January Capitol Report: How They Voted

Congress approved several major bills in January, including measures to improve healthcare for low-income children, provide oversight of bail-out funds, delay conversion to direct TV,  set aside public lands and ocean areas as environmental preserves, protect fair pay for women,  and improve remedies for victims of discrimination. The Senate also approved  nomination of Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner.  Do you know how your elected officials voted?  Find out here!

For more information on these and other bills, visit www.vote-smart.org or www.govtrack.us

FEDERAL BILLS & VOTES (CONGRESS)

Nomination of Timothy Geithner as Secretary of Treasury
Status: Nomination confirmed 60-34
Votes: Senators Boxer and Feinstein:  Yes

S. 328:  DTV Delay Act
Status:  Passed Senate by unanimous consent. A record of each Senator’s position was not kept.
Description:  Delays conversion of TVs from analog to digital technology for four months beyond the original Feb. 17, 2009 deadline.

HR 384: Oversight of the Troubled Asset Relief Program.
Status: Passed House 260-166 on January 21, 2009
Description:  Reforms the Troubled Assets Relief Program of the Secretary of the Treasury and ensure accountability under such Program.
Votes:  Representatives Davis and Filner: Yes
            Representatives Bilbray, Hunter and Issa: No

S. 22: Omnibus Public Lands Act
Status:  Passed Senate 73-21 on January 15, 2009
Description: Safeguards over 270,000 acres along over 1,000 miles of rivers in Oregon, California, Idaho, Arizona, Wyoming, and Massachusetts and add 2,800 miles of new trails to the federal system.  Also provides funds for protection of oceans and coastal wetlands and for a study on ocean acidification.
Votes: Senators Boxer and Feinstein: Yes

H.R. 2:  CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2009
Status:  Passed House 289-139 on January
Description: Provides funding to improve healthcare access for low-income children and pregnant women.
Votes:  Representatives Davis and Filner: Yes
            Representatives Bilbray, Hunter and Issa: No

S. 181: Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act for Women
Status: Passed House and Senate, sent to President
Description:  Clarify that each discriminatory paycheck or compensation constitutes a violation of the Civil Rights Act. As long as workers file their charges within 180 days of a discriminatory paycheck, their charges would be considered timely.  Bill restores rights eliminated under a May 2007 Supreme Court decision.
Votes:  Senators Boxer and Feinstein: Yes
            Representatives Davis and Filner: Yes
            Representatives Bilbray, Hunter and Issa – No

HR 12:  Paycheck Fairness Act
Status:  Passed House 256-153 on January 9, 2009
Description:  Amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to provide more effective remedies to victims of discrimination in the payment of wages on the basis of sex, and for other purposes.
Votes:  Representatives Davis and Filner:  Yes
            Representatives Bilbray, Hunter and Issa – No

STATE BILLS AND VOTES

The State Legislature remains mired in a budget impasse and has not held any votes on significant bills in January.  The Governor has declared that he will not consider any non-emergency measures until a budget agreement is reached.