WASHINGTON – Here’s how area members of Congress were recorded on major roll call votes in the week ending May 13.
HOUSE Gang violence
Voting 279 for and 144 against, the House on May 11 passed a bill (H.R. 1279) to impose mandatory minimum sentences for crimes committed by street gangs. The bill requires sentences of at least 10 years for violent acts, 20 years for more serious crimes and 30 years for aggravated sexual abuse, kidnapping or maiming. Crimes resulting in murder would bring life without parole or the death penalty.
The bill, which awaits Senate action, defines a gang as consisting of three or more individuals who as a group have committed at least two crimes, one of them violent.
A yes vote was to pass the bill.
Rep. Tom Allen, D-1, voted no. Rep. Michael Michaud, D-2, voted no.
War profiteering
Voting 198 for and 227 against, members on May 11 rejected a motion by Democrats to expand the criminal code to cover “war profiteering and fraud relating to military action, relief, and reconstruction efforts in Iraq.” This occurred during debate on H.R. 1279 (above).
Allen and Michaud voted yes.
Homeland security
Voting 409 for and 10n against, the House on May 12 passed a bill (H.R. 1544) to allocate homeland security funds mainly on the basis of risk, not politics.
This will result in large urban areas receiving more money at the expense of rural areas. Since Sept. 11, localities of all sizes have received about $30 billion in grants for first responders such as police and firefighters.
Under the bill, each state will receive minimum funding. But the bulk of the funding will be based on perceived risk.
Allen and Michaud voted no.
SENATE
Iraq war budget
Voting 100 for and none against, the Senate on May 10 sent President Bush the conference report on a bill (HR 1268) providing $76 billion in deficit spending this fiscal year for U.S. operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. This brings total combat and reconstruction appropriations for the two theaters to more than $277 billion since actions began.
The bill prevents states from issuing driver’s licenses to illegal aliens and makes it more difficult for immigrants to obtain U.S. asylum. Additionally, the bill overrides any local, state or federal laws blocking the construction of security measures along U.S. borders with Mexico and Canada. This would speed completion of a long-stalled 14-mile barrier near San Diego.
The bill’s overall cost is $81.9 billion.
Sen. Olympia Snowe voted yes. Sen. Susan Collins voted yes.
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