Where The Rubber Meets The Road (11/09/07)

As reported in last Sunday's Philadelphia Inquirer, here is how Philadelphia-area members of Congress were recorded on major roll-call votes last week.

House

Jobs lost to trade: In a 264-157 vote, the House sent the Senate a bill expanding Trade Adjustment Assistance and extending the program to include workers in service industries and some government employees. Established in 1962, TAA provides cash assistance, job training, education, and continued health insurance to persons who lose their jobs as a result of global trade. The bill would renew the program for five years at a projected cost of $8.6 billion.

A yes vote was to pass the bill (HR 3920).

Voting yes: Robert E. Andrews (D., N.J.), Robert A. Brady (D., Pa.), Charles W. Dent (R., Pa.) Chaka Fattah (D., Pa.), Jim Gerlach (R., Pa.), Tim Holden (D., Pa.), Frank A. LoBiondo (R., N.J.), Patrick Murphy (D., Pa.), H. James Saxton (R., N.J.), Allyson Y. Schwartz (D., Pa.), Joe Sestak (D., Pa.), and Christopher H. Smith (R., N.J.).

Voting no: Michael N. Castle (R., Del.) and Joseph R. Pitts (R., Pa.).

I’m going to do something a bit different here; what I usually try to do is find out background information from the govtrack or Thomas sites about the bill in question, but as I searched for more info on this, I came across this link from the Republican Policy Committee which contained the following particularly outrageous lie…

Despite rhetoric and gut reactions, there are relatively few workers that lose their jobs because of trade.

Read this, Repugs: since when does 1.8 million workers constitute “relatively few” (and by the way, speaking of labor issues, I plan to ignore posting on the Hollywood writers WGA strike since that apparently is being covered so well elsewhere).

Also, allow me to bid adios to Jim Saxton (here); I guess he got tired of voting against SCHIP (are you getting the message here, Pancake Joe, especially since you went back on a term limits pledge yourself?).

Senate

Children's health insurance: The Senate voted, 64-30, to send President Bush a new version of the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) bill that he vetoed Oct. 3. The measure limits SCHIP enrollment to families earning up to three times the poverty level, or nearly $62,000 for a family of four. The bill renews SCHIP for five years at a cost of $60 billion, up $35 billion from current levels, and covers the added cost by raising federal tobacco taxes from 39 cents per cigarette pack to $1 per pack.

SCHIP is a federally funded, state-run discretionary spending program designed mainly for children from families that are not poor enough to receive Medicaid but unable to afford private health insurance.

All Philadelphia-area senators voted in favor of the bill (HR 3963).

How commendable of them to do something so obvious that 30 miscreants in that elected body refused to do (and which awaits the inevitable veto from President Brainless).

Amtrak revival budget: The Senate authorized, 70-22, an $11.4 billion six-year budget for Amtrak, nearly 50 percent over current spending for the rail passenger agency. The bill authorizes $10 billion for operating subsidies, capital improvements and debt retirement, and $1.4 billion in matching grants to help states provide intercity service. Now awaiting House action, the bill requires Amtrak to reduce its losses by 40 percent but repeals a 1997 mandate for eventual profitability. Established in 1971, Amtrak has routes that connect 500 communities in 46 states. The agency's taxpayer subsidy for 2008 is projected at $1.4 billion.

All Philadelphia-area senators voted in favor of the bill (S 294) except Joseph R. Biden Jr. (D., Del.), who did not vote.

This week, the House debated free trade with Peru (passed, unfortunately; this week’s Democratic cave-in) and bills to bolster homeowners' insurance against natural disasters and a temporary easing of the Alternative Minimum Tax. The Senate took up new farm programs and ratification of the Law of the Sea Treaty (more on that here).

Update: Regarding the Peru deal, all I can say is "Go, John, Go!" (here).