Where The Rubber Meets The Road (2/8/08)

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

Economic stimulus: In a 385-35 vote, the House passed a $146 billion anti-recession package that would provide $100 billion within months in rebates to 117 million U.S. households that file federal income-tax returns. The bill, which awaits Senate action, also would provide $46 billion in one-time tax breaks for businesses.

A yes vote was to pass the bill (HR 5140).

Voting yes: Robert E. Andrews (D., N.J.), Robert A. Brady (D., Pa.), Michael N. Castle (R., Del.), 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.), Joseph R. Pitts (R., Pa.), H. James Saxton (R., N.J.), Allyson Y. Schwartz (D., Pa.), Joe Sestak (D., Pa.), and Christopher H. Smith (R., N.J.).

Not much to say or do here except provide this link to Bruce Slater’s web site; he’s running against Joe Pitts this year, so let’s help him all we can, OK?

And yes, I'm being a bit kind on the House version since it did a little more to address the issues that matter versus the Senate version that ultimately passed (as noted here, though, I'm not sure anyone in our government is willing to truly admit the scope of what we're dealing with).

Senate

Intelligence committee: In a 48-45 vote, the Senate failed to reach 60 votes for advancing a bill drafted by the Senate Intelligence Committee to expand the 1978 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act beyond its original domestic focus to address U.S. government spying on electronic communications in which at least one party is located overseas.

A yes vote was to advance the bill (S 2248) without amendments.

Voting no: Joseph R. Biden Jr. (D., Del.), Thomas Carper (D., Del.), Bob Casey (D., Pa.), Robert Menendez (D., N.J.), Frank Lautenberg (D., N.J.) and Arlen Specter (R., Pa.).

Good work by all to keep the debate going on this proposed Bushco monstrosity (here).

This week, the House addressed the rising cost of higher education. The Senate, and possibly the House, conducted votes on economic-stimulus bills, and the Senate resumed debate on the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.