WASHINGTON – Here’s how area members of Congress voted on major roll calls between Sept. 27 and Friday.
HOUSE
Financial bailout: Members passed, 263-171, a bailout in which the Treasury would pay up to $700 billion to relieve troubled financial firms of their weakest assets while raising deposit insurance to $250,000 per person and providing $150 billion in tax breaks. A yes vote was to pass HR 1424.
Voting yes: Rick Larsen, D-Lake Stevens; Brian Baird, D-Vancouver; Norm Dicks, D-Belfair; Adam Smith, D-Tacoma
Voting no: Jay Inslee, D-Bainbridge Island; Doc Hastings, R-Pasco; Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Deer Lake; Jim McDermott, D-Seattle; Dave Reichert, R-Auburn.
Failed rescue plan: Members rejected, 205-228, a bailout proposal that was essentially the same as the one in HR 1424 (above) but unsweetened by add-ons such as an increase in deposit insurance and $150 billion in business and personal tax breaks. A yes vote was to defeat HR 3997.
Voting yes: Larsen, Baird, Dicks, McDermott, Smith.
Voting no: Inslee, Hastings, McMorris Rodgers, Reichert.
Indian nuclear deal: Members backed, 298-117, a plan to sell U.S. nuclear fuel and reactors to India for civilian uses even though India, a nuclear state, shuns the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. A yes vote was to pass HR 7081 over arguments that it undermines global controls on nuclear arms.
Voting yes: Inslee, Hastings, McMorris Rodgers, Dicks, Reichert, Smith.
Voting no: Larsen, Baird, McDermott.
SENATE
Financial bailout: Senators passed, 74-25, a bill that authorizes the Treasury to spend up to $700 billion to bail out troubled financial firms in hopes of stabilizing the U.S. economy. A yes vote backed HR 1424, which enables the Treasury to save at-risk mortgages and limit executive pay.
Voting yes: Patty Murray, D.
Voting no: Maria Cantwell, D.
Indian nuclear deal: Senators sent President Bush, 86-13, a bill authorizing U.S. sales of civilian nuclear materials to India even though India disavows the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Foes called this a bad example for rogue states such as Iran and North Korea. A yes vote was to pass HR 7081.
Voting yes: Cantwell, Murray.
Railroad safety: Senators voted, 74-24, to authorize new budgets for Amtrak and the Federal Railroad Administration while requiring technology by 2015 to automatically brake trains facing collision or derailment. A yes vote was to pass a bill (HR 2095) providing $2.6 billion annually for Amtrak.
Voting yes: Cantwell, Murray.
KEY VOTES AHEAD
Congress is scheduled to meet next in January 2009.
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