Ohio in Congress

Voterama in Congress

Here are area lawmakers’ decisions on major roll-call votes in

Washington for the week ending April 15.

U.S. House
2012 Republican Budget: Members passed, 235-193, a GOP budget for
2012 and later years that would privatize Medicare, convert Medicaid to a
block-grant program, reduce annual deficits, and cut corporate and individ-
ual tax rates. A yes vote backed the GOP fiscal blueprint. (HCR 34)
LaTourette: Yes Fudge: No

2012 Democratic Budget: Members defeated, 166-259, a Democratic

budget for 2012 and later years that differed from the GOP plan (above) by
preserving Medicare and Medicaid in their existing forms and continuing
the health law. A yes vote backed the Democratic plan. (HCR 34)
LaTourette: No Fudge: Yes

Republican Study Group: The House defeated, 119-136, the most con-
servative of five budget blueprints before it. Drafted by the Republican
Study Group, it would prevent tax hikes while cutting discretionary spending
almost in half over ten years. A yes vote backed the plan. (HCR 34)
LaTourette: No Fudge: Did not vote

Progressive Caucus: Members defeated, 77-347, a budget for fiscal

2012 and later years sponsored by the Progressive Caucus, a group of
House liberals. A yes vote backed a plan to pull U.S. troops from Afghani-
stan and use the savings to balance the budget in ten years. (HCR 34)
LaTourette: No Fudge: Yes

Congressional Black Caucus: Members defeated, 103-303, a budget

drafted by the Congressional Black Caucus. A yes vote backed a plan that
would spend more than its competitors (above) on domestic programs
while preserving Medicare and Medicaid in their present form. (HCR 34)
LaTourette: Did not vote Fudge: Yes

U.S. Senate
Health-Law Funding: Senators refused, 47-53, to deny funding in 2011
for implementing the 2010 health-care law. While the brunt of the law takes
effect in 2014, many provisions, such those to close the donut hole in the
Medicare drug plan and enroll youths up to 26 in their parents’ plans,
already are operative. A yes vote was to pass HCR 35.
Brown: No Portman: Yes

Key votes ahead

Congress is in Easter-Passover recess until the week of May 2.