agreed to an amendment, sponsored by Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., to a resolution (H.J. Res. 45) increasing the statutory limit on the public debt that would require a 60-vote majority to approve recommendations by a fiscal task force to change the current level of Social Security benefits. Proponents said the amendment was necessary to make it clear that Social Security would not be cut and that it would "show to American seniors we hear their needs, we are taking action to protect them." The vote, on Jan. 26, was unanimous with 97 yeas.

YEAS: Sen. Kit Bond R-MO, Sen. Claire McCaskill D-MO

FEDERAL SPENDING CUTS: The Senate agreed to an amendment, sponsored by Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., to a resolution (H.J. Res. 45) that would rescind $120 billion in Federal spending by consolidating certain duplicate government programs, cutting excess spending and returning unspent billions back to taxpayers. Proponents said the amendment would start "to make some of the hard choices about where we have excess, where we have inefficiency, where we have duplication, and eliminate it." The vote, on Jan. 26, was unanimous with 94 yeas.

YEAS: Sen. Kit Bond R-MO, Sen. Claire McCaskill D-MO

PAYGO REIMPOSED: The Senate passed an amendment, sponsored by Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., to a resolution increasing the statutory limit on the public debt (H.J. Res. 45) to reimpose statutory pay-as-you-go, also known as PAYGO. Proponents said PAYGO was a critical piece of U.S. fiscal responsibility efforts that would mandate that any new tax cuts or expansions of entitlements be paid for up front, so that they don't add to the public debt and said: "As our country's long-term budgetary challenge comes into clear public view, PAYGO is the cornerstone of a fiscal responsibility agenda that can return America to balanced budgets." Opponents said PAYGO would have no effect on the government's capacity for fiscal self-discipline because there had been no proof of fiscal self-discipline under present PAYGO rules and said: "This proposal does not hold water as a way to discipline ourselves and bring our fiscal house in order." The vote, on Jan. 28, was 60 yeas to 40 nays.

YEAS: Sen. Claire McCaskill D-MO

NAYS: Sen. Kit Bond R-MO

FED CHAIRMAN CONFIRMED: The Senate confirmed the reappointment of Ben Bernanke to the role of chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. Proponents of Bernanke said, "Over the last year, the chairmanship of Ben Bernanke has made it possible for this Nation to avoid a catastrophe that would have looked larger than the Great Depression did because of the global decisions that needed to be made. Had it not been for Ben Bernanke, we would be looking at a very different America today." Opponents questioned why Congress should reappoint someone who not only failed at his job as chairman of the Fed, in terms of protecting U.S. financial institutions, but helped create an economy that was "a disaster for American workers." The vote, on Jan. 28, was 70 yeas to 30 nays, which is the closest vote in the history of the Federal Reserve chairman's position.

YEAS: Sen. Kit Bond R-MO, Sen. Claire McCaskill D-MO