Right & left: Congressional votes

0 Comments | Insight on the News, Jan 7, 2003

Senate

1. Camapign Reform HR 2356

Among other things, the controversial Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act which went into effect on November 6) muzzles political speech, and favors print media over electronic by banning most broadcast, cable and satellite "issue ads" (but not print ads) 60 days before general. (30 days prior to primary) elections. Critics note that McCain-Feingold (its nickname) also impinges the ability of legislators to meet with constituents and citizens groups in violation of the First Amendments "petition clause." During the debate, Sen. Phil Gramm (R-Texas) labeled the measure "as blatantly unconstitutional as any bill which has ever been written, any bill which has ever been adopted by the Congress of the United States." The Senate vote on March 20 was 60 (Left) to 40 (Right).

2. Legal Protection for Pro Bono Medical Service S 1052 (Amendment)

During consideration of the Patients' Bill of Rights legislation, Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.) offered an amendment to grant immunity from liability to physicians and other healthcare professionals who provide pro bono (donated) medical services to medically underserved or indigent individuals. "It seems to me," he asserted during the debate, "that if somebody is providing something out of the goodness of their heart on a pro bono basis, they [should] not be sued." He also noted that his amendment "would help lower both the cost of medical malpractice premiums and, eventually, the cost of coverage premiums for consumers as well." On June 29, 2001, a majority of his colleagues voted to table (kill) the amendment by a vote of 52 (Left) to 46 (Right).

3. Marriage-Penalty Tax Repeal H. Con Res. 83 (Amendment)

During its consideration of the concurrent resolution proposing federal budget levels for fiscal years 2001 through 2011, Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas) offered an amendment to reduce taxes by an additional $69 billion (during fiscal 2002 through 2011) to accommodate full repeal of the marriage-penalty tax that has plagued millions of married couples for more than three decades. The noxious tax punishes such couples, when both husband and wife work, by driving them into higher tax brackets. The pro-family amendment was approved on April 5, 2001, by the narrowest possible margin: 51 (Right) to (50 (Left), with Vice president Dick Cheney (as President of the Senate) breaking a 50-50 tie. ///

R Vote for less government, constitutional principle and/or cultural stability

L Vote for more government, constitutional malaise and/or cultural disintegration

- Did not vote

[dagger] House Speaker (did not vote)

x Not in Congress on day of vote

House

1. Campaign Reform HR 2356

The new campaign-finance law is a potential windfall for lawyers due to its profusion of complicated, ambiguous provisions that are certain to trigger interminable litigation over federal, state and local campaign procedures. Political strategists for parties and special interests already have begun cojuring-up ingenious ways legally to circumvent the law's stated intent, and challenges to key provisions that clearly violate free speech and other constitutional rights are under way. The House vote in favor of the heavily-flawed measure was 240 (Left) to 189 (Right) on February 14.

2. Military Abortions HR 4546 (Amendment)

Overseas U.S. military personnel may undergo abortions at taxpayer expense in Department of Defense medical facilities when the mother's life is endangered. If the procedure is privately funded, it also is authorized in instances of rape or incest. During House consideration of a defense-authorization bill, Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-Calif.) offered an amendment to allow military personnel and their dependents to secure military abortions for any reason deemed to be "legal." Sanchez claimed that no taxpayer funds would be involved since the added abortions would be privately funded, but Rep. Jo Ann Davis (R-Va.) pointed out that "this clearly ignores the obvious fact that the infrastructure, the medical facilities, the equipment are all paid for with taxpayer dollars." On May 10, the House rejected the Sanchez amendment 202 (Left) to 215 (Right).

43. Permanent Marriage-Penalty Tax Repeal HR 4019

The Congressional Budget Office estimates that 42 percent of married couples incurred a marriage-penalty tax in 1996, with more than 21 million couples paying an average of $1,400 more than if they were single. A peculiar provision of last year's Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act called for gradually phasing out the penalty by 2010, but then allowing it to return fun-force beginning in 2011. On June 13, the House approved legislation (HR 4019) that, had the Senate also backed it (rather than let it flounder in committee), would have made repeal of the penalty permanent. The vote was 271 (Right) to 142 (Left).