Ohio in Congress

Voterama in Congress

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

Washington for the week ending Jan. 28.

U.S. House
GOP Budget Cuts: Members voted, 256-165, to set the stage for votes
on a GOP plan to cut federal spending by $60 billion or more in the closing
months of fiscal 2011. A yes vote empowered the Budget Committee to
define the cuts in a spending bill soon to be debated. (H Res 38)
LaTourette: Yes Fudge: No

Sending U.S. Jobs Abroad: Members defeated, 184-232, a Democratic

bid to use H Res 38 (above) as a vehicle to curb the practice of U.S. firms
sending jobs overseas. A yes vote was to deny federal contracts to any
company that the Department of Labor finds to be outsourcing jobs.
LaTourette: No Fudge: Yes

Taxpayer Campaign Funds: Members voted, 239-160, to repeal a post-

Watergate law under which taxpayers use federal tax returns to donate
$3.00 or $6.00 to presidential campaigns and nominating conventions. A
yes vote backed HR 359 on grounds it will help to reduce deficit spending.
LaTourette: Yes Fudge: No

Attack Ad Transparency: Members defeated, 173-228, a Democratic bid

to add requirements for campaign-finance transparency to HR 359 (above).
A yes vote was to require TV attack ads and other campaign spots to iden-
tify the corporation, union, foreign government or other entity paying for it.
LaTourette: No Fudge: Yes

U.S. Senate
Filibuster Dispute: Senators defeated, 46-49, a bid to require senators
to be present and talking while conducting filibusters aimed at killing bills
and nominations. This preserved rules allowing senators to filibuster while
not in the Senate chamber. A yes vote was to adopt S Res 21.
Brown: Yes Portman: No
Filibuster Thresholds: Senators defeated, 12-84, a proposed rules
change that sought to lower from 60 to 51 the number of votes needed to
shut down filibusters. A yes vote backed a measure (S Res 8) under which
the threshold would be gradually reduced to 51 votes as debate proceeds.
Brown: No Portman: No

Secret Senate Holds: Senators curbed, 92-4, the practice of senators

placing indefinite secret holds on nominations and bills. A yes vote backed
a rules change (S Res 28) under which holds could stay secret for two
days, after which measures would take effect to force disclosure.
Brown: Yes Portman: Yes
Reading of Amendments: Senators approved, 81-15, a rules change (S
Res 29) to end the practice of opponents stalling action on amendments
by requiring clerks to read them aloud. A yes vote backed a rules change
aimed at curbing needless delay of proceedings on the Senate floor.
Brown: Yes Portman: Yes

Key votes ahead

In the week of Jan. 31, the Senate will take up a bill on the Federal Avia-
tion Administration, while the House will be in recess.