Voterama in Congress, week ending June 8, 2012

How Illinois lawmakers voted in Congress Week ending June 8

Updated: June 15, 2012 12:20PM

House of Representatives

Medical-Devices Tax: Members voted, 270-146, to repeal a 2.3 percent excise tax on manufacturers of medical devices that is to start in 2013 to help finance the 2010 health law. A yes vote was to repeal a tax providing 15 percent or so of the health law’s revenue stream. (HR 436)

Medical Devices, Overseas Jobs: Members defeated, 179-239, a motion by Democrats to retain the 2010 health law’s excise tax on medical devices (HR 436, above) for any company that sends American jobs overseas as part of its manufacturing process. A yes vote backed the motion.

One Percent Budget Cut: Members rejected, 157-261, a proposed 1 percent cut in a bill (HR 5325) to appropriate $32.1 billion for civilian and military energy programs in fiscal 2013, with the $321 million savings to be used to lower the deficit. A yes vote backed the across-the-board cut.

U.S. Nuclear Arsenal: Members refused, 138-281, to cut $298 million in nuclear-weapons outlays in HR 5325 (above). This was a bid to freeze 2013 spending at the 2012 level of $7 billion. A yes vote backed the cut as important austerity that would leave the U.S. arsenal still vastly superior to its global rivals.

Homeland-Security Budget: Members passed, 234-182, a $46 billion Department of Homeland Security budget for fiscal 2013 to fund agencies such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). A yes vote backed HR 5855.

Exploited-Children Budget: Members refused, 167-249, to transfer $40 million from immigration-enforcement accounts in HR 5855 (above) to the budget for combatting sex trafficking and other forms of child-exploitation at home and abroad. A yes vote backed the proposed funds transfer.

Local Immigration Enforcement: Members voted, 250-164, to fully fund a program in which Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) trains local police as a partner against illegal immigration. A yes vote backed a program that has drawn criticism for civil-rights abuses. (HR 5855)

2 Percent Budget Cut: Members refused, 99-316, to cut the Department of Homeland Security’s 2013 appropriations bill (HR 5855, above) by 2 percent or $640 million. A yes vote backed an across-the-board cut in all accounts except FEMA and counter-terrorism operations. (HR 5855)

Senate

Gender-Based Payroll Bias: Senators failed, 52-47, to reach 60 votes for advancing a bill giving women more tools for fighting wage discrimination based on gender. A yes vote backed a bill (S 3220) allowing class-action suits, enabling plaintiffs to receive punitive damages and barring employer retaliation against those who seek pay data on co-workers.

Five-Year Farm Bill: Senators voted, 90-8, to begin debate on a bill to renew federal agriculture and nutrition programs for five years at a cost of nearly $100 billion over ten years A yes vote was to advance a bill (S 3240) that would end the longtime system of direct payments for not growing crops.

Key votes ahead

In the week of June 11, the House will be in recess, while the Senate will continue to debate a new five-year farm bill.

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