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Key votes for the week ending August 1

August 3, 2008

Roll Call

Some key votes in the U.S. Congress for the week ending Aug. 2.

Yes: Y, No: N, Not voting: X

HOUSE VOTES

FEDERAL TOBACCO REGULATION: Members voted, 326-102, to begin Food and Drug Administration regulation of tobacco products. A yes vote was to pass a bill (HR 1108) that empowers the agency to regulate cigarette content, require disclosure of ingredients and ban marketing to children.

Name	City	Vote
L. Diaz-Balart	R-Miami	N
M. Diaz-Balart	R-Miami	N
Hastings	D- Miramar	Y
Klein	D- Boca Raton	Y
Mahoney	D-P.B. Gardens	Y
Meek	D-Miami	Y
Ros-Lehtinen	R-Miami	Y
Wasserman Schultz	D-Weston	Y
Wexler	D-Delray Beach	Y

OIL SPECULATION: Members failed, 276-151, to reach a two-thirds majority needed to pass a bill ordering tougher Commodity Futures Trading Commission oversight of oil-futures speculation, in part by requiring higher margin rules and more transparency. A yes vote was to pass HR 6604.

Name	City	Vote
L. Diaz-Balart	R-Miami	Y
M. Diaz-Balart	R-Miami	Y
Hastings	D-Miramar	Y
Klein	D-Boca Raton	Y
Mahoney	D-P.B. Gardens	Y
Meek	D-Miami	Y
Ros-Lehtinen	R-Miami	Y
Wasserman Schultz	D-Weston	Y
Wexler	D-Delray Beach	Y

REP. CHARLES RANGEL: Members tabled, 254-138, a GOP bid for House censure of Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., the chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, over his personal and campaign use of rent-controlled apartment units in his district. A yes vote opposed the censure bid (H Res 1396).

Name	City	Vote
L. Diaz-Balart	R-Miami	N
M. Diaz-Balart	R-Miami	N
Hastings	D-Miramar	Y
Klein	D-Boca Raton	Y
Mahoney	D-P.B. Gardens	Y
Meek	D-Miami	Y
Ros-Lehtinen	R-Miami	Y
Wasserman Schultz	D-Weston	Y
Wexler	D-Delray Beach	Y

PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION: Members approved, 424-1, the final version of a bill to expand Consumer Product Safety Commission powers, double the agency's budget by 2014, ban lead from toys and give legal tools to state attorneys general. A yes vote was to pass HR 4040.

Name	City	Vote
L. Diaz-Balart	R-Miami	Y
M. Diaz-Balart	R-Miami	Y
Hastings	D-Miramar	Y
Klein	D-Boca Raton	Y
Mahoney	D-P.B. Gardens	Y
Meek	D-Miami	Y
Ros-Lehtinen	R-Miami	Y
Wasserman Schultz	D-Weston	Y
Wexler	D-Delray Beach	Y

HIGHER EDUCATION ACT: Members approved, 380-49, the conference report on a higher education bill that would hold schools publicly accountable for tuition increases, expand tuition aid to minorities, veterans and others, and partially waive student-loan debt held by first responders (HR 4137).

Name	City	Vote
L. Diaz-Balart	R-Miami	Y
M. Diaz-Balart	R-Miami	Y
Hastings	D-Miramar	Y
Klein	D-Boca Raton	Y
Mahoney	D-P.B. Gardens	Y
Meek	D-Miami	Y
Ros-Lehtinen	R-Miami	Y
Wasserman Schultz	D-Weston	Y
Wexler	D-Delray Beach	Y

GENDER-BASED PAY BIAS: Members passed, 247-178, a bill to expand the U.S. law against pay bias based on gender. A yes vote was to pass a bill (HR 1338) banning employer retaliation and enabling women to sue for recovery of back pay and receive compensatory and punitive damages.

Name	City	Vote
L. Diaz-Balart	R-Miami	Y
M. Diaz-Balart	R-Miami	Y
Hastings	D-Miramar	Y
Klein	D-Boca Raton	Y
Mahoney	D-P.B. Gardens	Y
Meek	D-Miami	Y
Ros-Lehtinen	R-Miami	Y
Wasserman Schultz	D-Weston	Y
Wexler	D-Delray Beach	Y

PAY-BIAS STUDY: Members refused, 188-240, to make new legal authority in HR 1338 (above) dependent on the Labor Department showing the law would not hinder the ability of employers to recruit their workforces. A yes vote backed a federal study that critics said was aimed at killing the bill.

Name	City	Vote
L. Diaz-Balart	R-Miami	X
M. Diaz-Balart	R-Miami	Y
Hastings	D-Miramar	N
Klein	D-Boca Raton	N
Mahoney	D-P.B. Gardens	N
Meek	D-Miami	N
Ros-Lehtinen	R-Miami	Y
Wasserman Schultz	D-Weston	N
Wexler	D-Delray Beach	N

SENATE VOTES

JOURNALISTS' SOURCES: Senators failed, 51-43, to reach 60 votes needed to end GOP blockage of a bill to protect the confidentiality of news sources in federal court cases. The protection would be waived for reasons such as guarding U.S. security or solving crimes. A yes vote backed S 2035.

Name	City	Vote
Martinez	R- Florida	N
Nelson	D-Florida	Y

RENEWABLE ENERGY: Senators failed, 51-43, to reach 60 votes for ending GOP blockage of a bill to extend tax credits for renewable energy, renew research and development tax credits and temporarily fix the Alternative Minimum Tax, among other provisions. A yes vote was to advance S 3335.

Name	City	Vote
Martinez	R-Florida	N
Nelson	D-Florida	Y

ONE SENATOR'S BLOCKADE: Senators failed, 52-40, to reach 60 votes needed to advance a package of 35 popular bills that have been blocked by Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., on grounds that the $10 billion in spending is not offset. A yes vote was to advance S 3297 over Republican objections.

Name	City	Vote
Martinez	R-Florida	N
Nelson	D-Florida	Y

PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION: Voting 89-3, the Senate sent President Bush a bill to expand the Consumer Product Safety Commission's powers, staff and budget. A yes vote was to approve a measure (HR 4040) that would nearly double the agency's budget to $130 million in fiscal 2014.

Name	City	Vote
Martinez	R-Florida	Y
Nelson	D-Florida	Y

HIGHER EDUCATION ACT: Senators sent the White House, 83-8, a higher education bill that, along with provisions cited above, would seek to hold down textbook costs, raise the value of Pell Grants and penalize states that cut student aid. A yes vote was to pass the conference report on HR 4137.