CAPITOL REPORT: HOW THEY VOTED – NOV. 2010

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By Jeremy Los

November 27, 2010 (Washington and Sacramento) -- Do you know how your Congressional and State Legislative representatives voted on important recent bills? Find out here! Recent major bills include the Paycheck Fairness Act, the Small Business Jobs & Credit Act, the State Budget, plus bills to reform campaign financing and raise age limits for pre-school and kindergarten.  Scroll down for details.

 

For additional information on these and other bills, visit www.vote-smart.org, www.govtrack.us, www.opencongress.org and www.aroundthecapitol.com.


FEDERAL BILLLS & VOTES (CONGRESS)

S. 3772: EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION LAW AMENDMENT – THE PAYCHECK FAIRNESS ACT

 

Status: Bill did not pass.  Bill did not reach cloture, which would have allowed it to be brought to the floor for immediate vote and amendment. With cloture not invoked, the bill is not able to move forward.

 

Description: Sponsored by Senate Majority leader Harry Ried, Democrat from Nevada, this bill would amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938. The amendment calls establishes more efficient remedies for the victims of discrimination – be it sexual, racial, or any other form – of pay rate at the work place. The bill would ultimately call for business to prove that any disparities in pay-rate are job-related and not based on sex.
 

Voting Record

Voted on Nov. 17, 2010
Senate vote: 58- 41 (Cloture Not Invoked)
Bill failed passage and is dead.

How our elected officials voted:

Sen. Barbara Boxer, Dem.- Aye
Sen. Diane Feinstein, Dem.- Aye

S. 3628: CAMPAIGN FINANCE DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENT- DEMOCRACY IS STRENGTHENED BY CASTING LIGHT ON SPENDING IN ELECTIONS ACT

Status: Bill not passed, cloture was not invoked – If cloture was invoked the motion would proceed to the floor for debate and amendment. A cloture vote is needed to move a bill past a filibuster.

Description: This bill is the response to the 2010 Supreme Court case Citizen United vs. Federal Election Commission, which allows corporations to contribute to political campaigns. Sponsored by Senator Charles Schumer, Dem. (NY), the bill would amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 by restricting the influence of foreign entities on elections, prohibiting government contractors from contributing to election communication, and requiring significantly more disclosures in political advertising; greatly increasing the amount of transparency in the election process. The bill would prohibit receivers of TARP money to contribute finances to elections as well.

 

Voting Record

Voted on July 27, 2010
Senate vote: 57-41 (Cloture Not Invoked)
Bill not passed.
Re-voted on Sept. 23, 2010
Senate vote: 59-39 (Cloture Not Invoked)
Bill not passed. Missed 3/5 needed by one vote.
 

How our elected officials voted:
Sen. Barbara Boxer, Dem. 7/27- Aye; 9/23 - Aye
Sen. Diane Feinstein, Dem. 7/27 - Aye; 9/23 - Aye


HR. 5297: SMALL BUSINESS LENDING FUND AND FINANCE TAX LAW AMENDMENTS – SMALL BUSINESS JOBS AND CREDIT ACT OF 2010

 

Status: Signed into law by President Obama on Sept. 27,2010

 

Description: Championed by Rep. Barney Frank, Dem. (MA), the Small Business Jobs and Credit Act of 2010 establishes the Small Business Lending Fund for which the Secretary of the Treasury is to appropriate up to $30 billion for capital investments which would be available to eligible institutions in attempt to increase the availability of credit. The bill will allow for increased lending to small businesses in an attempt to spark job creation and growth, as well as provide tax incentives/cuts for the small businesses. This bill is attempt by the House Democrats to jump-start Main St. and deliver on their campaign promises to create jobs for those hit hard by the economic downturn.

 

Voting Record:

Voted on June 17, 2010
House Vote: 241 – 182 (Bill Passed)
Voted on Sept. 16, 2010
Senate Vote With Amendment: 61 -38 (Bill Passed)
Voted on Sept. 23, 2010
House Concurrence Vote: 237 – 187 (Bill Passed)

 

How our elected officials voted:
 

House of Representatives:
Rep. Darrel Issa, Rep. (49th Dist.) - 6/27 - Nay; 9/23 - Nay
Rep. Brian Bilbray, Rep. (50th Dist.) - 6/27 - Nay; 9/23 - Nay
Rep. Bob Filner, Dem. (51st Dist.) - 6/27 - Aye; 9/23 - Aye
Rep. Duncan D. Hunter, Rep. (52nd Dist.) - 6/27 - Nay; 9/23 - Nay
Rep. Susan Davis, Dem. (53rd Dist.) - 6/27 - Aye; 9/23 - Aye
Senate:
Sen. Barbara Boxer, Dem. - 9/16 - Aye
Sen. Diane Feinstein, Dem. - 9/16 - Aye

 

 

STATE  BILLS & VOTES (CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE)

 

SB 870 – 2010-2011 STATE BUDGET

 

Status: Signed into law by Gov. Schwarzenegger on Oct. 8, 2010

Description: As with last fiscal year the state of California is once again faced with a massive budget deficit - according to the budget analysis it is around $19 billion - that will have to be closed in some way shape or form. The enacted state budget raises the states general fund slightly from $86.3 billion (2009) to $86.6 billion. Gov. Schwarzenegger used his line-item veto power to cut down the general fund spending $963 million, which raised state reserves to $1.3 billion. In order to close the massive gap the state assembly, senate, and Governor had to make some very difficult decisions. State expenditures will feel the biggest squeeze as they are to be cut by some $8.5 billion, ranging from cuts in Health and Human Services to the correctional system. Part of that massive cut in spending is education, which will take a hit from K-12 to community colleges. With his line item veto the Governor struck $256 million in funding from the CalWORKS program. The state also plans to cut the General Fund $3.6 billion through the use of more Federal Funds for programs like special education and Medicare. The last of the budget gap, $5.5 billion, is to be closed through a bevy loans and hopes of increased revenue.

Voting Record

Voted on Oct. 7, 2010
State Assembly vote: 57-13 (Bill Passed)
Voted on Oct. 8, 2010
State Senate vote: 27-9 (Bill Passed)

 

How our elected officials voted:
State Assembly:
AM. Kevin Jeffries, Rep. (66th Dist.) – Did not vote
AM. Diane Harkey, Rep. (73rd Dist.) – Did not vote
AM. Martin Garrick, Rep. (74th Dist.) – Aye
AM. Nathan Fletcher, Rep. (75th Dist.) – Aye
AM. Lori Saldana, Dem. (76th Dist.) – Aye
AM. Joel Anderson, Rep. (77th Dist.) – Nay
AM. Martin Block, Dem. (78th Dist.) – Aye
AM. Mary Salas, Dem. (79th Dist.) – Aye
State Senate:
Sen. Dennis Hollingsworth, Rep. (36th Dist.) – Aye
Sen. Mark Wyland, Rep. (38th Dist.) – Nay
Sen. Christine Kehoe, Dem. (39th Dist.) – Aye
Sen. Denise Moreno Ducheny, Dem. (40th Dist.) – Aye


SB 1381: INCREASING AGE REQUREMENTS FOR KINDERGARTEN AND FIRST GRADE

 

Status: Signed into law by Gov. Schwarzenegger on Sept. 30, 2010

Description: First brought forth in June of 2010, this bill would call for a rise in the age requirement for children going into kindergarten and first grade. The implementation of these changes will take place gradually, as each year the age requirement for both kindergarten and first grade will raise until 2014-2015. It is then that those wanting to go into kindergarten will have to have their fifth birthday on or before September 1 of that school year, as of right now the student has to turn five on or before December 2. The same dates and limitations apply to first grade, but instead of five the child would have to have their sixth birthday by those dates. The bill is said to save the state fiscally upwards of $700 billion, due to fewer children being allowed to attend kindergarten and first grade.

 

Voting Record

Voted on June 2, 2010
Senate vote: 28 - 4 (Bill Passed)
Voted on Aug. 31, 2010
Assembly vote with amendment: 51 - 18 (Bill Passed)
Voted on Aug. 31, 2010
Senate concurrence vote: 21 - 15 (Bill Passed)

How our elected officials voted:

State Assembly:
AM. Kevin Jeffries, Rep. (66th Dist.) – Did not vote
AM. Diane Harkey, Rep. (73rd Dist.) – Nay
AM. Martin Garrick, Rep. (74th Dist.) – Nay
AM. Nathan Flethcher, Rep. (75th Dist.) – Aye
AM. Lori Saldana, Dem. (76th Dist.) – Aye
AM. Joel Anderson, Rep. (77th Dist.) – Nay
AM. Martin Block, Dem. (78th Dist.) – Aye
AM. Mary Salas, Dem. (79th Dist.) – Aye
State Senate:
Sen. Dennis Hollingsworth, Rep. (36th Dist.) – Nay
Sen. Mark Wyland, Rep. (38th Dist.) – Nay
Sen. Christine Kehoe, Dem. (39th Dist.) – Aye
Sen. Denise Moreno Ducheny, Dem. (40th Dist.) – Aye
 


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