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ROLL CALL
Thomas Voting Reports
Last updated: May 11th, 2008 01:24 AM (PDT)
WASHINGTON – Here’s how area members of Congress voted on major roll calls in the week ending Friday.
HOUSE
Mortgage refinancing: Members expanded, 266-154, the Federal Housing Administration’s backing of home loans in order to induce mortgage companies to voluntarily rework up to 500,000 loans now headed for default. A yes vote backed the plan as part of a housing relief package. (HR 3221)
Voting yes: Jay Inslee, D-Bainbridge Island; 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; Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Deer Lake.
Not voting: Rick Larsen, D-Lake Stevens.
Homeowner tax breaks: Members adopted, 322-94, a measure that authorizes $7,500 tax credits for first-time home purchases and allows taxpayers who do not itemize to treat $700 of their 2008 property taxes as a federal tax deduction. A yes vote backed these provisions. (HR 3221)
Voting yes: Inslee, Baird, Dicks, McDermott, Reichert, Smith.
Voting no: Hastings.
Not voting: Larsen, McMorris Rodgers.
Home foreclosures: Members voted, 239-188, to provide $15 billion through 2013 for a program to help communities and nonprofit groups buy foreclosed, vacant homes and then sell or rent the properties to families below the region’s median-income level. A yes vote was to pass HR 5818.
Voting yes: Inslee, Larsen, Baird, Dicks, McDermott, Smith.
Voting no: Hastings, McMorris Rodgers, Reichert.
SENATE
Wind damage: Senators rejected, 19-74, an amendment expanding the National Flood Insurance Program to cover damages caused by wind as well as those caused by rising water. A yes vote backed the amendment over arguments that it could drive the insurance program into insolvency. (S 2284)
Voting no: Maria Cantwell, D; Patty Murray, D.
Coverage limits increase: Senators defeated, 27-66, an amendment to S 2284 that sought to increase National Flood Insurance Program coverage limits by 35 percent while not raising premiums. A yes vote backed the measure over arguments that it would fiscally weaken the shaky program.
Voting yes: Cantwell, Murray.
KEY VOTES AHEAD
The House this week will take up an Iraq-Afghanistan war-funding bill while the Senate will debate energy programs and flood insurance. Both chambers might vote on the farm-bill conference report.
Originally published: May 11th, 2008 01:24 AM (PDT)
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