Roll Call

WASHINGTON – Here’s how area members of Congress voted on major roll calls in the week ending Friday.

HOUSE

Suits against OPEC: Members passed, 324-84, a bill to hold the 13 countries that comprise the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries accountable under U.S. antitrust law when they limit oil supplies or fix prices. A yes vote was to pass HR 6074 over arguments that it’s is a symbolic move that won’t lower gasoline prices.

Voting yes: Jay Inslee, D-Bainbridge Island; Rick Larsen, D-Lake Stevens; Brian Baird, D-Vancouver; Norm Dicks, D-Belfair; Jim McDermott, D-Seattle; Dave Reichert, R-Auburn; Adam Smith, D-Tacoma.

Voting no: Doc Hastings, R-Pasco.

Not voting: Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Deer Lake.

$55.5 billion tax breaks: Members approved, 263-160, $55.5 billion in tax breaks for purposes such as developing renewable energy, spurring business activity and aiding the working poor. The cost is offset by tax hikes on hedge fund managers and multinationals. A yes vote backed HR 6049.

Voting yes: Inslee, Larsen, Baird, Dicks, McDermott, Smith.

Voting no: Hastings, McMorris Rodgers, Reichert.

GOP tax plan: Members defeated, 201-220, a Republican bid to remove tax increases on certain multinational firms and hedge fund managers from HR 6049 (above), thus adding $55.5 billion to the national debt. A yes vote backed a motion that sought to strip “pay as you go” from the bill.

Voting yes: Hastings, McMorris Rodgers, Reichert.

Voting no: Inslee, Larsen, Baird, Dicks, McDermott, Smith.

Farm bill veto: Members overrode, 316-108, President Bush’s veto of a $289 billion, five-year farm bill that renews subsidies for major crops such as cotton, corn and wheat while funding nutrition and conservation programs as well as rural development A yes vote was to enact HR 2419.

Voting yes: Larsen, Baird, Hastings, McMorris Rodgers, Dicks.

Voting no: Inslee, McDermott, Reichert, Smith.

2009 defense budget: Members approved, 384-23, a $601 billion military budget for fiscal 2009 that includes $70 billion to fund war in Iraq and Afghanistan for part of the year. A yes vote was to pass a bill (HR 5658) that funds a 3.9 percent military pay raise and bans permanent U.S. bases in Iraq.

Voting yes: Inslee, Larsen, Baird, Hastings, McMorris Rodgers, Dicks, McDermott, Reichert, Smith.

Iraq defense pacts: Voting 234-183, members amended the 2008 military budget (HR 5658, above) to require Senate ratification of any future agreement committing the United States to defend Iraq against attacks from interior or exterior forces. A yes vote was to adopt the amendment.

Voting yes: Inslee, Larsen, Baird, Dicks, McDermott, Smith.

Voting no: Hastings, McMorris Rodgers, Reichert.

Interrogation videotapes: Voting 218-192, members added language to the fiscal 2009 military budget (HR 5658, above) requiring the Department of Defense to make and retain videotapes of interrogations of prisoners in its custody or under its control. A yes vote supported the amendment.

Voting yes: Inslee, Larsen, Baird, Dicks, McDermott, Smith.

Voting no: Hastings, McMorris Rodgers, Reichert.

SENATE

Farm bill veto: Voting 82-13, the Senate joined the House in overriding Bush’s veto of a $289 billion farm bill that renews subsidies for growers of major crops while also funding fruit and vegetable growers and requiring country-of-origin food labeling. A yes vote was to enact HR 2419.

Voting yes: Maria Cantwell, D; Patty Murray, D.

War funding: Voting 70-26, senators approved $165 billion for war costs in Iraq and Afghanistan that would fund the conflicts well into the first year of the next U.S. presidency. The measure now must be reconciled with a similar House-passed bill. A yes vote backed the war spending. (HR 2642)

Voting no: Cantwell, Murray.

New GI Bill: Senators passed, 75-22, a GI Bill for veterans with at least three years’ duty who enlisted after 9/11, which would pay four years’ tuition at a level up to the top public tuition in their state. A yes vote was to adopt the plan over arguments that it could deplete the volunteer force. (HR 2642)

Voting yes: Cantwell, Murray.

Iraq troop withdrawals: Senators defeated, 34-63, an amendment to a war-funding bill (HR 2642, above) requiring the administration to start withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq within 30 days of the bill’s enactment but setting no deadline for finishing the pullout. A yes vote opposed the amendment.

Voting yes: Cantwell, Murray.

KEY VOTES AHEAD

Congress is in Memorial Day recess until the week of June 2, when both chambers will take up the fiscal 2009 budget resolution and possibly bills to head off mortgage foreclosures and reform agencies that oversee the housing market.