Ohio in Congress

Voterama in Congress

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

Washington for the week ending May 20.

U.S. Senate
Oil-Industry Taxes: The Senate failed, 52-48, to reach 60
votes needed t0 advance a Democratic bill to end certain tax
breaks for the five largest oil and gas companies. A yes vote
backed a bill to save the Treasury $21 billion over ten years by
limiting the companies’ use of tax deductions and credits. (S
940)
Brown: Yes Portman: No

Expedited Oil Drilling: Senators defeated, 42-57, a GOP bill

requiring the administration to act within 60 days on applications
for drilling in the Gulf of Mexico that were put on hold after last
year’s BP oil spill. A yes vote backed a bill that also sought to
spur deepwater drilling in the Outer Continental Shelf off the
Atlantic Coast. (S 953)
Brown: No Portman: Yes

Republican Judicial Filibuster: The Senate failed, 52-43, to

end a GOP filibuster against judicial nominee Goodwin Liu on
grounds he is an ideologue who lacks a mainstream view of the
Constitution. Liu, 40, is a law professor at the University of Cali-
fornia at Berkeley. A yes vote supported Liu as well qualified for
a seat on the San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of
Appeals.
Brown: Yes Portman: No

Key votes ahead

In the week of May 23, both chambers will take up a bill to
renew certain sections of the USA Patriot Act.