HRC vote skeleton

XXXX (R-XX)
SENATE VOTE REPORT
Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee

TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS 2
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 3
METHODOLOGY 4
POLITICAL INFORMATION 5
ISSUES 7
ABORTION AND REPRODUCTIVE CHOICE 8
AGRICULTURE 15
BANKING AND CORPORATE REFORM 30
BUDGET & SPENDING 42
CIVIL RIGHTS & MINORITY ISSUES 69
CONSUMER PROTECTION 74
CRIME AND GUNS 83
EDUCATION 93
ELECTIONS, GOOD GOVERNMENT, ETHICS 121
ENERGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT 135
FOREIGN POLICY 165
FOREIGN POLICY: IRAQ 173
HEALTH CARE 191
HOMELAND SECURITY 225
HOUSING 247
IMMIGRATION 250
JOBS AND LABOR 257
NOMINATIONS 272
SENIORS 282
SOCIAL ISSUES 288
TAXES 291
TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND TECHNOLOGY 317
TRADE 319
TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE 327
TROOPS, DEFENSE, AND VETERANS 336
WOMEN 357
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
MCCONNELLMCCONNELLXXXXX
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METHODOLOGY
DISCLAIMER: As with all projects of this nature, we strongly urge you to double-check any specific information
before using it for official campaign purposes, including press releases and paid communications. The DSCC
research department is available to assist in these efforts at any time.
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5

ISSUES
AGRICULTURE
HIGHLIGHTS

INTEREST GROUP RATINGS
CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS
THE XXXX RECORD
FARM BILL
2008: XXXX Voted To Override Bush Vet Of the Farm Bill Reauthorization. In June 2008, XXXX voted to
override President Bush’s veto of the five-year authorization of agriculture programs. In addition to reauthorizing
crop subsidies, the new farm law tightens income eligibility limits for payments, boosts funding for food stamps,
expands conservation programs and offers new incentives for alternative energy. Another section restored in the
legislation authorized trade and international food assistance programs. The override attempt passed 80-14. [CQ
Today, 6/18/08; Vote 151, 6/18/08]
 XXXX Voted For the Farm Bill Reauthorization. In June 2008, XXXX voted for a new version of the
$289 billion farm bill that included a trade-related title accidentally left out of the version that Congress
sent to President Bush the previous month. The legislation is identical to the conference report on the farm
bill that lawmakers approved in May. However, the trade title was inadvertently dropped from the version
that Bush vetoed. The bill passed 77-15, with a threat of another veto by the President. [CQ Today,
6/05/08; Vote 144, 6/05/08]
 XXXX Voted For the Farm Bill Reauthorization. In May 2008, XXXX voted in favor of overriding
President Bush’s veto of the five-year farm bill. However, an error by a House enrollment clerk, who
dropped one of the original bill’s 15 titles before sending it to the White House, would require the Senate to
vote again on the bill. The veto override passed 82-13. [CQ Today, 5/22/06; Vote 140, 5/22/08]
 XXXX Supported the Farm Bill Reauthorization Conference Report. In May 2008, XXXX voted for
the $289 billion farm bill conference report that would reauthorize crop subsidies, land conservation
programs, food stamps and other agriculture entitlement programs. The measure appeals to both rural and
urban members, largely because of the $10.3 billion in new funding in the bill. That sum includes about
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$1.2 billion to restock food banks and $1 billion for a school snack program. The measure will also
establish a $3.8 billion trust fund to help farmers in flood- and drought-prone areas. The measure also
contains provisions designed to guard against speculation in energy markets by setting record-keeping
requirements for electronic energy traders and requiring them to provide an audit trail. [CQ Today, 5/15/08;
Vote 130, 5/15/08]
2002: XXXX Voted Against the 2002 Farm Bill, Massive Subsidy Increases. In 2002, XXXX voted against a
new farm bill re-establishing programs that supply payments to farmers when commodity prices fall below a
specified level. It also raised mandatory and direct farm program spending by $73.5 billion over 10 years, provided
$243 billion for food stamps and restored benefits for legal immigrants, and increased conservation spending to
$17.1 billion. It also lowered the total limit on payments to individual farmers to $360,000 and authorized a new $1
billion dairy program for three and a half years. [Vote 103, 5/8/02]
XXXX Voted For The 2001 Farm Bill. In 2001, XXXX voted for the 2001 Farm Bill. The Farm Bill XXXX
supported would amend and extend for 5 years farm income support, land conservation, credit assistance, food
assistance, trade promotion, marketing assistance, and rural development programs. Mandatory spending, primarily
on farm income support programs, would be substantially increased, and several new mandatory-spending
programs would be created. Democrats said the bill would cost $170 billion over 10 years. The vote was on a
cloture motion to close debate on the motion to proceed to the Agriculture, Conservation, and Rural Enhancement
Act of 2001. [Vote 352, 12/5/01; National Journal’s Congress Daily, 12/5/01]
 XXXX Opposed Expanding on Reforms That Were Begun in the Last Farm Bill. In 2001, XXXX
voted against expanding on the reforms that were begun in the last farm bill and increase funding for the
Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). Overall, the amendment would spend the same amount
over the baseline over 10 years as the Harkin amendment. The motion to table was agreed to, 55-40. [Vote
374, 12/18/01]
XXXX Voted Against Harkin’s Substitute 2001 Farm Bill. XXXX voted against the Farm Bill which would
have renewed federal farm programs set to expire in October 2002. [Vote 377, 12/23/01]
DAIRY & LIVESTOCK
XXXX Voted to Ease Restrictions on Importing Canadian Beef, Ignored Mad Cow Fears. In 2005, XXXX
voted to allow the Department of Agriculture to ease restrictions on Canadian beef. McConnell voted against a joint
resolution that would block a proposed Department of Agriculture regulation that would have eased restrictions on
the importation of Canadian beef. The U.S. border was closed to Canadian cattle after the 2003 discovery of mad
cow disease in Alberta. The Bush Administration argued that easing the restrictions would help convince Japan to
consider accepting U.S. beef, “a critical step for reviving the $7.5 billion beef and cattle industry,” but American
cattle ranchers feared that Canadian cattle could spread disease within the U.S. and “make it impossible to resume
the beef trade with Japan.” [Vote 19, 3/3/05; New York Times, 3/4/05]
XXXX Voted to Not Allow Kobe Beef to Come Into U.S., Even If Japan Continued Ban on U.S. Beef. In 2005,
XXXX was one of 26 Senators who voted to ban beef imports from Japan until that country opened its borders to
U.S. beef. [Vote 236, 9/20/05; Omaha World-Herald, 9/21/05]
XXXX Voted to Delay COOL For Two Years. XXXX voted for the FY04 Omnibus Appropriations bill, which
gave retailers an extra two years to begin putting country-of-origin labels on food. Working with the Bush
Administration, Republicans added an amendment to the Omnibus Bill that delayed the implementation of Country
of Origin Labeling until 2006. The Bush Administration had been resisting implementation because meat packers
and processors, especially large corporations like Tyson and Cargill Foods, do not favor COOL. These companies
want it killed because they are afraid it will cut into profits. [Vote 3, 1/22/04; Aberdeen American News, 1/30/04;
Washington Post, 2/3/04; Congressional Quarterly, 1/21/04]
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 Critics Slammed COOL Delay That Was Worked Out Behind Closed Doors. Discussing the two-year
delay of county-of-origin labeling requirements in 2004, Dave Frederickson, president of the National
Farmers Union, said, “I am appalled that this attack on the country-of-origin food labeling law was not
debated in public.” [Star Tribune, 1/23/04]
XXXX Voted Against Requiring Country Of Origin On Meat Labels. In a vote against small American
ranchers, 29 Republicans, including XXXX, bowed to the pressure from huge, big business, international meat
producers and vote to kill a Daschle amendment that would have mandated that all meat sold in the US be labeled,
displaying the country the animal was raised. Country of Origin labeling is also important following the discovery
of livestock inflicted with Mad Cow disease in Canada. The motion to kill the Daschle bill did not pass. [Vote
443, 11/6/03]
XXXX Voted to Restrict Federal Environmental Subsidies For Certain Livestock Operations. In 2002,
XXXX voted to restrict federal environmental subsidies for new and expanding livestock operations. [Vote 15,
2/6/02; National Journal's Congress Daily, 2/7/02]
XXXX Voted to Place Livestock Contracts Under The Jurisdiction Of The Packers And Stockyards Act. In
2002, XXXX voted to put livestock production contracts under the jurisdiction of the Packers and Stockyards Act.
It would also permit parties to a contract for the sale or production of livestock or poultry to discuss terms or details
of the contract with a legal adviser, lender, accountant, executive or manager, landlord, or family member. The vote
was on the Harkin modified amendment to the Daschle (for Harkin) substitute amendment to the Agriculture,
Conservation, and Rural Enhancement Act of 2001 (S. 1731). The amendment was agreed to, 82-14. [Vote 16,
2/6/02]
XXXX Voted For The Packer Ban. In 2002, XXXX voted in favor of banning most meatpackers from owning or
controlling livestock for more than 14 days before slaughter. Cooperatives and small packers would be excluded
from the ban. Packers, who would have up to 18 months to sell off any livestock that they own, said the restrictions
make it harder for them to procure adequate supplies of top-quality meat. The vote was on a motion to table the
Harkin (for Grassley) amendment to the Agriculture, Conservation, and Rural Enhancement Act of 2001. [Vote 23,
2/12/02; Associated Press, 12/1/01; Associated Press, 2/12/02]
XXXX Voted Against Replacing Dairy Program With New System Benefiting Western Farmers. In 2002,
XXXX voted against an effort to replace Farm Bill’s $2 billion dairy program with a system that would have been
more favorable to large Western dairy producers. The vote was on a motion to table the Domenici modified
amendment to the Agriculture, Conservation, and Rural Enhancement Act of 2001. [Vote 29, 2/13/02; National
Journal’s Congress Daily, 2/13/02]
XXXX Voted To Alter USDA Meat And Poultry Inspection Standards. In 2001, XXXX voted to prohibit the
USDA from using funds from this Act to apply the mark of inspection to any meat or poultry product that was
shown to be adulterated. It would also instruct the Secretary of Agriculture to submit a report on the role of
microbiological monitoring and standards relating to indicator organisms and pathogens in determining the
effectiveness and adequacy of Food Safety and Inspection Service Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point
(HACCP) meat and poultry safety programs. The vote was on the Nelson (of Nebraska)/Miller amendment to the
Harkin amendment to the Agriculture, Rural Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill for fiscal
year 2001 (H.R. 2330). The motion to table failed, 45-50. [Vote 314, 10/25/01]
XXXX Opposed Allowing the Dept. of Agriculture to Enforce Pathogen and Salmonella Standards. XXXX,
on October 25, 2001, voted for the Nelson [NE] amendment to H.R.2330, which was an amendment to eliminate
the Harkin amendment to H.R.2330. The Harkin amendment, which was supported by AARP, the American Food
Safety Institute, American Public Health Association, the Consumer Federation of America, the National Farmers
Union, the National Parent Teachers Association, and Consumers Union, was an amendment to clarify that the
Agriculture Department has the authority to enforce pathogen reduction standards, including standards on
salmonella, in meat and poultry plants. The Nelson [NE] amendment replaced the Harkin amendment with a
watered-down provision to prevent funds from being used to apply inspection marks to meat and poultry products
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that are shown to be contaminated. [Vote 314, 10/25/01; CQ Monitor News, 12/04/01, and Tom Harkin, Floor
Statement, 10/25/01]
XXXX Voted Against Dairy Program That Helps Small Farmers. On a vote of 51-47, Democrats won an
important agriculture vote to support a $2 billion dairy program. The American Farm Bureau said, “This was the
vote on the farm bill… it was the most critical vote other than final passage.” XXXX voted to kill the $500 million
program to set the floor for milk prices for 12 Northeastern states, where most of the small dairy farmers operate.
The program should help small dairy farmers compete with their larger rivals. [Vote 362, 12/11/01; CQ Monitor,
12/11/01]
XXXX Opposed Democratic Substitute Amendments to Dairy Provisions of the Farm Bill. In 2001, XXXX
twice opposed invoking cloture on the Daschle (for Harkin) substitute amendment to the Agriculture, Conservation,
and Rural Enhancement Act of 2001 (S. 1731). The amendment would make changes to the dairy provisions in the
bill; those changes would result in certain States gaining larger percentages of the new taxpayer subsidies in the bill
for dairy producers. The cloture motion was rejected, 53-45. [Vote 368, 12/13/01; Vote 372, 12/18/01]
XXXX Voted Against Tightening Meat And Poultry Microbiological Performance Standards. In 2000,
XXXX voted against an amendment that would prohibit the Department of Agriculture (USDA) from using funds
to label as "inspected and passed" any meat or poultry products that did not meet microbiological performance
standards established by the Secretary of Agriculture. The amendment was rejected, 48-49. [Vote 221, 7/20/00]
XXXX Voted For Increasing Funding For The Grain Inspection, Packers, And Stockyard Administration.
In 2000, XXXX vote for an amendment that would increase funding for the Grain Inspection, Packers, and
Stockyard Administration (GIPSA) by $3.95 million (to $31.219 million). The amendment would cut funding for
the Economic Research Service by an equal amount. The motion to table was agreed to, 51-47. [Vote 220,
7/20/00]
XXXX Opposed An Amendment To Tighten Meat And Poultry Standards. In 2000, XXXX voted against an
amendment that would prohibit the Department of Agriculture from using funds to label as "inspected and passed"
any meat or poultry products that did not meet microbiological performance standards established by the Secretary
of Agriculture. The motion to table failed, 49-49. [Vote 218, 7/20/00]
XXXX Voted Against Drop Grazing Fee Requirements. In 2000, XXXX voted against an amendment that
would strike language requiring the Bureau of Land Management to reissue 10-year grazing permits and leases
under the same terms and conditions as provided in the expiring permits or leases if the BLM were to fail to process
renewal applications for those permits and lease renewals before their expiration. The amendment was rejected 38-
62. [Vote 175, 7/12/00]
XXXX Voted in Favor of the Northeast Interstate Dairy Compact. In 1999, XXXX voted in favor of the
Northeast Dairy Compact, which requires milk processors to pay a minimum price for milk they purchase from
farmers, depending on the purpose for which the milk will be used. The bill’s opponents reflect states with larger
dairy producers and processors than those in the Northeast, which want to eliminate the competition of the
Northeastern dairy farmers. The vote was on whether to close debate on the conference report on FY 2000 D.C.
Appropriations Bill and thus end a filibuster by Senators opposed to the extension of the Northeast Interstate Dairy
Compact. The motion to invoke cloture was agreed to 87-9. [Vote 373, 11/19/99]
XXXX Voted Against Requiring Country-Of-Origin Labeling. In 1998, XXXX voted against requiring
country-of-origin labeling for beef and lamb. The motion to table was agreed to 53-41. [Vote 267, 9/14/98]
DISASTER & EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE
XXXX Voted For $4.8 Billion in Drought, Flood Relief for Farmers. In 2006, XXXX voted to add $4.8 billion
in emergency funding for drought, flood and fire relief to farmers and ranchers in fiscal year 2007. “Our farm and
ranch families really face a desperate situation,” argued Sen. Kent Conrad, who sponsored the funding proposal to
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cover the 2006 crop year. [Vote 271, 12/5/06; Southwest Farm Press, 12/8/06; Omaha World-Herald, 12/7/06]
XXXX Voted In Favor Of Giving Disaster Assistance to Farmers. In October 2004, XXXX voted for a
resolution that would express the sense of the Senate that Congress should provide emergency spending for disaster
assistance to eligible agricultural producers that is not offset by subsequent cuts to the farm bill. [Vote 209,
10/9/04]
XXXX Voted Against Nearly Doubling Funding for Drought Relief for Farmers to $5.9 Billion. In 2003,
XXXX voted against providing $5.9 billion for drought relief, which would have roughly doubled funding for
farmers affected by drought. It would also have limited drought relief to farmers who have suffered at least 35
percent crop loss. [Vote 16, 1/22/03]
XXXX Voted to Focus $3.1 Billion in Drought Relief for Farmers on Those Most Adversely Affected. In
2003, XXXX voted to reapportion the $3.1 billion of drought relief already contained in the measure. It would limit
drought relief to farmers in designated counties or who have at least 35 percent of crop loss. The vote was on the
Cochran, R-MS. amendment to the Fiscal 2003 Omnibus Appropriations bill. [Vote 15, 1/22/03]
XXXX Voted Against Relief for Crop Losses. In November 2003, XXXX voted against an amendment that have
would required the Agriculture secretary to spend such sums as necessary from the Commodity Credit Corporation
for emergency financial assistance to farmers that have incurred qualifying crop and livestock losses for 2001, 2002
or 2003. [Vote 440, 11/5/03]
XXXX Voted For $6 Billion in Disaster Aid for Farmers. In September 2002, XXXX voted in favor of an
amendment that would provide nearly $6 billion in disaster aid for farmers. Farmers would be eligible if their losses
exceed 35 percent of their average crop. Farmers would receive 60 percent of the market value of any losses that
exceed 35 percent. Ranchers also would be compensated for disaster losses under a similar formula. The underlying
Byrd amendment would provide $825 million to replace funds that previously were taken out for emergency
wildfire suppression expenses. The substitute would appropriate $19.3 billion in fiscal 2003 for the Interior
Department and related agencies and programs. XXXX was one of only 16 Senators to vote against the disaster
aid. [Vote 212, 9/10/02]
XXXX Voted Against Adding Emergency Funds For Crop And Livestock Losses. In 2002, XXXX voted
against adding $2.4 billion in Commodity Credit Corporation emergency spending, for crop and livestock losses.
The American Indian Livestock Program would receive $12 million of the $500 million provided for livestock
losses. The vote was on waiving section 205 of the Budget Resolution for fiscal year 2001 for the consideration of
the Baucus amendment to the Daschle (for Harkin) substitute amendment to The Agriculture, Conservation, and
Rural Enhancement Act of 2001 (S. 1731). The motion was agreed to, 69-30. [Vote 25, 2/12/02]
XXXX Opposed Adding Emergency Funds For Ranchers And Farmers. In 2002, XXXX voted against adding
$2.3 billion in fiscal year (FY) 2002 emergency agricultural spending for ranchers and farmers. Specifically, it
would provide $1.8 billion for the Crop Disaster Program for losses incurred in calendar year 2001 and $500
million for the Livestock Assistance Program, $12 million of which would be earmarked for the American Indian
Livestock Feed Program. The vote was on waiving section 205(b) of H.Con. Res. 290 for fiscal year 2001 for the
consideration of the Baucus amendment (No. 2701) to the Daschle substitute amendment (No. 2698) to the Hope
for Children Act (H.R. 622). The motion was rejected, 57-33. [Vote 2, 1/24/02]
XXXX Voted For A GOP Sponsored Special Assistance Farm Bill With $5.5 Billion In Assistance Instead Of
$7.5 Billion. In 2001, XXXX supported a Republican substitute proposal to decrease the emergency agriculture
assistance in the bill from the Democratic proposed $7.49 billion to $5.5 billion. President Bush threatened to veto
anything with a price tag of more than $5.5 billion. Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Tom Harkin, D-IA.
said $5.5 billion was inadequate and that mainstream farm groups agreed the larger sum was needed. The
amendment that McConnell voted against tabling would include $4.6 billion for Agricultural Market Transition Act
(AMTA) payments, $129 million for tobacco farmer payments to quota holders, and $133.4 million for specialty
crop grants to States based on the proportionate share of specialty crops they each produced. The vote was on a
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motion to table the Lugar substitute amendment to the Agriculture Emergency Supplemental. [Vote 261, 7/31/01;
Des Moines Register, 8/1/01; Des Moines Register, 8/2/01]
XXXX Voted For The Conference Report On The Agricultural Risk Protections Act. In 2000, XXXX voted
for the conference report on the Agricultural Risk Protection Act (H.R. 2559). The conference report included a
total of $15.3 billion in agricultural economic assistance, of which $7.1 billion would be to provide immediate
financial assistance to farmers and $8.2 billion would be to pay for improvements and increased subsidies over 5
years to the Federal crop insurance program. The crop insurance reforms in this bill would encourage producers to
undertake additional risk management activities and encourage increased participation in the crop insurance
program. It would also address perceived regional inequities in the program, and expand and improve the risk
management tools available to specialty crop producers. The conference report was agreed to, 91-4. [Vote 115,
5/25/00]
 XXXX Voted For Senate Passage Of A Bill To Help Farmers Manage Agricultural Risks. In 2000,
XXXX voted for final passage of the Risk Management for the 21st Century Act (H.R. 2559). The bill, as
amended, would raise insurance premium subsidies to make Federal crop and revenue insurance policies
more affordable for farmers, particularly at higher levels of coverage. The bill would also encourage the
development of insurance coverage for specialty crops and revenue insurance on a whole farm rather than
on a commodity-by-commodity basis. The bill passed, 95-5. [Vote 44, 3/23/00]
XXXX Opposed Disaster Relief Aid for Farmers. XXXX voted three times to kill amendments to an agriculture
appropriations bill that would have provided as much as $10.8 billion in emergency agriculture assistance to farmer
and ranchers, including disaster relief and income loss payments. [Vote 250, 8/3/99; Vote 255, 8/4/99; Vote 256,
8/4/99]
ETHANOL AND RENEWABLE ENERGY
SEE ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT CHAPTER F
XXXX Twice Voted Against Ethanol Provisions in 2005. In 2005, XXXX voted for an amendment that would
have striped ethanol requirements from an amendment to the Energy Bill requiring the use of renewable fuels.
Immediately following that vote, XXXX voted against adding to the Energy Bill provisions that would have
required refiners to annually use 8 billion gallons of renewable fuels by 2012. [Vote 139, 6/15/05; Vote 138,
6/15/05]
XXXX Voted For An Energy Bill That Would Double Use Of Ethanol And Direct $16 Billion Towards
Development And Conservation. On July 31, 2003, XXXX voted for a “sweeping national energy policy that
would double the use of corn-based ethanol and direct $16 billions in tax credits and incentives to spur energy
development and conservation.” The AP reported: “The way was cleared for passage of the bill when Senate
Republicans abandoned legislation they had been struggling over and resurrected an energy package approved by
the Senate last year when Democrats were in control.” The bill would spur production of a natural gas pipeline in
Alaska and rescind a Depression-era law that restricted merger activities of utility holding companies. According
to CQ, the vote was on passage of a “bill that would overhaul the nation’s energy policies, restructure the electricity
system and provide for approximately $15 billion in energy-related tax incentives.” It also would direct the
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to set a new CAFE standard within 15 months to two
years. It would encourage the use of alternative energy and require utilities to increase their reliance on renewable
fuels. [HR 6, Vote 317, 7/31/03; Associated Press, 7/31/03]
XXXX Voted Against Increase Liability Standards For Renewable Fuels and Ethanol; Renewables Would
Have Same Standards As Any Other Fuel. In 2003 and 2005, XXXX voted against requiring that a renewable
fuel used for motor vehicles or a fuel containing a renewable additive be subject to liability standards equal to or
greater than those used for any other fuel or fuel additive. Iowa Senators Harkin and Grassley voted against the
amendment. The amendment would have required gasoline refineries to use 5 billion gallons of ethanol or other
alternative renewable fuels annually by 2012, phased out the use of MTBE, and eliminated a requirement that
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gasoline sold in regions with high levels of air pollution contain 2 percent oxygen by volume. [Vote 208, 6/5/03,
Vote 137, 6/14/05]
XXXX Voted To Mandate Use of Ethanol or Renewable Fuels; Required Refineries To Use 5 Billion Gallons
Annually By 2012. On June 5, 2003, XXXX voted to require gasoline refineries to use 5 billion gallons of ethanol
or other alternative renewable fuels annually by 2012, phase out the use of methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) and
eliminate a requirement that gasoline sold in regions with high levels of air pollution contain 2 percent oxygen by
volume. [Vote 209, 6/5/03; Des Moines Register, 6/6/03]
 XXXX Opposed Measure To Allow States To Decide Whether To Require Ethanol In Gasoline. On
June 3, 2003, XXXX voted against an amendment that would have allowed states to decide whether
ethanol should be required as an additive in gasoline. The AP reported, “The vote signaled the Senate's
strong support of a proposal that would double ethanol use in gasoline to 5 billion gallons a year by 2012
and require refineries nationwide to use the fuel, except for Hawaii and Alaska.” Sen. Dianne Feinstein,
the amendment’s sponsor, argued that requiring that California refiners use ethanol could cause supply
shortages and lead to price spikes at the pump. She argued the requirement would have benefited mainly
Midwest corn farmers and ethanol producers. The Feinstein amendment would have allowed states to
exempt refiners from using ethanol if it could demonstrate to the EPA that federal clean air standards could
be met without the corn-based additive. The amendment was to amend the Frist amendment, which would
require gasoline refineries to use 5 billion gallons of ethanol or other alternative renewable fuels annually
by 2012, phase out the use of methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) and eliminate a requirement that gasoline
sold in regions with high levels of air pollution contain 2 percent oxygen by volume. [Vote 203, 6/3/03;
AP, 6/3/03]
 XXXX Opposed Measure To Allow Governors To Opt Out of Ethanol Requirements. On June 3,
2003, XXXX voted against an amendment that would have allowed governors to decide whether ethanol
should be required as an additive in gasoline. The amendment, which was sponsored by Sen. Dianne
Feinstein, was offered to a bill that would require gasoline refineries to use 5 billion gallons of ethanol or
other alternative renewable fuels annually by 2012. The Feinstein amendment was to amend the Frist
amendment, which would require gasoline refineries to use 5 billion gallons of ethanol or other alternative
renewable fuels annually by 2012, phase out the use of methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) and eliminate a
requirement that gasoline sold in regions with high levels of air pollution contain 2 percent oxygen by
volume. [Vote 204, 6/3/03; AP, 6/3/03]
 XXXX Voted To Against Allowing State and Geographic Exemptions to Ethanol Requirements If
Gas Prices Would Rise By 10 Cents / Gallon. On June 4, 2003, XXXX voted against an amendment
which added language that would give the President authority to exempt a state or geographic region from
specific ethanol requirements for 30 days if the Energy secretary determined that the requirements had
caused or will cause the average cost of gasoline to increase by at least 10 cents per gallon. The underlying
amendment would require gasoline refineries to use 5 billion gallons of ethanol or other alternative
renewable fuels annually by 2012, phase out the use of methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) and eliminate a
requirement that gasoline sold in regions with high levels of air pollution contain 2 percent oxygen by
volume. [Vote 206, 6/4/03]
 XXXX Voted Against Exempt All But Midwestern States From Ethanol Mandate. On June 5, 2003,
XXXX voted against an amendment which added language that have would exempted all states except for
those in the Midwest from the ethanol mandate contained in the underlying Frist amendment. The Frist
amendment also required gasoline refineries to use 5 billion gallons of ethanol or other alternative
renewable fuels annually by 2012, phase out the use of methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) and eliminate a
requirement that gasoline sold in regions with high levels of air pollution contain 2 percent oxygen by
volume. [Vote 207, 6/5/03]
XXXX Voted For Energy Bill That Would Double Use Of Ethanol And Direct $16 Billion Towards
Development And Conservation. On July 31, 2003, XXXX voted for a “sweeping national energy policy that
12

would have doubled the use of corn-based ethanol and direct $16 billions in tax credits and incentives to spur
energy development and conservation.” [Vote 317, 7/31/03; AP, 7/31/03]
XXXX Supported An Energy Bill That Included a Mandate To Triple Ethanol Production And $14 Billion
In Energy Tax Incentives. In 2002, XXXX supported an energy bill that tripled the amount of ethanol to be used
as an additive in gasoline and included a $14 billion in energy tax incentives for production and for conservation.
The vote was on a cloture motion on the Daschle further modified substitute amendment to the National
Laboratories Partnership Improvement Act of 2001. [Vote 77, 4/23/02; Associated Press, 4/23/02; Associated Press,
4/24/02]
XXXX Voted Against Giving Foreign Companies That Convert Chicken Droppings Into Fuel A Tax Break.
In July 1999, XXXX voted for an amendment to the Taxpayer Refund Act of 1999 by Sen. Ashcroft that would
have struck a provision of the bill providing a tax credit for companies that use chicken waste (manure) to make
electricity. According to the Baltimore Sun, "But by a vote of 77-23, the senators beat back an effort to delete a
Roth plan that would provide a $50 million tax credit for converting chicken manure to electricity. The tax credit is
intended as an incentive for a British company that is considering building power plants in the Delmarva Peninsula
and in Minnesota equipped with new technology that converts the chicken droppings into fuel. Sen. John Ashcroft,
a Missouri Republican, argued that this proposal "gives a break to foreign corporations when there are U.S.
companies capable" of converting chicken manure "into something useful." Two companies in his home state,
Ashcroft said, turn poultry waste into pollution-free fertilizer." The amendment was rejected 23-77. [Vote 246,
7/30/99; Baltimore Sun, Hosler, 7/31/99]
SPENDING, SUBSIDIES, AND TAXES
XXXX Opposed Amendment to Cut Farm Subsidies. In December 2007, XXXX voted against an amendment to
the Farm Bill that would have cut more than $2 billion in spending from the federal crop insurance program and
used the savings to fund improvements to conservation programs and nutrition programs, and to reduce the federal
budget deficit. The amendment failed 32-63. [Vote 428, 12/13/07; CQ Today, 12/11/07]
XXXX Rejected Additional $2 Billion for Ag Programs. In 2006, XXXX voted against adding $2 billion for
agriculture programs to the fiscal 2007 Budget Resolution and offsetting the increase by closing corporate tax
loopholes. [Vote 66, 3/16/06]
XXXX Voted To Keep $74.5 Million for Ag Programs. XXXX voted not to cut $74.5 million in funding for
crop, dairy and livestock programs from the fiscal year 2006 Supplemental appropriations bill. Sen. John McCain,
who proposed the funding cut, argued that the money would reward productivity and, as such, did not belong in an
emergency spending bill. [Vote 108, 5/3/06; National Journal’s CongressDaily, 5/4/06; McCain Press Release,
5/3/06]
XXXX Voted to Cut $2.8 Billion From Ag Programs. In March 2005, XXXX voted to cut mandatory agriculture
funding by $2.8 billion between 2006 and 2010. Sen. Max Baucus and other critics argued that the cuts were not
proportionate to agriculture's share of the federal budget, representing 16.5% of the mandatory spending cuts but
only 1% of the entire federal budget. "Agriculture is a small portion of the federal budget, and it is expected to
shoulder huge cuts," Baucus said. [Vote 69, 3/17/05; CQ Today, 3/18/05; Gannett News Service, 3/18/05]
XXXX Voted Against Capping Farm Subsidies. In 2005, XXXX voted against a motion to cap farm commodity
program payments at $250,000 a year for married couples and $125,000 per individual, down from the existing
limit of $360,000. A cap was expected to be hardest on Southern cotton and rice growers who depend more on
federal subsidies than Midwest grain producers. The proposal XXXX rejected also would delay the 2.5% across-
the-board cut in farm program payments, adopted by the Senate Agriculture Committee, for one year, until 2007.
[Vote 290, 11/3/05; Wichita Eagle, 11/3/05; National Journal’s CongressDaily, 11/3/05; Des Moines Register,
11/3/05]
13

XXXX Voted Against Energy Tax Credit for Farmers. In November 2005, XXXX voted against providing a
Federal tax credit to farmers for 30 percent of their 2005 energy costs up to $3,000 per farmer. Qualified energy
costs included those for fuels, utilities, fertilizers, heating and drying used in farming businesses of taxpayers
during calendar year 2005. The $3 billion tax credit would be offset by closing tax loopholes for big oil companies.
[Vote 345, 11/17/05; Congressional Record, 11/17/05]
XXXX Voted to Fund the Conservation Reserve Program. In November 2003, XXXX voted against an
amendment that would bar the Agriculture Department from apportioning funds made available from other
conservation programs to fund technical assistance for the Conservation Reserve Program. [Vote 442, 11/6/03]
XXXX Voted Against the 2002 Farm Bill, Massive Subsidy Increases. In 2002, XXXX voted against a new
farm bill re-establishing programs that supply payments to farmers when commodity prices fall below a specified
level. It also raised mandatory and direct farm program spending by $73.5 billion over 10 years, provided $243
billion for food stamps and restored benefits for legal immigrants, and increased conservation spending to $17.1
billion. It also lowered the total limit on payments to individual farmers to $360,000 and authorized a new $1
billion dairy program for three and a half years. [Vote 103, 5/8/02]
XXXX Voted Against Restrict Federal Environmental Subsidies For Certain Livestock Operations. In 2002,
XXXX voted against restrict federal environmental subsidies for new and expanding livestock operations. The
Wellstone amendment would exclude new large Confined Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) from receiving
Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) cost-share funds. The amendment was rejected, 44-52. [Vote
15, 2/6/02; National Journal's Congress Daily, 2/7/02]
XXXX Voted For A $275,000-Per-Farm Cap On Agriculture Subsidies. In 2002, XXXX voted against killing a
$275,000-per-farm cap on agriculture subsidies. Under existing rules, farms could receive unlimited subsidies for
production of grain, cotton and soybeans, and growers could get $80,000 more under a separate program that
provides fixed annual payments. Southern Democrats trying to protect subsidies to large cotton and rice operations
threatened to abandon the bill if the payment limit were approved. Republican Senator Grassley of Iowa earned
praise from Democrat Senator Harkin of Iowa for playing a major role by pushing for the cap. The vote was on a
motion to table the Dorgan/Grassley amendment to the Agriculture, Conservation, and Rural Enhancement Act of
2001. [Vote 18, 2/7/02; Associated Press, 2/7/02; Des Moines Register, 2/14/02]
XXXX Voted Against An Amendment To Create A Uniform Aid Program For Farmers. XXXX voted
against eliminating existing commodity programs and in lieu thereof add a new commodity program that would
give a $7,000 annual payment from 2003 through 2006 to all agricultural producers with $20,000 or more in annual
income from farming. The vote was on the Lugar amendment to the Daschle (for Harkin) substitute amendment to
the Agriculture, Conservation, and Rural Enhancement Act of 2001 (S. 1731). The amendment was rejected, 11-85.
[Vote 19, 2/7/02]
XXXX Voted to Lower Crop Subsidies In Order To Create IRA-Style Savings Accounts For Farmers. In
2002, XXXX voted to lower crop subsidies slightly in order to create IRA-style savings accounts for farmers, an
idea endorsed by the Bush administration. The vote was on the Harkin perfecting amendment to the Agriculture,
Conservation, and Rural Enhancement Act of 2001. [Vote 26, 2/12/02; Associated Press, 2/12/02]
XXXX Voted Against Final Passage Of The 2002 Senate Rural Enhancement Act. In 2002, XXXX voted
against final passage, as amended, of the Agriculture, Conservation, and Rural Enhancement Act of 2001 (H.R.
2646). The farm bill substantially increased mandatory spending, primarily on farm income support programs.
Most of the assistance went to large farms that produce crops for which assistance has historically been given. The
bill also included substantial sums for food assistance programs (primarily the Food Stamp Program). The bill
passed, 58-40. [Vote 30, 2/13/02]
XXXX Voted to Increase Agricultural Spending And Keep The Bush Tax Cut. In 2001, XXXX voted to
increase spending by $3.5 billion for the Natural Resources and Environment function and $60 billion for the
Agriculture function, with the stated goal of further funding agriculture's mandatory Commodity Credit Corporation
14

price supports, related programs, and conservation. The amendment would utilize $63.5 billion from the on-budget
surpluses and would not reduce the President's proposed 10-year, $1.6 trillion tax relief package. The amendment
was agreed to, 51-49. [Vote 67, 4/4/01]
XXXX Voted Against Reducing Tax Cuts And Increasing Agricultural Spending. In 2001, XXXX voted
against denying $88 billion of the $1.6 trillion in tax cuts and would instead spend it on the Natural Resources and
Environment function and the Agriculture function, with the stated hope that it would be spent on emergency
assistance for agricultural commodities producers in FY 2001 and on farm and conservation programs during FYs
2002- 2011. The amendment was rejected, 47-53. [Vote 68, 4/4/01]
XXXX Voted For A Budget Resolution That Included A $66.15 Billion Agriculture Reserve Fund. In 2001,
XXXX voted for the conference report to the House Concurrent Budget Resolution for fiscal years 2002-2011
(H.Con. Res. 83). The bill included $66.15 billion agriculture reserve fund ($63 billion for agriculture programs
and $3.15 billion for conservation programs). The conference report was agreed to, 53-47. [Vote 98, 5/10/01]
XXXX Voted to Stall the Senate’s Farm Aid Legislation. On a vote of 49-48, the Senate rejected a measure to
bring the Senate’s Agriculture bill to the floor for a vote. XXXX chose the party line over a bill to provide $7.4
billion in farm aid to America’s farmers who were hurt by low prices in 2001. Senator Harkin’s (D-IA) agriculture
committee passed the $7.4 billion supplemental bill to aid farmers and to provide money for conservation
programs. When the bill went to the floor, Republicans used stalling tactics to run the clock out before the Senate’s
summer recess. [Vote 273, 8/3/01]
XXXX Voted In Support of 2001 Farm Bill. In 2001, XXXX voted to support the 2001 Farm Bill. The Farm Bill
XXXX supported would amend and extend for 5 years farm income support, land conservation, credit assistance,
food assistance, trade promotion, marketing assistance, and rural development programs. Mandatory spending,
primarily on farm income support programs, would be substantially increased, and several new mandatory-
spending programs would be created. Democrats said the bill would cost $170 billion over 10 years. The vote was
on a cloture motion to close debate on the motion to proceed to the Agriculture, Conservation, and Rural
Enhancement Act of 2001. [Vote 352, 12/5/01; National Journal’s Congress Daily, 12/5/01]
XXXX Voted Against Harkin’s Substitute 2001 Farm Bill. XXXX voted against the Farm Bill which would
have renewed federal farm programs set to expire in October 2002. [Vote 377, 12/23/01]
XXXX Voted To Phase Out The Sugar Program. In 2001, XXXX voted in support of phasing out the sugar
program and would spend any savings that occurred on the Food Stamp Program. The motion to table was agreed
to, 71-29. [Vote 364, 12/12/01]
XXXX Opposed Creating A $30 Billion Reserve Fund for Farmers. In March 1999, XXXX voted to table an
amendment to the Concurrent Budget Resolution for Fiscal Years 2000-2009 by Sen. Dorgan that would strike the
bills $6 billion reserve fund for farmers and replace it with a $30 billion reserve fund for farmers. The motion to
table was agreed to 53-45. [Vote 75, 3/25/99]
XXXX Voted Against Assistance to Tobacco Farmers. In April 1998, XXXX voted against an amendment to
the Senate Concurrent Budget Resolution for Fiscal Year 1999-2003 by Sen. Robb that would have amended the
section creating a tobacco reserve fund in order to allow the Federal receipts that may come from new tobacco taxes
be used to provide transition assistance to tobacco farmers as well as to strengthen the Medicare Hospital Trust
Fund. Motion Rejected 31-67. [Vote 83, 4/2/98]
XXXX Voted Against Eliminating Support for Tobacco Farmers. In 1997, XXXX voted against eliminating
federal support for crop insurance for tobacco farmers. The motion to table was agreed to 53-47. [Vote 196,
7/23/97]
MISCELLANEOUS
15

XXXX Voted Against Reauthorizing Mexican Rural Development Funding. In July 2003, XXXX voted against
an amendment that have would authorized $100 million in fiscal 2004 for aid to Mexico, focused on micro credit
lending, small business and entrepreneurial development, assistance for small farms and farmers hurt by declining
coffee prices, and strengthening a system of private property ownership in rural communities. It would also express
the sense of Congress that the U.S. government should work with Mexico on rural development assistance
programs. [Vote 268, 7/10/03]
XXXX Voted in Favor of Protecting North American Catfish From Vietnamese Imports. In 2001, XXXX
voted to ensure that only North American catfish were allowed to be labeled as “catfish.” The amendment XXXX
voted to table would have blocked an attempt to protect the domestic catfish industry from fish imported from
Vietnam that are being sold as catfish. The vote was on a motion to table the Lugar (for McCain) amendment to the
Daschle (for Harkin) substitute amendment to the Agriculture, Conservation, and Rural Enhancement Act of 2001.
[S 1731, Vote 373, 12/18/01; Congressional Quarterly Daily Monitor, 12/18/01]
XXXX Voted Against Killing an Attempt to Allow Agriculture Secretary To Review Other Federal Agencies'
Actions. In 2001, XXXX voted against killing an attempt to allow the Agriculture secretary to review other federal
agencies' actions and recommend that the president overturn them if they harm farmers economic security or
personal safety. Amendment sponsor Christopher S. Bond, R-Mo., said it would have been a "lifesaver to help
farmers oppressed by bad federal regulations." Opponents said the provision would have made it impossible to
enforce the Endangered Species Act, the Clean Water Act and other laws. The vote was on a motion to table the
Bond amendment to the Daschle (for Harkin) substitute amendment to the Agriculture, Conservation, and Rural
Enhancement Act of 2001. [Vote 365, 12/13/01; Congressional Quarterly Daily Monitor, 12/13/01]
XXXX Voted to Give Farmers More Options In Disputes With Agribusinesses. In 2001, XXXX supported an
amendment designed to give farmers more options in disputes with agribusinesses. The amendment XXXX voted
for would reform mandatory arbitration clauses in agriculture contracts. Farmers would get a choice as to whether
arbitration, mediation or civil action is the proper forum for resolving their disputes. The vote was on the
Feingold/Grassley amendment to the Daschle (for Harkin) substitute amendment to the Agriculture, Conservation,
and Rural Enhancement Act of 2001. [Vote 366, 12/13/01; Congressional Quarterly Daily Monitor, 12/13/01;
United Press International, 12/14/01]
XXXX Opposed Measure Placing a Moratorium on Mergers or Acquisitions Involving Giant Agribusiness.
XXXX voted against an amendment to the Bankruptcy Reform Act of 1999 that would have placed a moratorium
on mergers or acquisitions involving agribusinesses in which one business had annual net revenue or assets of more
than $100 million and the other business had annual net revenue or assets of more than $10 million. The
moratorium would have lasted for 18 months or until legislation was passed to limit concentration in agriculture
markets. Farmer cooperatives would be exempt from the moratorium. The amendment was rejected 27-71. [Vote
366, 11/17/99]
XXXX Voted to Allow Alien Agriculture Workers. XXXX voted in favor of an amendment by Sen. Gordon
Smith that established a system of registries for domestic temporary and seasonal agriculture workers, streamlined
the process of hiring foreign agriculture workers when domestic workers were unavailable. The amendment was
agreed to 68-31. [Vote 233, 7/23/98]
16

BANKING AND CORPORATE REFORM
HIGHLIGHTS
THE XXXX RECORD
BAILOUT / TARP
XXXX Voted Against the $700 Billion Financial Rescue Package (TARP). In October 2008, XXXX voted
against a Senate version of the $700 billion financial rescue package, which would allow Treasury to use the
money, in installments, to buy certain mortgage assets. The bailout’s core provisions are essentially unchanged
from the version (HR 3997) defeated in the House, but the Senate bill added a provision expanding FDIC insurance
coverage and a provision to extend expiring tax provisions. The tax measure would stop the alternative minimum
tax (AMT) from reaching into the pockets of millions more Americans; expand existing tax breaks for renewable
energy, and renew the research and development credit for businesses. The bill passed 74-25. [CQ Today, 10/01/08;
Vote 213, 10/01/08]
XXXX Voted to Prevent Release of the Second Half of the $700 Billion in Financial Rescue Funds. In January
2009, XXXX voted for a resolution of disapproval that would have withheld the remaining half of the $700 billion
bailout fund provided under the 2008 financial industry rescue package. The resolution was rejected 42-52. [Vote 5,
1/15/09]
AUTO BAILOUT
XXXX Voted Against a $14 Billion Emergency Loan Package for American Automakers. In December 2008,
XXXX voted against a motion to invoke cloture on a “shell” bill that would be used as a vehicle for the $14 billion
emergency loan package for U.S. automakers. The bill would authorize up to $14 billion in bridge loans to the Big
Three automakers. The amounts would have to be sufficient to fund operations at the automakers and avoid a
company failure. The auto companies would have to submit long-term restructuring plans to the new administrator
for approval by March 31, or 30 days later, if given an extension, or the loans would be recalled. The administrator
would have to establish rules limiting certain executive compensation at participating auto companies. The motion
failed 52-35, short of the 60 needed. [CQ Today, 12/11/08; Vote 215, 12/11/08]
BANKRUPTCY REFORM
XXXX Voted for Final Passage of Bankruptcy Bill. In March 2005, XXXX voted for final passage of the
Bankruptcy Reform bill. The bill created a means test tied to the median incomes of individual states to determine
whether personal bankruptcy filers were able to repay some or all of their debts. Those deemed able to pay would
be pushed into Chapter 13 bankruptcy, which results in a court-ordered repayment plan; those with insufficient
assets would be allowed to file under Chapter 7, which erases debts after the forfeiture of certain assets. The bill
would exempt disabled veterans from the means test if their debts were incurred primarily when they were on
active duty or performing homeland defense duties. It also would make a number of debts non-dischargeable,
including student loans, child support, alimony and luxury payments over $500 made within three months of a
bankruptcy filing. [Vote 44, 3/10/05]
XXXX Voted to Give Bankruptcy Courts Only Limited Access to Protected Assets. In March 2005, XXXX
voted for an amendment that would allow bankruptcy courts to access assets in asset protection trusts up to 10 years
17

before the owner filed a bankruptcy petition. It also would require courts to show that the owner of such a trust had
the intent of defrauding creditors and employees. [Vote 42, 3/10/05]
XXXX Voted to Place Restraints on Bankruptcy Courts. In March 2005, XXXX voted against an amendment
that would strike language in the underlying amendment that would require bankruptcy courts to show that the
owner of an asset protection trust had the intent of defrauding creditors and employees. The Talent amendment
would allow bankruptcy courts to access assets in such trusts up to 10 years before the owner filed a bankruptcy
petition. [Vote 41, 3/10/05]
XXXX Voted to Toughen Bankruptcy Laws on Disabled Workers. In March 2005, XXXX voted against an
amendment that would change the bill’s definition of current monthly income to specify that the definition excludes
income from a debtor’s former job and income from any activity the debtor can no longer engage in due to
disability. [Vote 37, 3/10/05]
XXXX Voted to Toughen Bankruptcy Laws on Single Parents. In March 2005, XXXX voted against an
amendment that would exempt debtors from the means test if they failed to receive alimony or child support in any
consecutive 12-month period in the two years before filing a bankruptcy petition and the amount exceeded 35
percent of the debtor’s household income. [Vote 36, 3/10/05]
XXXX Voted Against Ensuring that Debtors had Enough Money to Provide for their Children. In March
2005, XXXX voted against an amendment to the Bankruptcy reform bill that would have ensured that debtors
would have had the resources to provide for their family while in bankruptcy. The amendment would have altered
the means test to provide greater flexibility when calculating a debtor’s ability to pay, and broaden allowable
monthly expenses to ensure that parents had the resources to support their children throughout bankruptcy. It also
would have allowed debtors to keep personal property found in or around the home, excluding cars, and ensure that
support payments and tax refunds not become the property of the bankruptcy estate. [Vote 34, 3/9/05]
XXXX Voted to Toughen Bankruptcy Laws on Teenagers. In March 2005, XXXX voted against an amendment
that would not allow creditors to file a bankruptcy claim if the claim is based on the extension of credit to
individuals age 21 or younger who, at the time the credit was extended, did not have a parental or spousal co-signer,
had an income level below the poverty line and already had six or more unsecured credit cards. [Vote 33, 3/9/05]
XXXX Voted Against Exempting Low Income Workers from Means Test in Bankruptcy Bill. In March 2005
XXXX voted against an amendment that would have exempted low income workers from the means test in the
Bankruptcy Reform Bill. The amendment would have exempted any workers who made below the median income.
[Vote 31, 3/9/05]
XXXX Voted for Cloture on Bankruptcy Bill, that Made it More Difficult for Debtors to Seek Relief. In
March 2005, XXXX voted to end debate on the Bankruptcy Reform Bill. The bill made it easier for a bankruptcy
court to move debtors from Chapter 7 of the bankruptcy code, which allowed most debts to be discharged, to
Chapter 13, which required a reorganization of debts under a repayment. [Vote 29, 3/8/05]
XXXX Voted to Protect Violent Protesters Including Abortion Protestors from Liability by Allowing Them
to Declare Bankruptcy. In March 2005, XXXX voted against an amendment to the Bankruptcy Overhaul bill that
would have prohibited violent protesters, such as anti-abortion activists, from escaping court-ordered fines or
judgments by filing for bankruptcy protection. It would have barred such debtors from discharging debts, such as
damages, court fines, penalties, citations or attorney fees, incurred from acts of violence or potential acts of
violence. [Vote 28, 3/8/05]
XXXX Voted Against Punishing Corporate Fraud in Bankruptcy Court. In March 2005, XXXX voted against
an amendment to the Bankruptcy Overhaul bill that would have punished perpetrators of corporate fraud in
bankruptcy court. The amendment would have increased the period of time during which a bankruptcy court could
recapture assets of corporate executives who mad fraudulent transfers from one to four years. It also gave
employees and retirees a priority unsecured claim in bankruptcy court for the value of company stock held for their
18

benefit in an employee pension plan, unless the beneficiary had the option to invest the assets in another way.
[Vote 25, 3/3/05]
XXXX Voted Against Allowing Employees to Recoup Back Pay and Healthcare Costs if Their Employer
Declared Bankruptcy. XXXX voted against an Amendment to the Bankruptcy Reform bill that would have
allowed employees to recover up to $15,000 in back pay or other compensation owed to them if their company
declared bankruptcy. The amendment would also have entitled retirees to payment equal to the cost of buying
health insurance for a period of 18 months if an employer reduced retiree health care benefits as part of a
bankruptcy plan. [Vote 24, 3/3/05]
XXXX Voted Against Making It Illegal To Hide Assets In Bankruptcy. XXXX voted against prohibiting
debtors from transferring more than $125,000 in assets into an asset protection trust within the 10-year period prior
to filing bankruptcy. The amendment was rejected 39-56. [Vote 23, 3/3/05]
XXXX Voted Against Protecting Debtors from Lenders Who Violate the Truth in Lending Act. In March
2005, XXXX voted against an amendment that would prohibit high cost mortgage lenders from collecting on their
claims in bankruptcy court if they extend credit in violation of the Truth in Lending Act. [Vote 22, 3/3/05]
XXXX Voted Against Protecting Victims of Identity Theft From Provisions of Bankruptcy Bill. In March
2005, XXXX voted against an amendment to the Bankruptcy Reform bill that would have protected the rights of
those who suffered from identity theft to file for bankruptcy. The amendment would have exempted victims of
identity theft from the means test provisions of the bill. [Vote 21, 3/3/05]
XXXX Voted Against Setting Credit Card Interest Rating Ceiling. In March 2005, XXXX voted against an
amendment to the Bankruptcy reform bill that would have set 30 percent ceiling on interest rates for loans or credit
cards. [Vote 20, 3/3/05]
XXXX Voted Against an Amendment to Exempt Debtors from Bankruptcy Means Test if they Lost Their
Job While Taking Care of a Sick Family Member. In March 2005, XXXX voted against an amendment to the
Bankruptcy Reform bill, which would have exempted debtors from the means test in the bill if they were taking
care of a sick family member. The amendment covered any individuals who incurred substantial medical debt on
behalf of a family member, such as a parent or grandparent, or who experienced a reduction in employment status
while caring for such a family member. [Vote 18, 3/2/05]
XXXX Twice Voted to Make it More Difficult For People with High Medical Expenses from Filing for
Bankruptcy. In March 2005, XXXX twice voted to make it more difficult for those with high medical expenses to
file for bankruptcy. XXXX voted against an amendment to the Bankruptcy reform bill that would have exempted
debtors from a bankruptcy means test if their financial troubles were caused by medical expenses. XXXX also
voted against amendment hat would have allowed those declaring bankruptcy. [Vote 17, 3/2/05; Vote 16, 3/2/05]
XXXX Voted Against Amendment Requiring Credit Card Companies to Give Credit Counseling to Debtors.
In March 2005, XXXX voted against an amendment to the Bankruptcy Overhaul bill that would have required
credit card companies to give debtors information about credit counseling. The amendment would have required
credit card companies to issue a warning notification on monthly statements stating that a minimum payment would
increase the amount of interest paid and the time it would take to repay the outstanding balance. It would also have
required companies to disclose the amount required for the consumer to pay off the outstanding balance in three
years, if no further advances were made. It also would require credit card companies to provide a toll free number
for consumers to receive information about credit counseling and debt management assistance. [Vote 15, 3/2/05]
XXXX Voted Against Allowing Elderly to Claim Federal Homestead Exemption. In March 2005, XXXX
voted against an amendment that would have created a federal homestead exemption of $75,000 for debtors over
the age of 62. [Vote 14, 3/2/05]
19

XXXX Voted Against Exempting Troops, Veterans, and their Widows from Means Tests. In March 2005,
XXXX voted against an amendment to the Bankruptcy Overhaul bill that would have exempted members of the
armed forces, veterans, and spouses of service members who die in military service from application of the bill’s
means test provisions. It also would have allowed them claim a minimum homestead exemption of $75,000 or
choose the exemption in the state in which they file, whichever is higher. [Vote 13, 3/1/05]
XXXX Voted to Make it Easier for Low Income Veterans and Active Duty Service Members to Claim “Safe
Harbor” Provision of Bankruptcy Bill. In March 2005, XXXX voted for an amendment to the Bankruptcy
Overhaul bill that made it more difficult for low-income veterans, debtors who have medical conditions, or those
called or ordered to active duty to qualify for the “safe harbor” provision of the bill. The amendment required these
individuals to satisfy all the procedural requirements of a means test used by bankruptcy judges to determine
whether debtors have the ability to repay some or all of their debts. [Vote 12, 3/1/05]
XXXX Voted For Senate Passage Of The Bankruptcy Reform Act Of 2001. In 2001, XXXX voted to send
negotiators the Senate version of the Bankruptcy Reform legislation making it tougher for people to erase credit
card and other debt in bankruptcy court. The legislation XXXX voted for would enact reforms to prevent upper-
income creditors who have the means of repaying some or all of their debts from unjustly filing for bankruptcy and
to protect consumers from unfair credit practices. Under the bill, a bankruptcy judge would be allowed to dismiss a
Chapter 7 case if the system was being “abused” or, alternatively, to convert it into a Chapter 11 or a Chapter 13
case if the system was being abused and if the petitioner consents. The conference committees could not
successfully reach a compromise, and as such, the bill never became law. The vote was on passage of the
Bankruptcy Reform Act of 2001. [HR 333, Vote 236, 7/17/01]
XXXX Voted Not To Require A Study Of The Bankruptcy Bill’s Effects. In 2001, XXXX voted Sen.
Wellstone’s amendment to require the General Accounting Office (GAO): to conduct a study of the effects of the
underlying bill on the number and cost of chapter 7 and chapter 13 filings, on the number and success rate of
chapter 13 plan confirmations, on consumer credit, and on the ability of debtors below median income to obtain
bankruptcy relief; to report the results of the study to Congress within two years of the bill's date of enactment; and
to collect data on the number of reaffirmations by debtors under title 11, the identity of the creditors in such
reaffirmations, and the type of debt that is reaffirmed. The amendment was agreed to, 52-46. [HR 333, Vote 235,
7/17/01]
XXXX Voted To Pass The Senate Bankruptcy Reform Act Of 2001. In 2001, XXXX voted for the most
sweeping overhaul of bankruptcy laws in 20 years, to prevent upper-income creditors who have the means of
paying some or all of their debts from unjustly filing for bankruptcy, and to enact reforms to protect consumers
from unfair credit practices. The legislation applies a new standard for determining whether people filing for
bankruptcy should be forced to repay their debts under a court-approved reorganization plan rather than having
them dissolved. If a debtor were found to have sufficient income to repay at least 25 percent of the debt over five
years, a reorganization plan generally would be required. The vote was on final Senate passage, as amended, of the
Bankruptcy Reform Act of 2001. [S 420, Vote 36, 3/15/01; Associated Press, 3/15/01]
XXXX Voted Against Lifting A Limit On A Debtor’s Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Filings. In 2001, XXXX voted
against Wellstone’s amendment that would strike the bill provision that prohibits a debtor from filing for
bankruptcy under chapter 13 more than once every 5 years (under chapter 13, a debtor enters into a repayment plan
to eliminate a portion of his or her debt over a number of years, after which any remaining debts are discharged).
The amendment was rejected, 36-63. [S 420, Vote 34, 3/15/01]
XXXX Voted Against Separating Spouses Incomes In Bankruptcy Proceedings. In 2001, XXXX voted against
amending the means test that the bill used to determine whether a bankrupt's income level is above the median level
for the State. The amendment would change the part of the test that will require both the income of a debtor and a
debtor's spouse to be considered in the means test to a requirement that both spouses' income be considered only in
joint cases. The amendment was agreed to, 56-43. [S 420, Vote 32, 3/15/01]
20

XXXX Voted To Protect The Confidentiality Of Children In Bankruptcy Proceedings. In 2001, XXXX voted
for the Leahy modified amendment to the Bankruptcy Reform Act of 2001 (S. 420). The amendment would provide
that a debtor in bankruptcy proceedings could be required to provide information regarding a minor child but could
not be required to disclose in public records the name of that child. A debtor could be required to disclose the name
of a minor child in a nonpublic record maintained by the bankruptcy court; a bankruptcy judge, trustee, or auditor
could inspect that record but would be required to maintain the confidentiality of the identity of the child. The
amendment was agreed to, 99-0. [S 240, Vote 31, 3/15/01]
XXXX Voted Against Capping The Amount Of Home Equity Shielded From Creditors In Bankruptcy Court
At $125,000. In 2001, XXXX voted against an effort to cap the amount of home equity shielded from creditors in
bankruptcy court at $125,000. Bush, who supported a sweeping overhaul of the bankruptcy laws, was opposed to
the $125,000 cap. The provision was designed to close a loophole in current law, the so-called homestead
exemption, which allowed wealthy debtors to shield their assets in luxury homes. The vote was on an amendment
to the Bankruptcy Reform Act of 2001. After the vote, the amendment was adopted by voice vote. [S 420, Vote 30,
3/15/01; Associated Press, 7/17/01]
XXXX Voted to Invoke Cloture on Bankruptcy Overhaul. In March 2001, XXXX voted to invoke cloture (thus
limiting debate) on the bill that would revise bankruptcy laws to make it easier for courts to move debtors from
Chapter 7 of the bankruptcy code, which allows most debts to be discharged, to Chapter 13, which requires a
reorganization of debts under a repayment plan. [S 420, Vote 29, 3/14/01]
XXXX Voted Not To Deny Bankruptcy Claims For Loans With Annualized Interest Rates In Excess of
100%. In 2001, XXXX voted against supporting the Wellstone modified amendment to the Bankruptcy Reform
Act of 2001 (S. 420). The Wellstone modified amendment would deny any claims of lenders in bankruptcy if those
claims were for loans they gave which, if they had been given on an annualized basis, would have had interest rates
in excess of 100 percent. For instance, if a "payday" lender gave a $100 loan for 1 week for a fee of $5, the
equivalent yearly fee would be $260, or 260 percent, so that lender would not be entitled under the Wellstone
amendment to recover any of the loan amount if the borrower declared bankruptcy. The motion to table was agreed
to, 58-41. [S 420, Vote 28, 3/14/01]
XXXX Opposed Consumer Protections and Stiffer Penalties for Predatory Lenders. In 2001, XXXX voted to
reject added restrictions on credit card companies, requirements that the companies disclose more information to
consumers and stiffer penalties for predatory lenders. The vote was on substitute amendment to the Bankruptcy
Reform Act of 2001. [S 420, Vote 27, 3/14/01]
XXXX Voted Against Limiting The Discharge Of California Utilities’ Debts. In 2001, XXXX voted to table
the Wyden amendment to the Bankruptcy Reform Act of 2001 (S. 420). The Wyden amendment would prohibit, in
Chapter 11 proceedings, the discharge of a California private utility's debts incurred from the receipt of wholesale
electric power that was sold under an order issued by the Secretary of Energy under the Federal Power Act. The
motion to table was agreed to, 67-30. [S 420, Vote 26, 3/14/01]
XXXX Opposed Making It Illegal To Give A Credit Card To A Minor, With Certain Exceptions. In 2001,
XXXX voted against making it illegal to give a credit card or open-end credit plan to anyone under the age of 21
unless: a parent, legal guardian, spouse, or other individual with means of repaying any debts incurred cosigned for
the credit card or credit plan; the person under the age of 21 submitted information indicating an independent
means of repaying any obligation arising from the proposed extension of credit; or the applicant provided proof that
he had completed a credit counseling course by an approved non-profit budget and credit counseling agency. The
motion to table was agreed to, 58-41. [S 420, Vote 25, 3/13/01]
XXXX Voted Not To Hold Secondary Mortgage Companies Liable For Claims Against Acquired Assets. In
2001, XXXX voted against requiring any secondary mortgage company which purchased the financial assets (credit
contracts and transactions) of a financial institution which had filed for bankruptcy to be held liable for all claims
and defenses related to those assets to the same extent that the secondary company would have been held liable had
the sale taken place other than under bankruptcy. The motion to table failed, 44-55. [S 420 Vote 24, 3/13/01]
21

XXXX Voted Against Protecting Retirement Accounts During Bankruptcy. In March 2001, XXXX voted
against an amendment that would remove the provision in the bill that would provide a $1 million cap on the
amount of individual retirement account contributions protected by bankruptcy. [S 420, Vote 21, 3/13/01]
XXXX Voted Not To Cap Credit Cards Issued To Minors. In 2001, XXXX voted against requiring a $2,500
cap on any credit card issued to an adult under the age of 21, unless he or she submitted an application with the
signature of his or her parent or guardian indicating joint liability for debt or unless he or she submitted financial
information indicating an ability to repay the debt that the card accrued. Also, the amendment would require the
written approval of the cosigner to increase credit lines for accounts for which the cosigner was liable. The motion
to table was agreed to, 55-42. [S 420, Vote 20, 3/13/01]
XXXX Voted Against Striking Small Business Bankruptcy Reforms. XXXX voted against the Kerry
amendment (No. 26) to the Bankruptcy Reform Act of 2001 (S. 420). The Kerry amendment would strike small
business bankruptcy reforms, including streamlined, standardized forms so small business debtors would be able to
manage bankruptcies more cheaply. Nationwide, uniform reporting requirements would be established that would
simplify current procedures. The amendment would also require a study and report on the subject of small business
bankruptcies. The motion to table was agreed to, 55-41. [S 420, Vote 19, 3/8/01]
MISCELLANEOUS
XXXX Voted Against Ending “Janitors Insurance” Corporate Loophole. In 2003, XXXX voted against an
amendment that would remove a provision of the tax code that allows a company to purchase life insurance policies
for non-critical employees without the employee’s knowledge, making the company eligible for a tax break. [S
1054, Vote 175, 5/15/03; National Journal’s “The Hotline,” 5/16/03; Senator Edwards release, 5/15/03]
XXXX Voted For An Amendment To Require Notification Of Customers When Their Financial Information
Will Be Shared. In November 2003, XXXX voted for an amendment that would strike the section of the bill
related to the sharing of information between subsidiaries owned by the same company and replace it with
provisions that would require financial institutions to notify consumers that their financial information will be
shared with affiliates and provide customer the right to opt out. [S 1753, Vote 434, 11/4/03]
XXXX Voted Against Requiring the FERC to Review Mergers. In July 2003, XXXX voted for the Domenici,
R-NM, motion to table (kill) the Bingaman, D-NM, amendment to the Domenici amendment. The Bingaman
amendment would strike language from the underlying amendment pertaining to electric utility mergers and replace
it with language that would expand the power of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to review
mergers, acquisitions and disposition of assets of holding companies that own utilities; certain electric and gas
company mergers; and generation facilities. It would establish stronger standards for FERC approval of such
transactions and provide for expedited review of certain transactions. The Domenici amendment would repeal the
1935 Public Utilities Holding Company Act and lift restrictions on who can own utilities. It would clarify that
FERC has no power to compel utilities to join regional power transmission organizations. Some of the cost of
expanding wholesale power transmission networks would shift from households to major industrial utility
customers and the utilities that serve them. [S 14, Vote 313, 7/30/03]
XXXX Voted Against Closing “Enron Loophole” and Increasing Energy Trading Regulation and
Transparency. In 2003, XXXX to kill an amendment that regulated online trading of energy derivatives and
imposed stringent penalties for market manipulation. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) described her amendment as
closing the “Enron loophole” by attempting to fix the Commodity Futures Modernization Act of 2000 that
exempted energy trading from regulation after intensive lobbying by Enron. The exemption allows firms to buy and
sell billions of dollars worth of electricity, natural gas, oil, gasoline, and other petroleum products without
disclosing information on those deals to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). The amendment
would give the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) regulatory oversight of all derivative transactions
of energy commodities, except for metals. It would subject electronic transactions to broad disclosure and
transparency requirements, require electronic trading facilities and dealer markets to maintain sufficient capital to
22

cover all operations, and require the CFTC and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to meet quarterly and
discuss how derivative energy markets are functioning. [S 14, Vote 218, 6/11/03; Oil Daily, 6/11/03]
XXXX Voted to Overhaul Regulation of the Accounting Industry. In July 2002, XXXX voted for a bill that
would require more complete disclosure of corporate finances and overhaul regulation of the accounting industry. It
would establish a new oversight board, funded by fees on publicly traded companies, to police accounting firms.
The agreement would forbid firms from providing investment banking, management consulting and other services
for publicly traded companies. It would require additional corporate reporting and disclosure requirements. In cases
of security fraud, it would impose civil monetary penalties and require executives engaged in financial misconduct
to pay back bonuses and profits. The money would be placed in a fund for defrauded investors. It also would bar
executive loans. The agreement would create a criminal penalty for securities fraud and obstruction of justice
involving document shredding and require top corporate executives to certify company financial statements. [HR
3763, Vote 192, 7/25/02]
XXXX Voted for Greater Accountability for SEC Firms. In July 2002, XXXX voted for a bill that would
require more complete disclosure of corporate finances and overhaul regulation of the accounting industry. The bill
would establish a new oversight board to police accounting firms, and forbid firms from providing investment
banking, management consulting and other services for publicly traded companies. It would create new criminal
penalties for shareholder fraud and obstruction of justice involving document shredding and require chief
executives and chief financial officers to attest to the accuracy of financial statements included in SEC filings. [S
2673, Vote 176, 7/15/02]
XXXX Voted to Increase Ethics Requirement for Attorneys Representing SEC Firms. In July 2002, XXXX
voted for an amendment that would require the SEC to establish new rules setting professional standards of conduct
for attorneys representing public companies who appear before the SEC, including a rule requiring an attorney to
report evidence of a material violation of securities law to the company's chief legal counsel or chief executive
officer, or to the board of directors if necessary. [S 2673, Vote 175, 7/15/02]
XXXX Voted to Pass the Corporate Reform Bill, Which Stiffened Penalties For Fraud And Tightened
Oversight Of The Accounting Industry. In 2002, XXXX voted for a corporate reform bill that created stiff
penalties for business fraud and tightened oversight of the accounting industry. John McCain and Carl Levin, the
only two dissenters to the bill, opposed the bill after their efforts to add other reform measures, such as a proposal
that would require companies to count executives’ stock options as an expense against earnings, were rebuffed. The
vote was on a motion to invoke cloture on the bill. [S 2673, Vote 173, 7/12/02; Associated Press, 7/12/02]
XXXX Voted to Curb Attorney Solicitation. In July 2002, XXXX voted for an amendment that would require
attorneys to make a written disclosure of potential fees and other matters before retention by a client. It also would
prohibit unsolicited communications concerning a potential civil action for personal injury or wrongful death until
45 days following the incident. Violators would be subject to a maximum penalty of $5,000 for each violation. This
was an amendment to the Edwards amendment, which would require the Securities and Exchange Commission
(SEC) to establish new rules setting professional standards of conduct for attorneys representing public companies
who appear before the SEC, including a rule requiring an attorney to report evidence of a material violation of
securities law to the company's chief legal counsel or chief executive officer, or to the board of directors if
necessary. [S 2673, Vote 172, 7/11/02]
XXXX Voted to Increase Penalties for Corporate Wrongdoing. In July 2002, XXXX voted for an amendment
that would increase the maximum sentences for corporate wrongdoing from five years to 10 years. It also would
allow the government to charge obstruction against individuals who acted alone, even if tampering took place prior
to a grand jury subpoena issuance. It would allow the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to seek an order
in federal court imposing a 45 day freeze on "extraordinary" payments to corporate executives and request the
Sentencing Commission to adopt stronger penalties for fraud when the crime is committed by a corporate officer or
a corporate director. [S 2673, Vote 171, 7/10/02]
23

XXXX Voted to Toughen Penalties for Mail and Wire Fraud. In July 2002, XXXX voted for an amendment
that would raise the maximum penalties for mail and wire fraud from five years to 10 years, raise the penalty for
federal pension law violations from one year to 10 years, and provide the same penalties for conspiracy as for the
underlying crime. It also would direct the U.S. Sentencing Commission to review and amend sentencing guidelines
and policy statements to provide for increased penalties to reflect the increases in the maximum penalties provided
under the bill. Corporate officials of regulated companies would be required to certify that financial reports
accurately reflect the financial condition of the company. It would create criminal penalties of up to five years for
recklessly and knowingly failing to certify and up to 10 years for willfully failing to certify. [S 2673, Vote 170,
7/10/02]
XXXX Voted to Toughen Penalties for Individuals who Defraud Shareholders. In July 2002, XXXX voted for
an amendment that would create a 10-year securities fraud felony for anyone who knowingly defrauds
shareholders, and direct the U.S. Sentencing Commission to raise penalties in obstruction of justice cases where
evidence is destroyed. It also would create a 10-year felony for the destruction of evidence when records are under
subpoena, require the preservation of key financial audits for five years, and create a five-year felony for
intentionally destroying such documents. It would provide whistleblower protections for employees of publicly
traded companies and lengthen the statute of limitations on securities fraud cases. [S 2673, Vote 169, 7/10/02]
XXXX Voted to Allow Financial Institutions to Impose an ATM Surcharge. In 1998, XXXX voted to kill the
D’Amato amendment to S.1301, which was an amendment to prohibit financial institutions from imposing a
surcharge -- a charge in addition to the interchange fee -- for the use of ATMs. [Vote 275, 9/17/98]
XXXX Voted to Allow Credit Card Companies from Terminating Customers Who Avoid Finance Charges.
In 1998, XXXX voted to kill the Reed amendment to S.1301, which was an amendment to prohibit credit card
companies from terminating or refusing to renew credit to consumers who avoid finance charges by paying off their
balances. The amendment also would prohibit creditors from charging such consumers a fee in lieu of finance
charges. [Vote 273, 9/17/98]
24

BUDGET & SPENDING
HIGHLIGHTS

INTEREST GROUP RATINGS
CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS
THE XXXX RECORD
FY 2009 BUDGETS
FY 2009 BUDGETS
XXXX Voted Against the Final FY 2009 Budget. In June 2008, XXXX voted against the $3.03 trillion budget
blueprint. The budget would allow Congress to appropriate $24.5 billion more than the $991.6 billion Bush
requested in discretionary spending, when cap adjustments and advance appropriations are included. The
conference agreement was adopted on a 48-45 vote that largely followed party lines. [CQ Today, 6/04/08; Vote
142, 6/04/08]
XXXX Voted Against the FY 2009 Budget. In March 2008, XXXX voted against the fiscal 2009 budget
resolution. The resolution would allow up to $1 trillion in discretionary spending for 2009. It would allow for a $35
billion economic stimulus package and would assume a one-year adjustment to prevent additional taxpayers from
paying the alternative minimum tax. As amended, the resolution would allow for the extension of certain 2001 and
2003 tax cuts, including the 10 percent tax bracket and the child tax credit. The budget was adopted 51-44 in the
early hours of March 14, though the session began and thus is dated March 13. [Vote 85, 3/13/08]
 Jobs. XXXX voted against approximately 500,000 new good-paying construction and green collar jobs.
 Middle class tax cuts. XXXX voted against an extension of the child tax credit, against marriage penalty
relief, and against lower income taxes for all families, to hold middle class tax relief hostage unless multi-
millionaires get more tax breaks averaging $120,000 per year.
 Affordable college. XXXX voted against an extension of tuition tax credits that helps make college more
affordable to middle class families.
 Job training. Private employers have cut hundreds of thousands of jobs in the last three months, but
XXXX voted against restoring over $2 billion in proposed cuts to job training and vocational education
st
programs to help youth and adults prepare for 21 century jobs.
 Clean energy. XXXX voted against major new investments in clean energy and the green collar jobs they
create.
 Veterans. The budget XXXX voted against includes $3.2 billion more than the Bush budget for veterans’
programs, covering the amount veterans’ groups have identified as necessary to address shortfalls in health
care, prosthetic research, benefits backlogs, and construction.
 Close down offshoring tax shelters. XXXX voted against shutting down tax shelters that let U.S.
corporations evade billions in taxes by re-incorporating in the Cayman Islands and other offshore locations.
 Infrastructure. XXXX voted against a $10 billion investment in the roads and bridges that are the
lifeblood of our economy, which would create hundreds of thousands of new jobs.
[Vote 85, 3/14/08; Chairman’s Mark of FY 2009 Budget Resolution, 3/6/08]
25

FY 2008 BUDGETS
FY 2008 BUDGETS
XXXX Opposed Responsible FY08 Budget Resolution. In March 2007, XXXX voted against the initial version
of the Fiscal Year 2008 budget resolution. In May 2007, XXXX voted against bill where the final budget passed
52-40. [Vote 114, 3/23/07; Vote 172, 5/17/07]
 Democratic Budget Boost Funding For Veterans Neglected By Bush Administration. The Democratic
budget resolution provides for over $3.5 billion more in funding for Veterans than the Bush
Administration’s proposal. Bush’s budget called for $39.6 billion in funding compared to the Democratic
plan for $43.1 billion. The budget XXXXX opposed included $6.7 billion more for veterans than 2007.
[Senate Budget Committee, 3/20/07, 5/17/07]
 Democratic Budget Proposed Extension of SCHIP. The Senate Democrats’ plan provides up to $50
billion for the reauthorization of SCHIP, far exceeding the $2 billion proposed by the Bush
Administration. The money will maintain coverage for millions of children already enrolled in the program
and expand health insurance to six million children eligible for SCHIP but not yet enrolled in the program.
[Senate Budget Committee, 3/20/07]
 Democratic Budget Provided $6.1 Billion More than Bush Budget for Education. Under the Bush
Budget proposal, education funding would be set at $56.2 billion dollars. Democrats, on the other hand,
proposed a $62.3 billion funding mark. [Senate Budget Committee, 3/20/07]
 Democratic Budget Extended $180 Billion in Middle-Class Tax Cuts. The Senate budget authorizes
$180 billion to preserve tax cuts aimed at the middle class, including credits for married couples and
families with children. [AP, 3/22/07]
FY 2007 BUDGETS
FY 2007 BUDGETS
XXXX Voted For FY 2007 Budget Resolution. In 2006, XXXX voted for the FY 2007 Budget Resolution, which
was largely a rubber-stamp of President Bush’s budget, with inferior support for national and homeland security,
$228 billion in debt-financed tax breaks that disproportionately benefit special interests, and a lack of commitment
to policies that could help make middle class life more affordable. The resolution would allow up to approximately
$878 billion in discretionary spending for fiscal 2007. It would give procedural protection to legislation authorizing
oil drilling in part of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska. [Vote 74, 3/16/06]
 XXXX-Backed FY07 Budget Shattered Debt Ceiling and Allowed Drilling in ANWR. XXXX voted
for the $2.8 trillion FY07 Budget Resolution which, among other things, cleared the way for oil drilling in
the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and provided $10 billion for Gulf Coast restoration. The budget was
approved only after Republicans approved an amendment allowing the government to borrow an additional
$781 billion, bringing the debt ceiling to nearly $9 trillion. [Vote 74, 3/16/06; Washington Post, 3/18/06;
Anchorage Daily News, 3/17/06; Los Angeles Times, 3/17/06]
FY 2006 BUDGETS
FY 2006 BUDGETS
XXXX Cast Deciding Vote for Final 2005 Budget Reconciliation With Largest Student Loan Cuts in History.
XXXX voted for the final version of the 2005 budget reconciliation bill, which passed 50-50 with the Vice
26

President casting the tie-breaking vote. The package cut $12.7 million from college loans, the largest cuts to the
student loan program in its history. [Vote 363, 12/21/05; AP, 12/19/05; Washington Post, 12/19/05]
XXXX Voted for Final FY 2006 Budget Resolution. In April 2005, XXXX voted for final passage of the $2.6
trillion budget conference report for 2006. The report cut Medicaid spending by $10 billion, spent every penny of
the Social Security surplus, increased the national deficit by $167.5 billion over 5 years and paved the way for oil
drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Furthermore, the conference report cut funding for veterans’ health
care by $13.5 billion over five years. Yet the budget still found room for $106 billion in tax cuts for those who need
it the least. [Vote 114, 4/28/05; House Budget Committee Democratic Caucus, 4/28/05]
XXXX Voted for Initial FY 2006 Budget Resolution. In March 2005, XXXX voted for the Senate version of the
$2.57 trillion FY 2006 Budget, which passed 51-49. The bill included $134 billion in tax cuts, even more than the
President requested, partially by extending capital gains and dividend tax cuts, while it called for about $17 billion
in mandatory spending cuts over five years. The budget also included parliamentary language that would make it
easier to open ANWR to oil exploration and drilling. [Vote 81, 3/17/05; New York Times, 3/18/05; Anchorage
Daily News, 3/18/05; Knight Ridder, 3/18/05]
XXXX Voted to Give Reconciliation Protection to Tax Cuts. In March 2005, XXXX voted against an
amendment that would strike language in the budget resolution that would give reconciliation protection to tax cuts.
Sponsor Tom Carper explained, “This is a straightforward amendment. If my colleagues agree with me, a U.S.
Senator who wants to reduce taxes in a way that decreases the budget deficit, it is OK to do that. For this Senator or
any Senator who wishes to reduce taxes, we can do that under this amendment, but if those taxes increase the
budget deficit and the debt for this country, we need to muster 60 votes. The moneys for the offset can come from
other taxes or they can come from reducing spending to provide the offset.” [Vote 59, 3/17/05; Congressional
Record, 3/17/05]
FY 2005 BUDGETS
FY 2005 BUDGETS
XXXX Voted for Initial FY 2005 Budget. In March 2004, XXXX voted for the Senate version of the $2.4 trillion
budget resolution. Among other things, supporters said the bill aimed to halve the $477 billion fiscal deficit in
three years - faster than the five years Bush had suggested – but critics argued that by ignoring the cost of the war in
Iraq and failing to ease the alternative minimum tax, the budget would not result in halving the deficit. [Vote 58,
3/12/04; Reuters, 3/13/04; AP, 3/12/04]
 GOP Budget Underestimated Size of Tax Cuts. The Democratic Policy Committee declared that this
budget “significantly underestimates the tax cuts assumed in the resolution,” since many of these cuts
“have little or no costs during the five years covered by the resolution.” In other words, because the costs
of the resolutions tax cuts aren’t felt until after FY 2009, the tax cuts are really $1.1 trillion over a ten
year period. [Democratic Policy Committee, Summary of S Con Res 95, 3/8/04]
 GOP Budget Underestimated Medicaid Cuts, Would Lead to “Limiting Access to Health Care.”
The Democratic Policy Committee declared that this budget assumes that $11 billion in cuts to Medicaid
can be reached by reducing “waste and overpayments.” Irregardless of the cause, this budget was
expected to result in a reduction in federal payments to the states for Medicaid. Given that states have
already been forced to cut Medicaid funding due to fiscal problems, “this proposal is likely to lead states
to further reduce Medicaid, limiting access to health care for low-income, uninsured Americans.”
[Democratic Policy Committee, Summary of S Con Res 95, 3/8/04]
 AFL-CIO: Budget Locked in Tax Cuts for Wealthy, Inflated Budget, Cut Funds for Working
Families. “President Bush presented a budget that permanently locked in multi-trillion-dollar tax breaks
that mostly benefit the nation’s wealthiest. To finance these taxes cuts for millionaires and billionaires,
27

the Republican budget resolution—which mirrored Bush’s proposal—inflated the record-high $477
billion U.S. deficit and by $113 billion shortchanged or cut funds for the domestic programs working
families need most—from job creation to health care, transportation and education.” [www.afl-cio.org]
 League of Conservation Voters: Budget Resolution Would Have Required $2.8 Billion in Cuts to
Environmental and Natural Resource Programs. The budget resolution reported by the Senate Budget
Committee not only made deep and disproportionate cuts to environmental programs, but would have
locked them in through binding two-year spending caps. The budget resolution would have required $2.8
billion in cuts to environmental and natural resource programs over two years and, over a five-year
period, would have slashed environmental programs by 14 percent below the level needed to maintain
current activities. These proposed cuts--exceeding those proposed for most other domestic programs--
would have forced crippling reductions in programs that reduce air and water pollution, promote sound
science and safeguard our natural resources. [S Con Res 95, 3/12/04, Vote 58; www.LCV.org]
FY 2004 BUDGETS
FY 2004 BUDGETS
XXXX Cast Deciding Vote For Final FY04 Budget Resolution With $550 Billion In Tax Cuts. In April 2003,
XXXX cast a crucial vote for the final version of the Fiscal Year 2004 budget resolution, which allowed for new
tax cuts of up to $550 billion, although the Republican Senate leadership promised moderates in their caucus that
tax cuts in the final budget would not exceed $350 billion. Critics argued that the final budget resolution would
increase the federal deficit to record levels of $347 billion in 2003 and $385 billion in 2004 and would result in a
$1.7 trillion deficit in 2013. The resolution also called for funding cuts for education and local law enforcement
programs. It narrowly passed, with Vice President Cheney breaking a 50-50 tie. [Vote 134, 4/11/03; AP, 4/11/03;
Senate Budget Committee Democratic Caucus, 4/11/03]

 GOP Budget Would Significantly Increase Deficit. According to Democratic Policy Committee
analysis of Congressional Budget Office projections, this budget resolution would increase the federal
deficit to record levels of $347 billion in 2003 and $385 billion in 2004 and would result in a $1.7 trillion
deficit in 2013. [Democratic Policy Committee, Summary of the FY2004 Republican Budget Conference
Report, 4/11/03]
 GOP Budget Reduced Funding for Many Vital Programs. According to Democratic Policy
Committee, the budget that came out of the GOP conference committee removed or eliminated vital
funding for a variety of vital programs. This includes:
o Elimination of “additional funding for port security that was added during Senate consideration.”
o Cuts to local law enforcement programs including the “COPS program, the Byrne Grant program,
and the Local Law Enforcement Block Grant Program in order to fund first responders.”
o Cuts No Child Left Behind by $4 billion from the agreed upon figure in the Senate for 2004 and $20
billion over ten years.
o Removal of a “special education provision…that created a mechanism to…accommodate additional
IDEA spending of $205 million in 2004 and $209 million in 2005.”
o Removal of a concurrent receipt amendment offered by Sen. Reid which would have provided “$12.8
billion in National Defense mandatory funding over ten years for concurrent receipt for military
retirees with service-connected disabilities.”
o Removal of a provision to create a $396 billion reserve fund to “strengthen Social Security and
extend the solvency of the Social Security trust funds.” [Democratic Policy Committee, Summary of
the FY2004 Republican Budget Conference Report, 4/11/03]
XXXX Voted for Initial FY04 Budget Resolution With $350 Billion in Tax Cuts. In March 2003, XXXX voted
for the initial Senate version of the $2.2 trillion budget for fiscal year 2004, which included $350 billion in tax cuts
– half the size of the tax cut originally proposed by Bush. Critics argued that, even with the smaller tax cut package,
28

the resolution was still irresponsible in the face of massive annual deficits. The Senate budget resolution passed 56-
44. [Vote 108, 3/26/03; AP, 3/26/03; Los Angeles Times, 3/27/03]
XXXX Voted Against “Blue Dog” Alternative Budget; Would Have Balanced Budget By FY 2009. On March
25, 2003, XXXX voted against an alternative “Blue Dog” budget, which would have postponed future tax cuts for
top incomes if the cost of war with Iraq leads to deficits. The vote was on the Carper, D-DE amendment to the FY
2004 budget resolution, which would provide a balanced budget by fiscal 2009. It would maintain the president’s
spending levels but provide congressional flexibility in allocating funds. [Vote 95, 3/25/03]
FY 2003 BUDGETS
XXXX Voted to Kill FY 2003 Budget Setting Discretionary Spending at $795 Billion. In 2002, XXXX voted for the
Daschle, D-S.D., motion to table (kill) the Santorum, R-Pa., amendment to the Daschle amendment. The Santorum amendment
would substitute the text of the Daschle amendment with the text of the committee-approved budget resolution that would set
total discretionary spending at $795 billion for fiscal 2003 and would establish a 60-vote point of order against fiscal 2003
spending bills that exceed the discretionary spending limit. The Daschle amendment would extend through fiscal year 2007 the
60-vote requirement to waive budgetary points of order or to appeal a ruling of the chair. It would extend the Senate pay-as-
you-go point of order through fiscal 2007. It also would extend for five years the enforcement of discretionary spending caps
through sequestration and extend provisions requiring sequestration of mandatory spending to offset direct spending and
revenue legislation that would increase the deficit. The motion was agreed to by a vote of 96-0. [CQ; HR 4775, Vote #134,
6/5/02]
In 2002, XXXX voted for the Gregg, R-N.H., motion to waive the Budget Act with respect to the Conrad, D-N.D., point of
order against the Gregg amendment. The Gregg amendment would establish and extend for five years the caps on discretionary
spending keyed to the levels in the budget resolution reported by the Senate Budget Committee. It would establish and extend
pay-as-you-go discipline that controls entitlement spending and tax law changes. The amendment would provide for points of
order against an individual provision in legislation that violates the spending caps or pay-as-you-go requirements. It would
require 60 votes to change the discretionary caps, the balance of the pay-as-you-go scorecard or the directed scorecard. It also
would extend for five years the 60-vote requirement to waive existing points of order that enforce the
Congressional Budget Act. The motion was rejected by a vote of 49-49. [CQ; HR 4775, Vote #133, 6/5/02]
FY 2002 BUDGETS
FY 2002 BUDGETS
FY 2002:
XXXX Voted For Conference Report to GOP FY02 Budget. In May 2001, XXXX voted for the conference
report on the concurrent resolution to adopt a 10-year budget plan that calls for approximately $1.35 trillion in tax
cuts through fiscal 2011, including a $100 billion stimulus package. The agreement would cap discretionary
spending at $661.3 billion. Discretionary spending allocations would total $325.1 billion for defense and $336.2
billion for non-defense. [Vote 98, 5/10/01]
 Sen. Conrad Opposed Conference Report. Following the vote on the conference report to the FY 02
budget resolution, Sen. Kent Conrad explained why he opposed the resolution. Conrad said he opposed the
resolution for six reasons.
 No New Money for Education: Conrad pointed out that during Senate debate of the budget, the Senate
approved an amendment to increase funding for education by $225 billion by reducing the size of the Bush
tax cuts and another amendment increasing funding for students with disabilities by $70 billion. Funding
for both of these amendments was removed in conference committee.
29

 Unaffordable Tax Cuts: The $1.3 trillion tax cuts are unaffordable. At the time, budget surplus 10-year
budget surplus projections were varied at best. Depending on projections, the budget surplus could reach
as high as $1 trillion or sink as low as a $50 billion deficit. “This is not money in the bank,” and the tax
cuts are too risky.
 Hides Defense Spending: Huge chunks of defense spending were intentionally omitted from this budget.
An April 2001 USA TODAY story reported that “the Secretary of Defense and this administration are
expected to seek a large boost in defense spending, $200 billion to $300 billion over the next 6 years.”
None of that funding is in the conference report.
 Sets up Raid of Social Security and Medicare Trust Funds: This budget raids the Social Security and
Medicare trust funds by over $200 billion each.
 Cuts Spending for High-Priority Domestic Needs: This budget cut funding for high-priority domestic
needs including funds for the Social Security and Medicare trust funds, education and students with
disabilities.
 Fails to Set Aside Funds for Social Security and Medicare Reform: The Bush tax cut, $1.3 trillion over
ten years, “would deprive the Government of the cash it would need to pay for the $1 trillion transition cost
for the first 10 years of Bush’s Social Security privatization plan.” [Floor Statement, Sen. Kent Conrad,
5/10/01]
XXXX Voted for GOP FY 02 Budget That Called for Trillion Dollar Tax Cut. In April 2001, XXXX voted to
adopt a 10-year budget plan that called for approximately $1.18 trillion in tax cuts over ten years and $85 billion in
tax cuts in fiscal 2001. It also would reduce publicly held debt by approximately $1.1 trillion, and cap discretionary
spending at $678 billion, a 7 percent increase over fiscal 2001. [Vote 86, 4/6/01]
 Sen. Conrad Opposed Budget Resolution; Not Enough Debt Paid Off. Following the vote on the FY 02
budget resolution, Sen. Kent Conrad explained why he opposed the resolution. Conrad said he opposed the
resolution for three reasons. Insufficient Debt Reduction: Conrad said he “wanted to reserve 70 percent of
the forecasted surpluses for debt reduction….my first concern with what we passed is there is not sufficient
debt reduction.” Dipping Into Trust Fund: Conrad said he was concerned that the budget would require
depleting the Medicare trust fund by $54 billion by 2007. Conrad said he did “not think we should use any
of the trust funds of Social Security or Medicare.” Tax Cuts Too Steep: Conrad said the tax cuts were
“simply too large to accommodate the kind of additional debt paydown that…is in the best interest of the
country.” This budget pays the debt down to $1.1 trillion. Conrad would have preferred it pay it down to
about $500 billion.[Floor Statement, Sen. Kent Conrad, 4/6/01]
OTHER FEDERAL BUDGET ISSUES
PAY-GO
XXXX Voted Against Restoring PAYGO Rules in 2006. In March 2006, XXXX voted against restoring pay-as-
you-go rules that would require and 60-vote majority to enact new tax cuts or new spending on entitlements without
showing how to pay for them. ‘‘For those who say they are fiscally responsible, here is your chance,’’ said Sen.
Kent Conrad, senior Democrat on the Budget Committee. ‘‘You are going to be able to prove with one vote
whether you are serious about doing something about these runaway debts and runaway deficits or whether it is all
talk.’’ [Vote 38, 3/14/06; Star Tribune, 3/16/06; New York Times, 3/15/06]
XXXX Voted Against Restoring Pay-As-You-Go Rules Three Times in 2005. In March 2005, XXXX voted
against restoring PAYGO rules, which would require a 60-vote majority to pass any deficit-busting spending. In
addition, Tax cuts and new entitlement spending would have to be offset with revenue increases or spending cuts.
30

McConnell voted against restoring PAYGO rules again twice in November 2005. [Vote 53, 3/16/05; Vote 283,
11/3/05; Vote 340, 11/17/05]
XXXX Opposed Restoring Pay-As-You-Go (PAYGO) Rules. In March 2004, XXXX voted against restoring
pay-as-you-go ([PAYGO) rules. PAYGO requires a 60-vote point of order against any direct spending or revenue
legislation that would increase the on-budget deficit or cause an on-budget deficit. In other words, this amendment
would require tax cuts and/or new spending, including new entitlement spending, to be offset with revenue
increases and/or spending cuts. [Vote 38, 3/10/04]
XXXX Voted Against Extending the Pay-As-You-Go Rule in 2003. In May 2003, XXXX voted against an
amendment that would extend Congressional “pay-as-you-go” (PAYGO) rules until 2008. [Vote 200, 5/23/03]
BALANCED BUDGET
XXXX Voted For a Balanced Budget Constitutional Amendment. In 1997, XXXX voted for S.J.Res.1, a
balanced-budget constitutional amendment. This was a vote on the passage of a joint resolution to propose a
constitutional amendment to balance the budget by the year 2002 or two years after ratification by three-fourths of
the states, whichever is later. The budget would have to be balanced every fiscal year, unless three-fifths of each
chamber votes for a debt increase. [Vote 24, 3/4/97]
XXXX Voted Against a Balanced Budget Constitutional Amendment. In 1997, XXXX voted against making
balancing the budget a Constitutional amendment even though since 1978 Congress has passed five major statutory
balanced budget mechanisms and all have been changed to allow Congress to avoid balancing the budget. [Vote 23,
2/27/97]
XXXX Voted Against Congress Authority to Enforce Balanced-Budget Amendment. In 1997, XXXX voted
against giving Congress exclusive authority to enforce provisions of the balanced-budget amendment. [Vote 20,
2/27/97]
NATIONAL DEBT
XXXX Voted to Add At Least $1.14 Trillion to the Deficit. In 2006, XXXX voted in favor of the Republican
budget resolution that mirrored Bush’s proposals and would add trillions to the deficit. While Senate Republicans
claimed that the budget resolution will reduce the deficit, the cumulative deficit over five years was already
forecasted to be $1.14 trillion with this budget—before lawmakers added another $16 billion for appropriations to
help the package win approval. Under the Republican five-year budget, the U.S. debt will reach nearly $12 trillion
in 2011. With no brakes on spending and no plans to raise revenues, the “federal debt is now raising at an
unprecedented clip.” [Vote 74, 3/17/06; Democratic Policy Committee, 3/14/06; Budget Committee Minority Staff,
3/15/06; Washington Post, 3/17/06]
XXXX Voted to Raise Debt Limit to Nearly $9 Trillion. In 2006, XXXX voted to raise the federal debt limit to
$8.965 trillion, a $781 billion increase. When President Bush went into office, the debt limit was $5.95 trillion and
the 2006 vote represented the fourth time the Bush Administration asked Congress to raise the debt limit. [Vote 54,
3/16/06; Chicago Tribune, 3/17/06]
XXXX Voted to Raise the Debt Limit By $446 Billion. In 2005, XXXX voted against a motion to strike budget
language that was set to raise the federal debt limit by $446 billion. Sen. Frank Lautenberg argued that the amount
represented “$1,510 for every man, woman and child in America.” [Vote 76, 3/17/05; Congressional Record,
3/17/05]
XXXX Voted Against Studying Effect of Foreign-Held Debt. In 2006, XXXX voted against requiring the
Secretary of the Treasury to study the national security and economic effects of foreign governments, institutions
and individuals holding U.S. federal debt. [Vote 53, 3/16/06; MarketWatch, 3/16/06]
31

XXXX Voted to Increase National Debt. During debate on the final fiscal year 2006 budget resolution, XXXX
voted against a motion to adopt a budget that does not increase the national debt. Explaining tax breaks included in
the budget package, Sen. Frank Lautenberg said, “The Democrats want to pay for these tax cuts by ending
giveaways to rich special interests. But the Republican side said: No, no, don’t persecute millionaires.” [Vote 20,
2/14/06; Congressional Record, 2/13/06]
XXXX Supported Raising the Debt Limit. In March 2004, XXXX voted in support of raising the debt limit.
More specifically, he voted against the Lautenberg amendment to the Fiscal Year 2005 Budget Resolution, which
was an amendment to strike reconciliation instructions from the resolution for the Finance Committee to report
legislation that would increase the statutory debt limit. [Vote 57, 3/11/04]
XXXX Voted to Increase the Debt Limit to $8.18 Trillion. In November 2004, XXXX voted to increase the
federal debt limit to $8.18 trillion, an $800 billion increase. [Vote 213, 11/17/04]
XXXX Voted to Increase Federal Debt Limit to $7.38 Trillion. XXXX voted for the passage of the joint
resolution that would increase the federal debt limit to $7.38 trillion, a $984 billion increase. [Vote 202, 5/23/03]
 XXXX Voted Against Reducing the Debt Limit By $634 Billion. XXXX voted against an amendment
that would reduce the debt limit increase in the bill by $634 billion. [Vote 197, 5/23/03]
XXXX Voted to Increase the Debt Ceiling. In June 2002, XXXX voted for a bill that would increase the public
debt limit by approximately $450 billion. [S 2578, 6/11/02, Vote 148]
XXXX Voted to Cut Taxes Before Reducing Our National Debt. On a narrow vote of 49-50, XXXX voted to
continue with a $1.3 trillion tax cut even before we meet U.S. debt reduction targets. Senator Bayh’s (D-IN)
amendment would have delayed tax and spending proposals until debt reduction targets were met. [HR 1836,
5/21/01, Vote 118]
XXXX Voted For An Amendment To Commit $12.2 Billion To Debt Retirement. In 2000, XXXX voted for an
amendment that would commit $12.2 billion of the projected non-Social Security surplus for fiscal year (FY) 2000
to debt retirement. The amendment was agreed to, 95-3. [Vote 131, 6/15/00]
XXXX Opposed Amendment Reducing Public Debt. In April 2000, XXXX voted against the Allard amendment
which would require the budget surplus be large enough so that public debt will be reduced by $15 billion each year
beginning in 2001 and an additional $15 billion each year until the entire debt has been paid. It also would require
that beginning in fiscal 2001, actual revenues exceed actual outlays to provide for the reduction of federal debt. The
amendment also would require the use of surplus funds in the Federal Old Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund
and the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund to reduce public debt until Congress enacts Social Security reform
legislation. [Vote 56, 4/5/00]
XXXX Voted Against Requiring a Three-Fifths Majority to Increase National Debt. In 1997, XXXX voted
against requiring a three-fifths majority vote to increase the national debt. [Vote 19, 2/27/97]
EARMARKS
XXXX Voted Against Openness in the Earmark Process. In 2005, XXXX voted against an amendment that
would require that any limitation, directive, or earmark be included in the bill's conference report to give both
chambers the opportunity to vote on all provisions. [HR 2361, Vote 160, 6/29/05]
XXXX Voted Against Bringing Federal Dollars to Pennsylvania. In 2003, XXXX voted for a McCain
amendment that would eliminate $255.7 million of appropriations to individual projects, including funding for the
Geisinger Health System in Harrisburg, Pa. The bill also included $98 million for an agricultural research facility in
Ames, IA; the U.S. Maritime Administration’s Title XI guaranteed loan program ($50 million for a guaranteed loan
32

program for shipbuilders); spending on the Great Lakes Fishery Commission ($500,000 for the Great Lakes Fishery
Commission to control sea lampreys in Lake Champlain); the Mental Health Association of Tarrant County, Texas
($225,000); the AIDS Research Institute at the University of California at San Francisco; the Geisinger Health
System in Harrisburg, Pa.; and the Jobs for America’s Graduates program. [S 762, 4/3/03, Vote 118; Gannett News
Service, 4/4/03; Congressional Quarterly Daily Monitor, 4/3/03]
MISCELLANEOUS
XXXX Voted Against Giving the President Authority on Emergency Spending. In March 2005, XXXX voted
for an amendment that would strike language in the resolution giving the president the authority to designate an
emergency spending requirement. [S Con Res 18, 3/17/05, Vote 67]
XXXX Voted to Make Emergency Spending Harder. In 2001, XXXX voted for an amendment that would
establish a 60-vote point of order against all emergency spending and establish a 60-vote point of order against
waiving across-the-board spending cuts and direct scoring provisions in legislation. [H Con Res 18, 4/5/01, Vote
78]
XXXX Voted to Create a Supermajority Budget Rule. In 1998, XXXX voted to create a budget rule that would
require a supermajority point of order against provision that would increase mandatory spending. [Vote 60, 4/1/98]
XXXX Voted to Requiring a Three-Fifths Majority Vote on Budget Resolutions. In 1997, XXXX voted for
requiring a three-fifths majority vote to pass a budget resolution that projects a deficit for FY 2002 or later. [Vote
146, 6/27/97]
XXXX Voted Against Allowing Budget Surplus to Accumulate. In 1997, XXXX voted against allowing the
budget surplus to accumulate. [Vote 22, 2/27/97]
XXXX Voted Against Allowing Congress to Waive Spending Restrictions for Emergencies. In 1997,
XXXX voted against allowing Congress to waive spending restrictions if there was a major disaster or emergency.
[Vote 18, 2/26/97]
33

CIVIL RIGHTS & MINORITY ISSUES
HIGHLIGHTS

THE XXXX RECORD
LILY LEDBETTER / FAIR PAY
XXXX Voted Against Allowing Victims of Wage Discrimination to Seek Remedies in Court. In January 2009,
XXXX voted against a bill to make it easier for victims of wage discrimination to seek remedies in court. The bill
was inspired by the 2007 Supreme Court case of Lilly Ledbetter, an Alabama employee of a Goodyear Tire Plant
who discovered after nearly 20 years that she had been paid less than her male counterparts. The court ruled, 5-4,
that Ledbetter couldn’t sue because she had filed her case more than 180 days after she was first hired at an unfair
wage. The bill would amend that statute of limitations to apply to each discriminatory paycheck or action. But
Senate Democrats, led by bill sponsor and floor manager Barbara A. Mikulski, D-Md., said the bill was simply a
return to the pre-Ledbetter interpretation of the law. The bill passed 61-36. [CQ Today, 1/22/09; Vote 14, 1/22/09]
 XXXX Voted Against Considering Fair Pay Legislation. In January 2009, XXXX voted against
considering a bill that would amend the 1964 Civil Rights Act to allow employees to file charges of pay
discrimination within 180 days of the last received paycheck affected by the alleged discriminatory
decision. The motion to invoke cloture (thus limiting debate) on the motion to proceed to the bill was
agreed to 72-23. [Vote 4, 1/15/09]
XXXX Voted to Block Bill to Eliminate Time Restrictions in Wage Discrimination Cases. In April 2008,
XXXX voted to block consideration of a bill to reverse a Supreme Court decision in a wage discrimination case.
The bill was intended to undo last year’s Supreme Court decision in Ledbetter v. Goodyear Rubber & Tire Co. The
court ruled, 5-4 that workers filing suit for pay discrimination must do so within 180 days of the actual decision to
discriminate against them. The motion to invoke cloture failed 56-42. [CQ Today, 4/23/08; Vote 110, 4/23/08]
XXXX Voted Not To Permit Unlimited Damages In Gender Discrimination Lawsuits. In 2000, XXXX voted
against an amendment that would amend the Fair Labor Standards Act to permit unlimited compensatory and
punitive damages to be awarded in gender discrimination lawsuits regarding pay rates, including in class-action
lawsuits, and would increase the burden on employers to prove that any pay rate differentials between jobs
primarily held by men and jobs primarily held by women were based on bona fide factors, such as education or
experience. The motion was rejected, 45-53. [Vote 203, 7/17/00]
GAY RIGHTS
XXXX Voted Against Defense Authorization Bill And Repeal Of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Policy. In September
2010, XXXX voted against a motion to invoke cloture (thus limiting debate) on the motion to proceed to the bill
that would authorize $725.7 billion in discretionary funding for defense programs in fiscal 2011. It also would
repeal a 1993 law that codifies the "don't ask, don't tell" policy on military service by openly gay men and women.
[CQ; Vote 238, 9/21/10]
XXXX Voted Against Expanding Hate Crimes Legislation. In October 2009, XXXX voted against the
conference report of the fiscal 2010 defense authorization bill that contained an expansion of federal hate crimes
law to cover offenses committed on the basis of gender identity and sexual orientation, a goal long sought by
Democrats. The bill passed 68-29. [CQ Today, 10/22/09; Vote 327, 10/22/09]
34

XXXX Voted To Block Hate Crimes Bill. In September 2007, XXXX voted to block an amendment to the
Defense Authorizations bill that would have increased penalties for certain hate crimes. The amendment, offered by
Senator Edward Kennedy would make violent crimes that cause bodily harm based on the victim's race, color,
religion or national origin punishable by a fine and up to 10 years in prison, and punishable by a life sentence if the
victim dies, is kidnapped or subjected to aggravated sexual abuse. It also would create the same penalties for crimes
motivated by gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability. [Vote 350, 9/27/07; Concord Monitor,
9/30/07]
XXXX Twice Voted Against Expanding Hate Crimes Definition to Include Sexual Orientation. In 2004,
XXXX voted against classifying crimes motivated by the victim’s gender, sexual orientation or disability as hate
crimes. XXXX also voted against expanding federal hate crimes legislation to include sexual orientation in 2000.
[Vote 114, 6/15/04; Vote 471, 9/13/00]
XXXX Voted for the Judicial Nomination of Timothy M. Tymkovich, Who Defended An Anti-Gay Colorado
Initiative With Anti-Gay Rhetoric. In 2003, XXXX voted to confirm President Bush’s nomination of Timothy
M. Tymkovich of Colorado to be a judge for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit. Tymkovich drew
criticism from gay-rights advocates because of a law journal article Tymkovich wrote after the Supreme Court
overturned a Colorado voter initiative known as Amendment 2, which struck down protections for gays and
lesbians. As Colorado solicitor general, Tymkovich defended the initiative before the high court. Sen. Patrick
Leahy, D-Vt., said he had no problem with Tymkovich’s advocacy of the initiative in the courts but said the article
went beyond legal advocacy and “seems replete with heavy anti-homosexual rhetoric.” [Vote 113, 4/1/03; AP,
4/1/03]
SAME SEX MARRIAGE
XXXX Twice Voted For Constitutional Amendment to Ban Same Sex Marriage. In 2004 and 2006, XXXX
voted to invoke cloture on a motion to propose a constitutional amendment that would ban gay marriage. [Vote
155, 7/14/04; Vote 163, 6/7/06; Pioneer Press, 6/11/06]
XXXX Voted For Election Year Attempt to Ban Gay Marriage. In 2006, XXXX voted to invoke cloture on the
motion to proceed to the Federal Marriage Amendment. [Vote 163, 6/7/06; CQ, 6/7/06]
XXXX Voted For 2004 Constitutional Amendment to Ban Same Sex Marriage. In 2004, XXXX voted to move
forward with a constitutional amendment that would define marriage as consisting only of the union of a man and a
woman. It would have provided that the U.S. Constitution or any state’s constitution could not be construed to
require that marriage or any other constructs of marriage be conferred to any other union. [Vote 155, 7/14/04]
NATIVE AMERICANS
XXXX Voted for Interior, IHS, Forest Service, Veterans Funding. In 2005, XXXX voted for a bill that would
provide $26.3 billion in fiscal 2006 for the Department of Interior and related agencies, including $9.9 billion for
the Interior Department and $7.8 billion for the EPA. It would provide $4.1 billion for the Forest Service, $1.8
billion for the Bureau of Land Management and $3.2 billion for the Indian Health Service. It also would provide
$1.5 billion in emergency fiscal 2005 funding for medical services provided by the Veterans Affairs
Administration. [HR 2361, Vote 168, 6/29/05]
XXXX Voted Against Funding Native American Health Programs. In 2005, XXXX voted against an
amendment that reduced funding for land acquisition by $121.2 million, to $32.8 million, and transferred the
money to the Indian Health Service’s diabetes program. [Vote 159, 6/29/05]
XXXX Voted Against Funding for Tribal Programs. In 2005, XXXX voted against an amendment that
decreased the five-year tax cut reconciliation instruction figure by $3.2 billion and increased the discretionary
spending limit in the budget by $1 billion. The funds would have been used to increase spending for tribal programs
and reduce the deficit. [Vote 78, 3/17/05]
35

XXXX Opposed $3.4 Billion for Indian Health Clinical Services. In 2004, XXXX voted against an amendment
that would have provided the Appropriations Committee with an additional $3.4 billion for Indian health clinical
services and covered that cost by eliminating either tax loopholes or a small portion the tax break. [Vote 52,
3/11/04]
XXXX Voted Against Increasing Indian Health Funding By $2.5 Billion. In 2003, XXXX voted against
increasing funding for the Indian Health Service by $2.5 billion and devoting another $2.5 billion to deficit
reduction. The amendment would offset the spending by a decrease in tax cuts [Vote 87, 3/25/03]
XXXX Voted Against $72.9 Million for the Indian Health Service. In 2003, XXXX voted against transferring
$79.2 million to the Indian Health Service from the Office of Special Trustee for American Indians. The
amendment increased funding for the Indian Health Service by $79.2 million, with $63 million designated for
clinical services. It would be offset by transferring $79.2 million from the Office of Special Trustee for American
Indians. [Vote 362, 9/23/03]
XXXX Voted Against Adding $292 Million for Clinical Services of the Indian Health Service. In 2003,
XXXX voted against an amendment that added $292 million in funding for the clinical services of the Indian
Health Services. [Vote 356, 9/23/03]
XXXX Voted Against Increasing Environmental Protections and Oversight Over Energy Projects on Native
American Reservations. In 2003, XXXX voted against an amendment that increased oversight of energy projects
on Indian reservations. The amendment would struck controversial language from the comprehensive energy bill’s
American Indian title, which opened millions of acres of tribal lands to oil and gas development. The amendment
expanded the timeframe for the Interior secretary to review Indian energy projects, make the environmental review
process more similar to standards under the National Environmental Policy Act while maintaining tribal supremacy,
and struck a provision limiting who could petition the Interior secretary to review Indian energy projects. [Vote
219, 6/11/03; Environment and Energy Daily, 6/12/03]
XXXX Voted Against A One-Year Moratorium On The Federal Recognition Of Indian Tribes. In 2002,
XXXX voted against a one-year moratorium on the federal recognition of Indian tribes. Sen. Inouye, who led the
effort to kill the proposed moratorium, said a moratorium on decisions to recognize tribes would further lengthen
the already cumbersome recognition process and was widely opposed by American Indians. Supporters of the
amendment said current process for designating tribes produced questionable designations prompted by the desire
of groups to establish Indian gambling operations. State and local officials in Connecticut were concerned about the
impact that the recognition of tribes and the proliferation of casinos were having on communities. [HR 5093, Vote
220, 9/23/02; Las Vegas Review-Journal , 9/24/02; Gannett News Service , 9/24/02; Associated Press, 9/13/02]
XXXX Opposed Congressional Approval for Animas-La Plata Water Projects. In October 2000, XXXX
opposed an amendment that would clarify that the legislation would grant Congressional approval for specific
facilities of the Animas-La Plata project and would require non-tribal water users to pay recreation, fish and
wildlife costs. The Campbell amendment would scale back the water project to consist of the facilities needed to
divert and impound water in an off-stream reservoir. [Vote 281, 10/25/00]
XXXX Voted to Increase Funding For The Indian Health Service. In 2000, XXXX voted for an amendment
that would increase the appropriation for the Indian Health Service by $7.372 million for diabetes treatment,
prevention, and research, and would offset the cost of that increase by cutting the appropriation for the National
Endowment for the Arts (NEA) by the same amount (which would leave NEA funding at its current level of $97
million). The amendment was rejected, 27-73. [Vote 176, 7/12/00]
XXXX Voted to Prohibit Federal Funding For Indian “Smoke Shops” And Other Tobacco Outlets. In 2000,
XXXX voted for a resolution expressing the sense of the Senate that the Department of Housing and Urban
Development (HUD) would be prohibited from using federal funds to benefit a smoke shop or other tobacco outlet.
HUD gave funds to Indians building the smoke shops, as community development projects, which sell tobacco at
36

discounted prices. The vote was on tabling the Bond amendment to the Senate Concurrent Budget Resolution for
fiscal years 2001-2005. [Vote 63, 4/6/00; St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 4/5/00]
CYBERSECURITY
XXXX Voted Against Ending Filibuster On Cybersecurity Bill. In November 2012, XXXX voted against a
motion to invoke cloture (thus limiting debate) on the bill that would create voluntary security standards for vital
digital infrastructure. The motion was rejected by a vote of 51-47 (D 45-5; R 4-42; I 2-0). [Vote 202, 11/14/12]
 XXXX Voted Against Ending Filibuster On Cybersecurity Bill. In August 2012, XXXX voted against a
motion to invoke cloture (thus limiting debate) on the bill that would create voluntary security standards for
vital digital infrastructure. The motion was rejected by a vote of 52-46 (D 45-6; R 5-40; I 2-0). [Vote 187,
8/2/12]
MISCELLANEOUS
XXXX Supported Katrina Relief Bill. XXXX voted for a $109 billion plan to provide funding for hurricane relief
and funding for wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. [Boston Globe, 5/5/06; Vote 112, 5/4/06]
XXXX Supported Controversial Judge William Pryor. Since 2003, XXXX has consistently voted to confirm
President Bush’s nomination of William H. Pryor Jr. of Alabama to be a judge for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the
11th Circuit. [Vote 133, 6/9/05; Vote 132, 6/8/05; Vote 441, 11/6/03; Vote 316, 7/31/03]
 Pryor Called the Voting Rights Act “an Affront to Federalism.” William Pryor told congress that he
opposed a key provision of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 that protected minority voting rights. Pryor
called this essential provision “an affront to federalism and an expensive burden that has far outlived its
usefulness.” [Transcript of Pryor Testimony, 7/15/97]
XXXX Voted For Racist Nominee Charles Pickering. In 2003, XXXX voted to confirm Charles Pickering, who
was nominated to be a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit and has been criticized for his racist
positions. “The debate over the nomination had centered on Judge Pickering’s civil rights record as a Mississippi
lawyer, state lawmaker and federal judge over the course of decades. Senate Democrats argued that he did not
deserve elevation because he had written an article as a young man recommending ways to strengthen Mississippi’s
anti-miscegenation laws, left the Democratic Party in 1964 when the national party tried to integrate the state
delegation to the national convention and, more recently, presided over a 1994 trial in which he took extraordinary
steps to reduce the sentence of a man convicted in a cross-burning incident.” [Vote 419, 10/30/03; New York
Times, 01/17/04]
 NAACP Opposed Pickering. The NAACP opposed the Pickering nomination referring to him as a
“right-wing extremist.” [NAACP Legislative Report Card, 2003-04]
XXXX Opposed Restricting Rights of Japanese Individuals Who Were Used as Slave Labor in WWII
Internment Camps. In 2001, XXXX voted for an amendment to prohibit the use of funds under the bill by the
Justice or State departments to file a court motion opposing a civil action against a Japanese person or corporation
where plaintiffs allege they were used as slave or forced labor as World War II American prisoners of war. [HR
2500, Vote 276, 9/10/01]
 “Victims of Japanese forced labor have gone to court in California and other states seeking compensation
from leading Japanese companies, including Mitsubishi Corp. and Mitsui & Co., for the inhumane
treatment they experienced during the war. But the departments of State and Justice have opposed those
lawsuits, filing legal briefs stating that under the 1951 peace treaty the allied powers expressly waived
any rights to reparations from Japan.” “But the Senate measure – introduced as an amendment to a $41
billion spending bill for the Commerce, Justice and State departments – would bar any funds to State and
37

Justice to oppose a civil action by a World War II POW against a Japanese person or corporation.
‘Should our government be stopping a private citizen from seeking his or her day in court or a
grievance?’ asked Sen. Bob Smith, R-N.H., cosponsor of the amendment with Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa.
‘I don’t think so. I think it’s wrong and I’m frankly ashamed that it’s happening.’” [The Associated Press,
09/10/01]
XXXX Voted Against Banking Services for Lower-Income Eligible Clients. In 1998, XXXX voted against a
measure encouraging credit unions to provide service to lower-income eligible clients. [Vote 236, 7/27/98]
38

CONSUMER PROTECTION
HIGHLIGHTS

THE XXXX VOTING RECORD
MISCELLANEOUS
XXXX Voted For Protecting Children from Toxic Toys. In July 2008, XXXX voted for a bill designed to
rewrite U.S. product safety laws and protect children from toxic toys. The bill would outlaw lead in children’s
products, cement toy safety standards, protect whistleblowers and ban the use of certain plastic softeners, called
phthalates, in toys. The conference report passed 89-3. [CQ Today, 7/1308; Vote 193, 7/31/08]
XXXX Voted For Landmark Product Safety Legislation, Strengthening Toy Safety Standards. In March
2008, XXXX voted for landmark product safety legislation. The bill would overhaul the Consumer Product Safety
Commission (CPSC), strengthen toy safety standards and authorize funding for the commission starting at $88.5
million in fiscal 2009 and increasing by 10 percent per year through 2015. It would increase civil penalties on
companies for manufacturing faulty products, with fines of up to $20 million. The bill would create a public
database of consumer safety incidents and permit state attorneys general to obtain injunctive relief on behalf of
residents to enforce product safety laws. It also would allow whistleblowers to sue companies for up to $250,000 in
fees, costs and damages associated with any retaliation against them for divulging such information. The bill passed
79-13. [Vote 41, 3/06/08]
XXXX Voted to Overhaul Credit Reporting. In November 2003, XXXX voted for a bill that would preempt state
financial privacy laws and allow banks, retailers and other financial institutions access to consumer financial
reports. It would give consumers the right to request a free copy of their credit report once a year from each of the
three national credit bureaus. Mortgage lenders would have to disclose consumer credit scores when a customer
filed a mortgage application. [S 2622, Vote 437, 11/5/03]
 This bill includes “a raft of consumer protections, including free, e-mailed credit reports, truncated
account numbers on receipts to make identity theft harder and single point-of-contact fraud reporting in
case an identity theft happens.” [BestWire, 11/05/03]
 However, this bill “permanently block states from enacting their own financial privacy laws, handing a
victory to banks, insurance companies and retailers that had sought a single set of national laws. The
bill [S.1753] passed by a vote of 95-2. It would ensure that Citigroup, Wells Fargo, Bank of America,
Merrill Lynch and other companies can share information on customers – such as credit card balances
and Social Security numbers – among their brokerage, insurance and banking units without concerns
that they would be subject to a patchwork of state laws.” [CQ Today, 11/05/03]
XXXX Voted For a Bill That Would “Impose Tough New Limits” on Spam E-Mail. In 2003, XXXX voted for
a bill that would “impose tough new limits on the irritating but lucrative business of e-mailing unwanted sales
pitches to millions of people in the United States.” The vote was on passage of a bill that would impose jail time
and fines on those who convicted of sending out mass quantities of unsolicited e-mail, also known as spam. The bill
would ban the use of e-mail addresses collected from websites by automated software and prohibit junk e-mailers
from sending e-mail to randomly generated addresses. It would allow e-mail account holders to submit their e-mail
address for a "do-not-spam" list administered by the Federal Trade Commission. Those sending predatory or
abusive e-mails would also be subject to criminal penalties. The AP reported, “Internet users have complained
about mailboxes clogged with offers for prescription drugs, cheap loans, herbal remedies and pornography.” [S
877, 10/22/03, Vote 404; Associated Press, 10/22/03]
39

XXXX Voted for a Bill to Ban Discrimination Based on an Individual’s Genetic Profile. In 2003, XXXX
voted for a bill to ban discrimination based on an individual’s genetic profile. The bill would ban employers and
health insurers from discriminating based on an individual's genetic profile. Employers would be barred from using
genetic information in employment decisions, and insurers would be prohibited from using genetic information to
deny coverage or set or adjust premiums. [S 1053; 10/14/03, Vote 377]
XXXX Voted to Create a “Do-Not-Call Registry.” In 2003, XXXX voted to create a “do not call” list. The vote
was to pass a bill that would give the Federal Trade Commission explicit authority to create a “do not call” list,
begin enforcing it October 1, 2003, and impose fines on violators. [HR 3161, 9/25/03, Vote 365]
XXXX Opposed Eliminating Liability Protections for Makers of Vaccine Additives. XXXX, on November 19,
2002, voted against the amendment to H.R.5005, which was an amendment to eliminate from the bill liability
protections for the makers of vaccine additives and retroactively limit the ability of people to sue companies that
make them. This amendment would have also eliminated provisions to allow “the new department to contract with
American companies that have moved off-shore to avoid paying taxes,” and it would have removed a provision to
establish a new research center for Texas A&M University. “Sen. John McCain, R-AZ, was the sole Republican to
vote to remove the provisions. ‘I’m too old to vote for this crap,’ he told reporters after the amendment failed. ‘It’s
special deals for special interests. It sets a very dangerous precedent…’” [HR 5005, 11/19/02, Vote 245; United
Press International, 11/19/02]
XXXX Voted to Allow Financial Institutions to Impose an ATM Surcharge. In 1998, XXXX voted to kill the
D’Amato amendment to S.1301, which was an amendment to prohibit financial institutions from imposing a
surcharge -- a charge in addition to the interchange fee -- for the use of ATMs. [Vote 275, 9/17/98]
Robert Voted to Allow Credit Card Companies from Terminating Customers Who Avoid Finance Charges.
In 1998, XXXX voted to kill the Reed amendment to S.1301, which was an amendment to prohibit credit card
companies from terminating or refusing to renew credit to consumers who avoid finance charges by paying off their
balances. The amendment also would prohibit creditors from charging such consumers a fee in lieu of finance
charges. [Vote 273, 9/17/98]
XXXX Voted Against Applying FDA Conflict-Of-Interest Standards to Organizations Reviewing Medical
Devices. In 1997, XXXX voted against applying FDA conflict-of-interest standards to outside organizations
accredited to conduct reviews of medical devices. [Vote 252, 9/23/97]
CLASS ACTION OVERHAUL
XXXX Voted For Bill to Overhaul Class Action Litigation. In 2005, XXXX voted for a bill that would give
federal courts jurisdiction over class action cases involving at least 100 plaintiffs if at least $5 million was at stake
and two-thirds of the plaintiffs lived in different states. It would require judges to review all non-cash settlements,
such as coupons for goods and services, and limit attorney's fees paid in such settlements. It also would prohibit
federal judges from approving a net loss settlement without finding that the loss is outweighed by non-monetary
benefits. [S 5, 2/10/05, Vote 9]
XXXX Voted Against a Time Limit on Class Action Lawsuits. In 2005, XXXX voted against an amendment that
would place a 60-day limit on the amount of time federal judges have to consider whether to send class action cases
back to state courts. [S 5, 2/10/05, Vote 8]
XXXX Voted Against Giving Federal Judges Wider Discretion on Jurisdiction. In 2005, XXXX voted against
an amendment that would give federal judges additional discretion in deciding which state consumer protection
laws to apply in class action suits where plaintiffs are from multiple states. [S 5, 2/9/05, Vote 7]
40

XXXX Voted To Toughen Rules on Civil Rights Class Action Lawsuits. In 2005, XXXX voted against an
amendment that would exclude civil rights class action suits and class action claims for lost wages and overtime
from the bill's provisions. [S 5, 2/9/05, Vote 6]
XXXX Voted to Toughen Rules on Class Action Lawsuits Brought by State Attorney Generals. In 2005,
XXXX voted to kill an amendment that would exempt class action suits brought by state attorneys general from the
provisions of the bill. [S 5, 2/9/05, Vote 5]
XXXX Voted For a Business-Backed Revision of the Legal System. In 2004, XXXX voted for changes in rules
governing class action lawsuits that will limit a citizen’s right to seek redress through the courts. [S 2062, 7/6/04,
Vote 154]
XXXX Voted to Limit Civil Lawsuits. In 2004, XXXX voted for a bill that would bar certain civil lawsuits
against manufacturers, distributors, dealers and importers of firearms and ammunition, principally those lawsuits
aimed at making them liable for gun violence. [S 1805, 2/25/04, Vote 16]
XXXX Voted to Limit Lawsuits by Law Officers. In 2004, XXXX voted for an amendment that would clarify
that an officer or employee of any federal, state or local law enforcement agency could recover damages authorized
under federal or state law in a civil action as long as the lawsuit qualifies for an exemption under the provisions of
the underlying bill. [S 1805, 2/26/04, Vote 21]
XXXX Voted to Invoke Cloture on a Bill to Limit Damages Paid in Class Action Lawsuits. In 2003, XXXX
voted to invoke cloture a Republican bill that would “limit the amount of damages paid in class action lawsuits
across the country, mustering enough votes against the bill to likely kill it for [2003].” The AP reported: “The GOP
and their Democratic supporters pushed hard for legislation staunchly favored by businesses and corporations
which say they're being sued out of existence. But Democrats have said the bill was designed principally to hurt
trial lawyers who litigate those cases and help businesses escape substantial monetary judgments for their
wrongdoing.” The vote was on a motion to invoke cloture (thus limiting debate) on the motion to proceed to a bill
that would overhaul class action litigation rules by allowing class actions with at least 100 plaintiffs to be removed
to federal courts when at least $5 million were at stake and when fewer than two-thirds of class members, as well as
the primary defendants, were citizens of the state in which the case was filed. In cases where between one-third
and two-thirds of the plaintiffs resided in the same state as the defendant, judges would be allowed to decide
whether the case could be removed from that state's courts. Cases in which the primary defendants and fewer than
one-third of the plaintiffs resided in the same state would automatically be eligible for removal to federal courts.
The NAACP opposed this legislation. [S 1751, 10/22/03, Vote 403; Associated Press, 10/22/03; NAACP
Legislative Report Card, 2003-04]
XXXX Voted Against Killing An Amendment To Place Restrictions On Punitive Damages And Lawsuits
Relating To Terrorism. In 2002, XXXX voted for an amendment that would prohibit making a victim of a
terrorist attack pay punitive damages for that attack unless that victim was first convicted in a Federal or State court
for criminal conduct related to that attack. Additionally, the amendment would require prior Government approval
for terrorism lawsuit settlements. [S 2600, 6/13/02, Vote 152]
XXXX Voted Not To Provide Exceptions To A Cap On Lawyers’ Fees For Lawsuits Regarding Special
Education. In 2001, XXXX voted against an amendment that would lift limits on fees that lawyers could charge
the District of Columbia Government for legal actions regarding the special education services provided by the
District to a minor: if the minor was from a family with an annual income of less than $17,600; if the minor was
from a family in which one of the parents was a disabled veteran; or if the minor had been adjudicated as neglected
or abused. (The bill, as amended, would cap at $150 per hour the hourly rate that any lawyer may charge the
District of Columbia Government for legal actions regarding the special education services provided by the District
to a minor, and will set a maximum fee limit of $3,000 for any one such legal action.) [Hr 2944, 11/7/01, Vote
330]
41

XXXX Voted For A GOP Amendment To Protect Small Businesses From Health Care Suits. In 2001, XXXX
voted against a motion to table an amendment that would add that employers who offered health insurance
coverage to their employees and who employed at least 2 and not more than 15 people would be given the same
protections from lawsuits that this bill will give to physicians, other health care professionals, and hospitals. [S
1052, 6/29/01, Vote 215]
XXXX Voted To Repeal Patient Protections If Reports Find That They Cause People To Lose Coverage. In
2001, XXXX voted for an amendment that would direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to request the
Institute of Medicine and the National Academy of Sciences to prepare and submit 5 annual reports, starting 2 years
after the date of enactment, on the Act's impact on the number of individuals in the United States with health
insurance coverage. If a report determined that 1 million or more people had lost their insurance as a result of
passage of this Act, then the provisions to create new rights to sue employers and insurers in Federal and State
courts would be repealed. [S 1052, 6/26/01, Vote 198]
XXXX Voted for “Blanket Immunity” to Protect Employers from Lawsuits. In 2001, XXXX voted for an
amendment to protect employers, even if they are part of a patient’s medical decision, from lawsuits. [S 1052,
6/26/01, Vote 197; Note: The Senate later passed an amendment to protect many employers, but the first
amendment pushed a “blanket immunity” policy that Democrats did not support.]
MEDICAL MALPRACTICE / PATIENTS RIGHTS
XXXX Voted to Cap Malpractice Lawsuit Awards. In May 2006, XXXX voted to end debate on a bill that
would have capped punitive damages for OBGYN’s accused of malpractice. The amendment would have capped
the damages for an individual physician at $250,000, judgments against more than one institution would have been
capped at $500,000. [Vote 116, 5/8/06; CQ, 5/8/06]
XXXX Voted to Cap Malpractice Lawsuit Awards. In May 2006, XXXX voted to end debate on a bill that
would have capped punitive damages for OBGYN’s accused of malpractice. The amendment would have capped
the damages for an individual physician at $250,000, judgments against more than one institution would have been
capped at $750,000. [Vote 115, 5/8/06; CQ, 5/8/06]
XXXX Voted to Cap Compensation for Medical Malpractice Suits. In 2004, XXXX voted for a bill that sought
to curb damages against emergency and trauma center personnel, as well as obstetricians and gynecologists. The
bill would have capped punitive damages at $250,000, or double the amount of economic compensation awarded
whichever amount is greater. [Vote 66, 4/7/04]
XXXX Voted to Cap Medical Malpractice Lawsuits. In 2004, XXXX voted for a bill that would have limited the
liability of obstetricians and gynecologists in malpractice cases, despite the fact that limiting patients’ access to
courts would not have helped current victims of malpractice, or deterred other health care industry workers from
being careful in the future. [Vote 15, 2/24/04]
XXXX Voted For A Bill That Would Cap Medical Malpractice Non-Economic Damages At $250,000. In
2003, XXXX voted for bill that would have capped awards in medical malpractice lawsuits. The bill would have
limited awards for non-economic damages to $250,000. [Vote 264, 7/9/03]
XXXX Voted to Limit Punitive Damages on Medical Malpractice Cases. In 2002, XXXX voted for an
amendment to limit punitive damages in medical malpractice cases to twice the sum of compensatory damages,
among other minor provisions. [S 812, 7/20/02, Vote 197]
XXXX Opposed Patients’ Bill of Rights. In 2001, XXXX voted against the Patients’ Bill of Rights, a bill to
provide federal protections, such as access to specialty and emergency room care, and allow patients to appeal a
health plan organization’s decision on coverage and treatment. It also would allow patients to sue health insurers in
state courts over quality-of-care claims and at the federal level over coverage disputes. Economic and non-
economic damages would not be capped, and punitive damages would be capped at $5 million. The bill, as
42

amended, would exempt from federal cause of action all employers and plan sponsors with self-insured and self-
administered health plans, including multiemployer plans, who act as their own designated decision makers. It also
would require the administrative appeals process to be exhausted for patients before a cause of action is brought in
connection with a denial of claim for benefits. [S 1052, 6/29/01, Vote 220]
XXXX Voted For A “Tripartisan” Substitute That Would Cap Damages In Suits Against HMOs. In 2001,
XXXX voted for an amendment that would enact various health insurance mandates, including on benefits that
must be provided and on internal and external appeals processes that must be followed, and would create new rights
to sue insurance providers. Under the substitute, suits would be allowed in Federal court under an "ordinary care"
standard when a plan failed to comply with an external review decision or when it caused harm by delaying care,
and damages would be capped. [S 1052, 6/29/01, Vote 219]
XXXX Voted to Add a Huge Loophole to the Patients’ Bill of Rights. In 2001, XXXX voted for an amendment
to add a huge loophole to allow HMOs to sell cheaper health plans to consumers if they give up their right to sue.
This amendment would provide the insurance companies with a huge loophole to protect them from lawsuits. [S
1052, 6/29/2001, Vote 218]
XXXX Voted For A GOP Amendment to Place 75% Of Punitive Damages In A Trust Fund For The
Uninsured. In 2001, XXXX voted against a motion to table an amendment would provide that 75 percent of any
civil monetary penalty in any proceeding allowed under any provision of, or amendment made by, the Act could
only be awarded to the Secretary of the Treasury, who would place the entire amount in a trust fund that would be
used to provide health insurance to uninsured Americans. [S 1052, 6/29/01, Vote 217]
XXXX Voted For A GOP Amendment To Protect Small Businesses From Health Care Suits. In 2001, XXXX
voted against the motion to table an amendment that would add that employers who offered health insurance
coverage to their employees and who employed at least 2 and not more than 15 people would be given the same
protections from lawsuits that this bill will give to physicians, other health care professionals, and hospitals. [S
1052, 6/29/01, Vote 215]
XXXX Voted For A Republican Move To Recommit The Patients’ Bill Of Rights. In 2001, XXXX voted
against an amendment that would make the research and experimentation tax credit permanent. [S 1052, 6/29/01,
Vote 214]
XXXX Voted For A GOP Amendment To Add Legal Protections For Doctors Providing Pro Bono Services.
In 2001, XXXX voted against a motion to table an amendment that would add that notwithstanding any other
provision of law, "no health care professional shall be liable for the performance of, or the failure to perform, any
duty in providing pro bono medical services to a medically underserved or indigent individual." Supporters of the
motion argued that the amendment was extraneous and the issue had been addressed by the Coverdell Volunteer
Protection Act of 1997. [S 1052, 6/29/01, Vote 212]
XXXX Voted For A GOP Amendment To Apply Patient Protection Amendments To Collective Bargaining
Plans. In 2001, XXXX voted against the motion to table an amendment that would require that the general
effective date (October 1, 2002) of the bill's amendments to the Public Health Services Act (PHSA) and the
Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), as they pertain to group health plans, would apply to group
health plans established through collective bargaining agreements. [S 1052, 6/29/01, Vote 211]
XXXX Voted to Kill the Funding to Pay for Patients’ Bill of Rights Legislation. In 2001, XXXXX voted for an
obvious Republican attempt to kill the PBOR by eliminating the bill’s source of funding. [S 1052, 6/29/01, Vote
210]
XXXX Voted For A GOP Amendment To Limit Health Care Causes Of Actions To Federal Court. In 2001,
XXXX voted an amendment that would require causes of action under this Act to be brought exclusively in Federal
court. In cases involving medically reviewable decisions, damages would be determined under the State law of the
State in which the injury occurred. If a State had not enacted specific limits on health plan or issuer liability, any
43

limits it had created for other health care entities would apply until it enacted such limits. [S 1052, 6/28/01, Vote
207]
XXXX Voted For A Loophole to Exempt Health Plans from Liability. In 2001, XXXX voted against the motion
to table a Republican amendment which would have forced some workers to either: (1) choose a good health care
plan and agree that their employer cannot be held accountable even when the employer is involved in medical
decisions, or (2) choose a bad health care plan where they could hold their employer responsible for medical
decisions, or (3) accept incentives, such as money, to not sign up for a health care plan at all. [S 1052, 6/28/2001,
Vote 206]
XXXX Voted to Hold Designated Decision Makers Liable For Plan Decisions. In 2001, XXXX voted for an
amendment under which an employer could have a designated decision maker (DDM) that would assume liability
for plan decisions, including any liability for actions taken by the employer. The amendment would also strike the
catch-all causes of action that this bill will allow to be brought in Federal and State courts against employers or
DDMs, as the case may be, for failing "to exercise ordinary care in the performance of a duty" (for Federal suits) or
"to otherwise perform a duty under the terms and conditions of the plan with respect to a claim for benefits of a
participant or beneficiary" (for State suits). [S 1052, 6/28/01, Vote 205]
XXXX Supported Capping Fees for Personal Injury Lawyers. In 2001, XXXX voted against the motion to
table an amendment to cap attorney fees in medical malpractice cases in which a plaintiff is awarded more than
$100,000 at 15 percent or less of the total amount awarded, which would discourage lawyers from taking on these
cases. [S 1052, 6/28/01, Vote 204]
XXXX Voted To Defer To State Laws That “Substantially Comply” With Patient Protections. In 2001,
XXXX voted against an amendment that would amend the bill to provide that if a State were to have a mandate that
"substantially complies" with one of the mandated benefits in the bill, then its mandate would not be superseded by
the bill mandate. (The bill would supersede a State mandate unless it were "substantially equivalent" to a bill
mandate; the Collins amendment proposed a "consistent with" standard). [S 1052, 6/28/01, Vote 203]
XXXX Voted to Gut the PBOR and Allow States to Use Weaker Protections. In 2001, XXXX voted against
the motion to table an amendment “that would have allowed states wide latitude to opt out of the federal
regulations” on patient protections “for workers who are covered by state laws, leaving millions uncovered,
according to critics of the proposal.” This amendment would have allowed states with weaker patient protections
than the federal law to opt of the federal law. [S 1052, 6/28/01, Vote 202; The Washington Post, 06/29/01]
XXXX Voted For A GOP Amendment That Would Prevent Medical Reviewers From Ignoring Contract
Terms. In 2001, XXXX voted for an amendment that would make clear that a medical reviewer could not require
a health plan to provide coverage for items or services that were specifically excluded or expressly limited and
disclosed in the health care plan's terms, regardless of any determination relating to medical necessity and
appropriateness, experimental or investigational nature of the treatment, or an evaluation of the medical facts
involved. The motion to table was agreed to, 54-45. [S 1052, 6/27/01, Vote 200]
XXXX Voted For A GOP Amendment To Exempt Small Businesses From Health Care Liability. In 2001,
XXXX voted for an amendment that would give small businesses (businesses with 50 or fewer employees) that
purchased health care coverage for their employees liability from actions they take as fiduciaries, trustees, or plan
administrators (this exemption from lawsuits would be equivalent to the protection the bill will give to doctors,
hospitals, and other health care providers for their actions in relation to health care plan decisions). The exemption
would not apply to the HMOs or other plan agencies hired by the small businesses to provide insurance. The
amendment was rejected, 45-53. [S 1052, 6/27/01, Vote 199]
XXXX Voted To Repeal Patient Protections If Reports Find That They Cause People To Lose Coverage. In
2001, XXXX voted for an amendment that would direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to request the
Institute of Medicine and the National Academy of Sciences to prepare and submit 5 annual reports, starting 2 years
after the date of enactment, on the Act's impact on the number of individuals in the United States with health
44

insurance coverage. If a report determined that 1 million or more people had lost their insurance as a result of
passage of this Act, then the provisions to create new rights to sue employers and insurers in Federal and State
courts would be repealed. The amendment was agreed to, 93-6. [S 1052, 6/26/01, Vote 198]
XXXX Voted for “Blanket Immunity” to Protect Employers from Lawsuits. In 2001, XXXX voted for an
amendment to protect employers, even if they are part of a patient’s medical decision, from lawsuits. [S 1052,
6/26/01, Vote 197; Note: The Senate later passed an amendment to protect many employers, but the first
amendment pushed a “blanket immunity” policy that Democrats did not support.]
XXXX Voted Against Providing A “Floor Of Federal Protection” For Patients. In 2000, XXXX voted against
an amendment that would provide that any Federal legislation that is enacted "to protect patients against the abuses
of managed care" would have to provide a "floor of Federal protection" that would apply to people insured in
federally regulated private insurance plans, State-regulated private insurance plans, and State and local government
insurance plans. The amendment was rejected, 47-51. [Vote 167, 6/29/00]
XXXX Voted for A Republican Amendment To Limit Patient Protections To Self-Insured ERISA Plans. In
2000, XXXX voted for an amendment that would add the Patients Bill of Rights Plus Act, including “compromise
language” that contained a new cause of action under which health maintenance organizations (HMOs) may be
sued after completing the appeals process, but under which employers may not be sued unless they made the final
decisions that caused the harm in question. The amendment would limit this protection to patients in Federally-
regulated, self-insured ERISA plans. The amendment was agreed to, 51-47. [Vote 166, 6/29/00]
XXXX Voted for GOP Alternative Bill Legislation Prohibiting Genetic Discrimination In Health Plans; Bill
Lacked Several Protections. In 2000, XXXX voted for a Republican bill which extended protections against
genetic discrimination, but failed to include more extensive patient protections. Before the law, insurance
companies and health plans were barred from denying policies or adjusting premiums on those in groups plans on
the basis of a person’s genetic information. But Democrats sharply criticized the bill for not including several
important protections, including provisions to stop insurers from revealing the results of genetic tests to other
parties, such as employers. "It's not half a loaf; it's no more than a thin slice," Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.)
said of the Republican measure. The vote came after the defeat of a broader proposal by Senate Minority Leader
Daschle that also would have banned genetic discrimination in employment situations. [Vote 165, 6/29/00; Los
Angeles Times, 6/30/00; National Journal's CongressDaily, 6/30/00]
XXXX Voted Against Legislation to Protect Patients Rights. In 2000, XXXX voted against an amendment that
would add health insurance provisions advanced by Senator Kennedy and certain other conferees on H.R. 2990, the
Patient's Bill of Rights Plus Act. The amendment would not include provisions from the Senate-passed bill, such as
the provision barring genetic discrimination in insurance coverage. The motion to table was agreed to, 51-48.
[Vote 121, 6/8/00]
XXXX Voted for a Weakened Patients' Bill of Rights. In 1999, XXXX voted for a weakened Patients' Bill of
Rights. [Vote 210, 7/15/99]
XXXX Cast Crucial Vote Against Requiring Health Insurance Plans to Allow Patients to Continue Seeing
Providers For Up to 90 Days After Their Plans Terminated. In 1999, XXXX cast a crucial vote against an
amendment to the Patient’s Bill of Rights Act by Sen. Kerrey that would have added provisions on continuity of
care. Specifically, it would have required federally regulated and State regulated health insurance plans to permit
plan participants to continue seeing their health care providers for up to 90 days after those plans terminated their
contracts with those providers. Pregnant patients would not be required to change doctors during the course of their
pregnancies. Terminally ill patients would not be required to change doctors. [Vote 209, 7/15/99]
XXXX Voted Against Keeping HMOs from Interfering Patients Rights. In 1999, XXXX voted against keeping
HMOs from interfering in decisions between doctors and their patients. [Vote 208, 7/15/99]
45

XXXX Voted Against Holding HMO’s Accountable When Decisions Lead to Injury or Death. In 1999,
XXXX voted for the Collins amendment to S.1344, which was an amendment to allow individuals to deduct 100
percent of the costs of long-term care insurance, at a cost of $5.4 billion with no offset, require coverage of
emergency room services in some cases, require access to specialists and obstetrician and gynecological care for
approximately half of the women in HMOs, and the amendment would not hold HMOs accountable for their
actions, even when their actions cause serious injuries or death, by not allowing patients to sue in state courts for
damages if they are harmed by a plan’s denial of treatment. [Vote 207, 7/15/99]
XXXX Voted Against Holding HMO’s Accountable When Decisions Lead to Injury or Death. In 1999,
XXXX voted for the Gregg amendment to S.1344, which was an amendment to strike language in the underlying
bill that would allow patients to sue in state courts for damages if they are harmed by a HMOs denial of treatment.
[Vote 206, 7/15/99]
XXXX Voted Against Requiring Managed Care Access to Medical Specialists. In 1999, XXXX voted against
the Bingaman amendment to S.1344, which was an amendment to allow patients in need of a specialist to visit one
outside their plan network at no additional cost, if the plan cannot provide necessary care by a qualified provider
within the network. [Vote 205, 7/14/99]
XXXX Cast Crucial Vote; Against Protections Provided In Patient's Bill of Rights Apply to All Patients with
Private Health Insurance. In 1999, XXXX cast a crucial vote against an amendment to extend mastectomy
protections to privately insured Americans and extends protections in bill to all 161 million Americans with private
health insurance. [Vote 204, 7/14/99]
XXXX Voted to Guarantee Patients Access to Clinical Trials. In 1999, XXXX voted for an amendment that
provides coverage for individuals participating in approved clinical trials and for approved drugs and medical
devices. The amendment also requires that all patients with private health insurance be provided with inpatient
coverage after mastectomy, lumpectomy, or lymph node dissection for treatment of breast cancer, for period of time
determined by attending physician in consultation with patient; and provides for full coverage of second opinions
by specialists in appropriate medical field. [Vote 203, 7/14/99]
XXXX Voted to Deny Health Protections to More Than 100 Million Americans. In 1999, XXXX Voted to
deny basic health protections to more than 100 million Americans. [Vote 202, 7/13/99]
XXXX Voted Against Ensuring Insurance Coverage for Emergency Room Care. In 1999, XXXX voted
against the Graham amendment to S.1344, which was an amendment to require group health plans to cover
emergency room treatment and follow-up care for plan members without prior authorization if a “prudent
layperson” would determine that the member requires immediate medical attention. [Vote 201, 7/13/99]
XXXX Voted to Limit Application of Patient’s Bill of Rights. In 1999, XXXX cast a crucial vote for an
amendment to the Patient’s Bill of Rights Act by Sen. Nicles that provided that the Act would not apply to any
health plan if its application in a year caused or would cause the plan’s premiums to rise by more than 1%. The
amendment also stipulated that the Act would not apply to any health plan if its application caused or would cause a
decrease in 1 year of more than 100,000 in the number of privately insured Americans.[ Vote 200, 7/13/99]
XXXX Cast Crucial Vote To Limit Appeals Against Insurance Companies That Deny Medical Care. In
1999, XXXX cast a crucial vote for an amendment to the Patient’s Bill of Rights Act by Sen. Frist, which struck the
section of the Kennedy bill regarding appeals of adverse coverage decisions. The Frist amendment would enact
provisions that would differ from the Kennedy bill provisions in two main respects. First, instead of enacting a
Federal definition for the term "medical necessity," it would enact criteria for internal and external reviewers to
consider. The second major difference from the Kennedy bill is that the Frist amendment would limit the internal
and external appeals disputes that could be considered to disputes regarding medical necessity and appropriateness
and to denials of treatments based on their experimental or investigational nature. Non-medical disputes, such as
legal or administrative disputes, would continue to be handled by insurance regulators. [Vote 199, 7/13/99]
46

XXXX Cast Crucial Vote; Against Allowing Women to Choose Their OB/GYN as Primary Heath Care
Providers. In 1999, XXXX cast a crucial vote against the Robb amendment to S.1344, which was an amendment
to allow women in group health plans to designate an obstetrician/gynecologist as their primary care physician, and
to determine, with their physicians, using generally accepted medical standards, the appropriate length of a hospital
stay following a mastectomy, lumpectomy or lymph node dissection for the treatment of breast cancer. It also
would allow self-employed individuals to fully deduct the cost of their health insurance on their federal taxes, the
cost of which would be offset by an extension of Superfund taxes. [Vote 198, 7/13/99]
XXXX Voted Against Providing Access to Emergency Rooms and Specialists. In 1999, XXXX voted to kill the
Dorgan amendment to S.1233, which was an early version of the Patients’ Bill of Rights. This was an amendment
to guarantee access to emergency rooms, specialists, clinical trials, and prescription drugs. It was an amendment to
hold HMOs accountable when its decisions lead to injury or death, and to ensure that doctors, not HMO
bureaucrats, make health care decisions. [Vote 182, 6/22/99]
XXXX Voted to Limit Protections In Patients’ Bill of Rights. In 1999, XXXX voted for the Lott amendment to
S.1233, which was a Republican version of the Patients’ Bill of Rights that did not ensure that doctors, not HMO
bureaucrats, make health care decisions, and only covered one-third of those in HMOs, among many other
provisions. [Vote 181, 6/22/99]
XXXX Voted for Medical Malpractice Reform that Limited Patients Rights. In 1998, XXXX Voted for
medical malpractice reform measures that limited rights of injured patients to hold their doctors accountable. [Vote
144, 5/20/98]
XXXX Cast Crucial Vote Against Strong Patients’ Bill of Rights. In 1998, XXXX cast crucial voted against a
Patients’ Bill of Rights that would generate access to health coverage. [Vote 73, 4/2/98]
XXXX Voted to Allow Doctors to Gauge Patients. In 1998, XXXX voted to allow doctors, hospitals and other
Medicare providers to charge patients unlimited amounts of money on top of their Medicare reimbursement,
allowing doctors to gauge patients. [Vote 53, 4/1/98]
47

CRIME AND GUNS
[SEE ALSO HOMELAND SECURITY FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT]
HIGHLIGHTS
 In the wake of the Sandy Hook shooting tragedy, XXXX voted against the bipartisan background check
compromise bill that expanded the existing background checks system to include firearms purchased at gun
shows and over the internet. XXXX supported a weaker gun control alternative bill.
 XXXX repeatedly voted against the assault weapons ban and opposed tougher restrictions on gun sales.
 In 2005, XXXX voted for a bill to exempt gun companies from liability if their guns were used to commit acts
of violence, even if they showed gross neglect that contributed to the violence, and even if they civil lawsuits
were by law enforcement officers who were victims of gun violence.
 In 2013, XXXX supported an amendment to allow concealed carry permits issued in one state to be valid in all,
and in 2009 voted to allow concealed handgun permits to apply across state lines.
THE XXXX VOTING RECORD
ASSAULT WEAPONS BAN
XXXX Voted Against Banning Assault Weapons. In April 2013, XXXX voted against Feinstein, D-Calif.,
amendment no. 711 that would prohibit the future production, import, sale, transfer or possession of certain
firearms considered to be assault weapons and ammunition magazines holding more than 10 rounds, with
exemptions for law enforcement officials. It would exempt certain firearms used for hunting and sporting purposes
from the ban. It also would allow law enforcement grant funds be used to buy back semiautomatic assault weapons
and large capacity ammunition clips. The amendment was rejected by a vote of 40-60 (D 38-15; R 1-44; I 1-1).
[Vote 101, 4/17/13]
XXXX Opposed Extending the Assault Weapons Ban. In 2004, XXXX voted against a 10-year extension of the
assault weapons ban, which was set to expire in September 2004. [Vote 24, 3/2/04]
XXXX Voted Against Tougher Restrictions on Gun Sales and an Extension of the Assault Weapons Ban. In
2004, XXXX voted against a bill that barred certain civil lawsuits against manufacturers, distributors, dealers and
importers of firearms and ammunition, mainly those lawsuits aimed at making them liable for gun violence, trade
groups also were protected. The bill required the dismissal of pending lawsuits against the gun industry, except for
those involving a defect in a weapon or ammunition. The bill also required criminal background checks on all
firearm transactions at gun shows where at least 75 guns were sold. Exemptions were provided for dealers selling
guns from their homes as well as members-only gun swaps and meets conducted by nonprofit hunting clubs. It
provided for a 10-year reauthorization of the assault weapons ban set to expire in September 2004. The legislation
increased penalties for violent or drug trafficking crimes in which the perpetrator used or possessed armor-piercing
ammunition to a minimum of 15 years imprisonment. If death resulted from the use of such ammunition, a person
could be imprisoned up to life or face the death penalty. [Vote 30, 3/2/04]
BACKGROUND CHECKS
XXXX Voted Against Bipartisan Background Check Compromise. In April 2013, XXXX voted against
Manchin, D-W.Va., amendment no. 715 that would expand an existing background check system to include
firearms purchased at gun shows and over the Internet. It would allow gun show sales to proceed if a background
48

check does not prompt a response within 48 hours and reduce that to a 24-hour wait four years after enactment. It
would exempt family transfers and some private sales. The amendment would restrict law enforcement grant funds
for states that do not provide all available records to the national background check database. It would ban the
creation of a national firearms registry, allow active-duty military members buy guns in their home state and create
a commission to study the causes of mass violence in the United States. The measure was rejected by a vote of 54-
46 (D 48-5; R 4-41; I 2-0). [Vote 97, 4/17/13]
 AP Headline: “Senate Rejects Bipartisan Plan Expanding Background Checks For Guns.” [AP, 4/17/13]
 Arizona Republic Headline: “Senate Rejects Bipartisan Gun Control Effort.” [Arizona Republic, 4/17/13]
 NPR Headline: “Senate Rejects Compromise On Expanded Background Checks.” [NPR, 4/17/13]
XXXX Voted Against Ending Filibuster On Background Check Bill. In April 2013, XXXX voted against a
motion to invoke cloture (thus limiting debate) on the Reid, D-Nev., motion to proceed to a bill that would require
background checks on private and commercial firearm sales, with certain exceptions. It also would make it a federal
crime to buy guns on behalf of those who are legally barred from owning them and extend a school safety grant
program through 2023. The motion was agreed to by a vote of 68-31 (D 50-2; R 16-29; I 2-0). [Vote 95, 4/11/13]
XXXX Voted In Favor Of Weak Gun Control Alternative. In April 2013, XXXX voted in favor of Grassley, R-
Iowa, substitute amendment no. 725 that would reauthorize grants to help states use the national background check
database. It would require federal courts to submit records to the database and restrict federal grant funds to states
that do not meet reporting requirements. It also would expand definitions of mental illness that prohibit individuals
from owning guns, make it a federal crime to purchase firearms on behalf of people legally barred from owning
them and call for a task force to investigate and prosecute attempted firearm purchases by felons and fugitives. It
would prohibit the Justice Department from inducing licensed gun dealers to sell firearms to a straw purchaser
unless department officials certify that certain safeguards are in place. It would call for a study on the causes of
mass shootings, including the impact of violent video games, and reauthorize grant programs on school security,
mental health and crime prevention. The amendment was rejected by a vote of 52-48 (D 9-44; R 43-2; I 0-2). The
Hill reported, “The Senate rejected a GOP substitute bill on gun control reforms Wednesday. Sen. Chuck
Grassley’s (R-Iowa) amendment failed on a 52-48 vote. It would have replaced S. 649, the Safe Communities, Safe
Schools Act, which would expand background checks on gun purchases, crack down on gun trafficking and beef up
security in schools. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) called the GOP amendment a
‘weak and counterproductive alternative’ that didn’t go through regular order in the committee and ‘undermines
law enforcement.’” [Vote 98, 4/17/13; The Hill, 4/17/13]
XXXX Opposed Requiring Background Checks on Firearms. In 2004, XXXX voted against a proposal
requiring criminal background checks on all firearms transactions that occurred at events that provided a venue for
the sale, offer for sale, transfer, or exchange of firearms. [Vote 25, 3/2/04]
XXXX Voted to Allow Destruction of Records Used for Gun Background Checks. XXXX voted for the FY04
Omnibus Appropriations bill, which included a provision, “supported by the National Rifle Association, that will
require the destruction of records on background checks for gun purchases within 24 hours if law enforcement
officials find no immediate red flags; currently, records can be saved for 90 days.” [Vote 3, 1/22/04; Pioneer Press,
1/23/04]
GUN MANUFACTURER LIABILITY
XXXX Did Not Vote on Bill That Exempted Gun Companies From Liability. In July 2005, XXXX did not vote
on a bill that exempted gun manufacturers and sellers from liability if their guns were used to commit acts of
violence. The bill specifically barred civil law suits that attempted to hold, manufacturers, distributors, dealers and
importers of firearms and ammunition liable for gun violence. The bill also protected trade groups from civil
action, and dismissed all pending legal action against gun makers. [Vote 219, 7/29/05]

49

XXXX Voted Against Holding Gun Dealers and Manufacturers Liable for Gross Neglect. In July 2005,
XXXX voted to kill an amendment that would have protected the rights of victims of gun violence. The
amendment to the gun liability bill would have allowed victims of gun violence to hold gun dealers and
manufacturers liable if they showed gross recklessness or neglect that contributed to the violence. [Vote 208,
7/28/05]
XXXX Voted Against Requiring Gun Dealers to Sell Hand Guns With Either Trigger Locks or Secure
Storage Device. In July 2005, XXXX voted against an amendment to require gun dealers to ensure the safety of
their guns. The amendment, which passed, would have required gun dealers to sell trigger locks or secure storage
devices with every handgun they sold. Penalties for failure to comply included a six-month suspension of a license,
the revocation of a license, or a $2,500 fine. [Vote 207, 7/28/05]
XXXX Voted Against Limiting Gun Manufacturer’s Liability Only After Assault Weapons Ban Was Added
to Bill. In 2004, XXXX voted against a bill that barred certain civil lawsuits against manufacturers, distributors,
dealers and importers of firearms and ammunition, mainly those lawsuits aimed at making them liable for gun
violence, trade groups also were protected. The bill required the dismissal of pending lawsuits against the gun
industry, except for those involving a defect in a weapon or ammunition. McConnell only voted against the bill
after the Assault Weapons Ban was added. [Vote 30, 3/2/04; Nashua Telegraph, Dandurant Column, 4/3/05]
XXXX Voted Against Civil Lawsuits by Law Enforcement Officers Who Are Victims of Gun Violence. In
2004, XXXX voted against allowing civil lawsuits against the firearms industry by local, state, and federal law
enforcement officers who are the victims of gun violence. [Vote 22, 2/26/04]
XXXX Voted Against Holding Arms Dealers Liable. In March 2004, XXXX voted against an amendment that
clarified that a manufacturer or seller of a firearm would be liable for foreseeable injuries to consumers that
purchase a firearm. It would modify the definition of reasonably foreseeable in the underlying bill to mean “the
reasonable anticipation that harm or injury is likely to result.” [Vote 23, 3/1/04]
XXXX Voted to Protect Gun Manufacturers In Cases of Gross Negligence. In March 2004, XXXX voted
against an amendment that would exempt from the provisions of the bill civil lawsuits in which gross negligence or
reckless conduct of a defendant led to the death or injury of another person. [Vote 29, 3/2/04]
XXXX Voted to Require Guns to Be Sold With Trigger Safety Locks. In 1999, XXXX voted to require guns to
be sold with trigger safety locks that could prevent their use by children or burglars. [Vote 122, 5/18/99]
XXXX Voted To Protect Gun Dealers. In 1999, XXXX voted for the Craig amendment to S.254, which was an
amendment to allow private gun dealers to access the national instant background check system to check the
background of purchasers at gun shows. In return for participation in this voluntary system, these dealers would
have civil liability immunity for certain future federal firearm violations. [Vote 112, 5/12/99]
XXXX Voted to Require Gun Dealers to Make Trigger Locks Available. In 1998, XXXX voted for the Craig
amendment to S.2260, which was an amendment to require gun dealers to make trigger locks available as a
condition for receiving and keeping their licenses. The amendment also would establish a grant program to educate
and train the public on the safe ownership, storage, and use of firearms. [Vote 215, 7/21/98]
XXXX Voted to Allow Manufacture of Sawed-Off Shotguns. In 1996, XXXX voted to kill the Biden motion to
recommit S.735 to the conference committee with instructions to report it back with a provision that increases from
three to five years the statute of limitations for violations of the National Firearms Act, which makes it a crime to
manufacture sawed-off shotguns, machine guns, silencers, grenades, and bombs without proper registration. [Vote
64, 4/17/96]
CONCEALED WEAPONS
50

XXXX Voted To Allow Concealed Carry Outside Of The State That Issued The Permit. In April 2013, XXXX
voted in favor of Cornyn, R-Texas, amendment no. 719 that would allow concealed-carry permits issued in one
state to be valid in all others that issue such permits. It would require that a person carrying a concealed weapon
outside of the permitting-issuing state, follow the concealed-carry regulations of the state in which the individual is
located. The amendment was rejected by a vote of 57-43 (D 13-40; R 44-1; I 0-2). [Vote 100, 4/17/13]
XXXX Voted to Allow Gun Owners to Carry Concealed Firearms Across State Lines. In July 2009, XXXX
voted for an amendment that would have allowed licensed gun owners to carry concealed firearms across state
lines. The amendment, offered by John Thune, R-S.D. on the fiscal 2010 defense authorization bill, would have
allowed individuals to carry concealed firearms across state lines if they had valid permits or were legally entitled
by their state of residence to do so. After entering another state, an individual would have had to respect that state’s
laws as they apply to conceal-and-carry permit holders. The Senate voted to kill the amendment 58-39. [CQ Today,
7/22/09; Vote 237, 7/22/09]
XXXX Voted to Exempt Law Enforcement Officers from Concealed Weapon Laws. In March 2004, XXXX
voted for an amendment that exempted off-duty and retired law enforcement officers from state laws that prohibited
the carrying of concealed handguns. [Vote 26, 3/2/04]
HIGH CAPACITY MAGAZINES
XXXX Voted Against Limiting High Capacity Magazines. In April 2013, XXXX voted against Blumenthal, D-
Conn., amendment no. 714 that would prohibit the future production, import, sale, transfer or possession of
ammunition magazines holding more than 10 rounds, with exemptions for law enforcement officials. It would also
allow law enforcement grant funds be used to buy back semiautomatic assault weapons and large capacity
ammunition clips. The amendment was rejected by a vote of 56-54 (D 43-10; R 1-44; I 2-0). [Vote 103, 4/17/13]
MISCELLANEOUS GUN CONTROL
XXXX Voted In Favor Of Allowing Firearms On Federally Managed Land. In May 2013, XXXX voted in
favor of Coburn, R-Okla., amendment no. 805 to the Boxer, D-Calif., substitute amendment no. 799. The Coburn
amendment would bar the Army secretary from establishing or enforcing regulations that prohibit the possession of
firearms on water infrastructure property managed by the Army Corps of Engineers if the individual is not
prohibited from possessing it and is in compliance with state gun laws. The substitute would authorize Army Corps
of Engineers water infrastructure projects through 2016. It would increase funds available from the Harbor
Maintenance Trust Fund for harbor and dredging projects, starting at $1 billion in fiscal 2014 and increasing
annually until fiscal 2020, when all the money directed to the fund that year would be for dredging and other harbor
projects. The amendment was rejected by a vote of 56-43 (D 11-41; R 44-1; I 1-1). [Vote 115, 5/8/13]
XXXX Voted In Favor Of Weak Gun Control Alternative. In April 2013, XXXX voted in favor of Grassley, R-
Iowa, substitute amendment no. 725 that would reauthorize grants to help states use the national background check
database. It would require federal courts to submit records to the database and restrict federal grant funds to states
that do not meet reporting requirements. It also would expand definitions of mental illness that prohibit individuals
from owning guns, make it a federal crime to purchase firearms on behalf of people legally barred from owning
them and call for a task force to investigate and prosecute attempted firearm purchases by felons and fugitives. It
would prohibit the Justice Department from inducing licensed gun dealers to sell firearms to a straw purchaser
unless department officials certify that certain safeguards are in place. It would call for a study on the causes of
mass shootings, including the impact of violent video games, and reauthorize grant programs on school security,
mental health and crime prevention. The amendment was rejected by a vote of 52-48 (D 9-44; R 43-2; I 0-2). The
Hill reported, “The Senate rejected a GOP substitute bill on gun control reforms Wednesday. Sen. Chuck
Grassley’s (R-Iowa) amendment failed on a 52-48 vote. It would have replaced S. 649, the Safe Communities, Safe
Schools Act, which would expand background checks on gun purchases, crack down on gun trafficking and beef up
security in schools. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) called the GOP amendment a
‘weak and counter productive alternative’ that didn’t go through regular order in the committee and ‘undermines
law enforcement.’” [Vote 98, 4/17/13; The Hill, 4/17/13]
51

XXXX Voted Against Banning Straw Purchases Of Guns On Behalf Of Those Legally Barred From Owning
Them. In April 2013, XXXX voted against Leahy, D-Vt., amendment no. 713 that would revise provisions in the
bill that would make it a federal crime to purchase firearms on behalf of those legally barred from owning them to
include exceptions for firearms purchased as a raffle, contest or auction award, as a gratuity for a hunting guide, as
an employee bonus or as a commemorative award or honorarium. The amendment was rejected by a vote of 58-42
(D 53-0; R 3-42; I 2-0). [Vote 99, 4/17/13]
XXXX Voted To Withhold Funding For Law Enforcement If A State Released Gun-Ownership Data. In
April 2013, XXXX voted in favor of Barrasso, R-Wyo., amendment no. 717 that would withhold 5 percent of law
enforcement grant funds to states and localities that release gun-ownership data, with an exception for the release of
data necessary for a criminal investigation or legal proceeding. The amendment was adopted by a vote of 67-30 (D
22-28; R 45-0; I 0-2). [Vote 104, 4/18/13]
XXXX Voted To Allow Veterans To Obtain Firearms Even If They Are Mentally Incapacitated,
Incompetent Or Experiencing An Extended Loss Of Consciousness. In April 2013, XXXX voted in favor of
Burr, R-N.C., amendment no. 720 that would prevent veterans who are mentally incapacitated, deemed mentally
incompetent or experiencing an extended loss of consciousness from being deemed "a mental defective" and
blocked from owning guns unless a court finds that the individual poses a danger to himself or others. The
amendment was rejected by a vote of 56-44 (D 9-44; R 45-0; I 2-0). [Vote 102, 4/17/13]
XXXX Voted To Require 60-Vote Majority For Any Gun Legislation. In March 2013, XXXX voted in favor of
a Lee, R-Utah, motion to waive the Budget Act with respect to the Murray, D-Wash., point of order against the Lee
amendment no. 673 for not being germane. The Lee amendment would create a 60-vote point of order against
certain legislation related to gun policy, including prohibiting the possession of certain types of guns, limiting the
size of ammunition clips or requiring background checks for private firearm transfers. The motion was jrected by a
vote of 50-49 (D 6-46; R 44-1; I 0-2). [Vote 87, 3/23/13]
XXXX Supported Government Funding To Prevent The US From Entering Into UN Arms Treaty. In March
2013, XXXX voted in favor of Inhofe, R-Okla., amendment no. 139 that would create a deficit-neutral reserve fund
to allow for legislation related to Second Amendment rights, including preventing the United States from entering
into the U.N. Arms Trade Treaty. The amendment was adopted by a vote of 53-46 (D 8-44; R 45-0; I 0-2). [Vote
91, 3/23/13]
XXXX Voted to Deny Funding for Amtrak Unless Riders Are Allowed to Transport Firearms in Checked
Baggage. In September 2009, XXXX voted to cut off Amtrak funding unless riders are allowed to transport
firearms in checked baggage. The amendment to the FY 2010 Transportation-HUD Appropriations bill offered by
Senator Wicker would deny Amtrak its $1.5 billion federal subsidy next year unless it allows passengers to pack
firearms in their checked luggage by March. The amendment was adopted 68-30. [CQ Today, 9/16/09; Vote 279,
9/16/09]
XXXX Voted to Allow Firearms in National Parks and Wildlife Refuges. In May 2009, XXXX voted for an
amendment to a credit card bill that would ban the Interior Department from prohibiting visitors to national parks
and wildlife refuges from carrying firearms if they comply with state laws. The amendment offered by Coburn was
adopted on a 67-29 vote, including 27 Democrats and one independent. [CQ Today, 5/19/09; Vote 188, 5/19/09]
XXXX Voted to Repeal the D.C. Restrictions on Semiautomatic Weapons. In February 2009, XXXX voted for
an amendment by John Ensign, R-Nev., that would repeal the District’s restrictions on semiautomatic weapons, bar
the city’s registration requirements for most guns and drop criminal penalties for possessing an unregistered firearm
in the District. The amendment drew the support of moderate, Midwestern and Western Democrats, including
Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada, a strong bill backer. The amendment passed 62-36. [CQ Today, 2/26/09;
Vote 72, 2/26/09]
52

XXXX Opposed Expanding the Definition of Armor-Piercing Ammunition. In 2004, XXXX voted against an
amendment to expand the federal definition of armor-piercing ammunition to include a projectile that could be used
in a handgun that could penetrate body armor worn by law enforcement officers. [Vote 28, 3/2/04]
XXXX Voted for Tougher Sentencing for Crimes Using Armor Piercing Bullets. In 2004, XXXX voted for an
amendment that required the attorney general to commission a study to determine if a uniform standard for the
testing of projectiles against body armor was feasible. It also increased the penalties for violent or drug trafficking
crimes in which the perpetrator used or possessed armor-piercing ammunition to a minimum of 15 years
imprisonment. If death resulted from the use of such ammunition, a person could be imprisoned up to life or face
the death penalty. [Vote 27, 3/2/04]
XXXX Voted to Prohibit the Sale or Transfer of Handguns Without Proper Safety Devices. In 2004, XXXX
voted for an amendment to prohibit the sale or transfer of handguns by licensed manufacturers, importers or dealers
without secure gun storage or safety devices provided for each handgun. [S 1805, Vote 17, 2/26/04]
XXXX Voted Against a $15 Million Gun Buyback Program. In 2001, XXXX voted against an amendment to
allow $15 million for the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Gun Buyback Program. It allows public
housing authorities and local police departments to undertake buyback initiatives. [HR 2620, Vote 267, 8/2/01]
XXXX Voted Against Supporting the Million Mom March. In 2000, XXXX voted against an amendment that
would express the sense of the Senate that organizers of the Million Mom March should be commended and that
Congress should pass the conference report on the juvenile justice bill, including the Senate-passed provisions,
before the Memorial Day recess. [Vote 100, 5/16/00]
XXXX Voted to Divert Money from Tax Cuts to Gun Law Enforcement. In 2000, XXXX voted for an
amendment that would deny $289.5 million in tax cuts over 5 years and would increase spending by that amount in
function 750 (Justice), with the intention of hiring 500 new Federal Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearm (ATF) agents
and inspectors and 1,000 new Federal, State, and local prosecutors "to take dangerous gun offenders off the streets."
The Craig amendment would nullify the provisions of the underlying amendment and would then provide the same
amount of funding, $289.5 million, for the enforcement of laws that target the criminal used of firearms. The
amendment was agreed to, 54-46. [Vote 74, 4/7/00]
XXXX Voted to Create A Program To Promote Gun Education And Safety. In 2000, XXXX voted for an
amendment that would create a new Federal program to award grants through an application process to various
schools: for the development and dissemination of model programs to reduce violence in schools; for the education
of students about the dangers associated with guns; and for the distribution of violence- prevention information,
including information about safe gun storage, to children and their parents. The amendment was agreed to, 91-7.
[Vote 32, 3/2/00]
XXXX Vote Against An Amendment That Called For Policies To Reduce Gun Violence In Schools. In 2000,
XXXX voted against an amendment that would express the sense of the Senate that "before April 20, 2000,
Congress shall make schools safe for learning by implementing policies that will reduce the threat of gun violence
in schools." On the next vote, XXXX voted for the same amendment that also included a finding that Congress has
"failed to pass reasonable, common-sense gun control measures" following the violence nearly a year ago at
Columbine High School.” [Vote 27, 3/2/00; Vote 28, 3/2/00]
XXXX Voted to Allow Same Discipline for Special Education Students and Other Students for Brining
Weapons to School. In 1999, XXXX voted for an amendment that permits school personnel to suspend or expel
children with disabilities from their schools for unlimited periods of time for carrying or possessing gun or other
firearm to or at school, without providing any educational services, including behavioral intervention services.
[Vote 137, 5/20/99]
XXXX Voted for Charging a Fee to Gun Purchasers to Pay for Brady Bill. In 1998, XXXX voted for charging
a fee to gun purchasers to pay for the Brady Bill instant background check. [Vote 217, 7/21/98]
53

MISCELLANEOUS CRIME
XXXX Voted to Pass the Crime Victim’s Rights Bill. In April 2004, XXXX voted for a bill that would provide
victims of crime or their representatives the right to be heard at public proceedings and would require judicial
officials to take victims' safety into account when deciding the fate of defendants. It would provide victims the right
to reasonable, accurate and timely notice of any public proceeding involving the crime or of any release or escape
of the accused. It also would authorize $122.3 million from fiscal 2005 through 2009 for grants administered by the
Justice Department to encourage states to establish and maintain programs to carry out the provisions related to
crime victims' rights and for the development of a notification system of dates and criminal proceedings for crime
victims. [S 2329, Vote 70, 4/22/04]
XXXX Voted Against Giving Convicted Felons The Right To Vote. In 2002, XXXX voted against giving
convicted felons the right to vote in federal elections. The amendment McConnell voted for would require every
State to permit registration and voting in Federal elections by citizens who have committed felonies, have
completed serving their sentences, and are on neither parole nor probation. The vote was on a Reid/Specter
amendment to the Equal Protection of Voting Rights Act. [S 565, Vote 31, 2/14/02]
XXXX Supported Bill to Combat Human Trafficking and Violence Against Women. In October 2000, XXXX
voted for a bill that would that would combat human trafficking, including those forced into sexual slavery, and
establish a new visa for aliens who are victims of human trafficking. It also would authorize approximately $3
billion in fiscal years 2001-2005 for programs to combat violence against women. State attorneys would be granted
general authority to bring civil action in federal courts to enforce state laws that outlaw the direct sale of alcohol
over the Internet. It would require states releasing violent sexual offenders who commit similar crimes in another
state to reimburse the second state for costs related to the incarceration, prosecution and apprehension of the
criminal. Terrorism victims would be allowed to recover judgments against countries listed by the State Department
as terrorism sponsors. [Vote 269, 10/11/00]
XXXX Supported A Victims’ Right Constitutional Amendment. In 2000, XXXX voted for an amendment that
would propose a new amendment to the Constitution of the United States, valid if ratified by the legislatures of
three-4ths of the States within 7 years from the date of its submission by Congress. The amendment would protect
victims’ rights of notice and access to public hearings relating to the crime, as well as rights concern the parole and
pardon the convicted offender. The cloture motion was agreed to, 82-12. [Vote 86, 4/27/00]
DRUGS
XXXX Voted Against Providing $634.7 Million to Rural Law Enforcement for Anti-Drug Enforcement. In
2003, XXXX voted against an effort to provide $634.7 million for the Edward Byrne Memorial Grant Program,
which provides money to rural law enforcement agencies for antidrug enforcement. Democrats sought to add the
law enforcement funding to the $390 billion government-wide spending bill, which covered the 11 non-defense
fiscal 2003 appropriations bills that Congress did not enact in 2002. Democrats said was $9.8 billion short of what
they approved in 2002 when they controlled the Senate. The vote was on the Stevens, R-AK, motion to table (kill)
the Harkin, D-IA, amendment to the Fiscal 2003 Omnibus Appropriations bill. [HJ Res 2, Vote 6, 1/17/03]
XXXX Voted Against $164 Million For Counter-Narcotics Programs In Latin America. In 2001, XXXX
voted against increasing funding for Plan Colombia, the counter-narcotics programs in Latin America, by $164
million, from $567 million to Bush’s requested amount of $731 million. The vote was on a motion to waive the
Budget Act for the consideration of the Graham/Hagel/Dodd amendment to the Foreign Operations, Export
Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Bill for FY 2002. [HR 2506, Vote 311, 10/24/01; Congressional
Quarterly Daily Monitor, 10/21/01]
XXXX Voted To Cut Funding To Fight Drug Trafficking In Colombia. In 2000, XXXX voted against an
amendment that would strike all but $200 million of the $934.1 million in FY 2000 funding for combating drug
54

trafficking in Colombia, and would give the Secretary of State discretion to use the remaining funding for drug
control efforts in Colombia, Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru, and other countries in South and Central American and the
Caribbean. The amendment was rejected, 19-79. [Vote 139, 6/21/00]
XXXX Voted Against Shifting Money From Plan Colombia To Substance Abuse Programs. In 2000, XXXX
voted for an amendment that would strike $225 million in military assistance that would be given to Colombia to
help it to mount a military offensive against the drug dealer armies in southern Colombia as part of Plan Colombia.
The amendment would instead increase spending by $225 million on Substance Abuse Mental Health
Administration (SAMSHA) programs to treat drug addicts. The motion to table was agreed to, 89-11. [Vote 138,
6/21/00]
XXXX Voted for GOP-Backed Stronger Powder Cocaine Penalties, Rather Than Lower Sentences for Crack
Cocaine. In 1999, XXXX voted for an amendment that expanded federal efforts to stop the growth of
methamphetamine and amphetamine, and imposed tougher mandatory minimum sentences for trafficking in
powder cocaine. The measure reduced the sentencing disparity between powder and crack cocaine by tightening the
penalty against dealers of the powder, which allows stricter penalties for crack cocaine, more heavily used by
African Americans, than powder cocaine, heavily used by whites. Opponents and the Clinton administration wanted
to decrease the disparity by lowering the sentencing for crack cocaine. The vote was on the Hatch amendment,
which enacted the Methamphetamine Anti-Proliferation Act. [Vote 360, 11/10/99; Associated Press, 11/11/99]
CHILDREN AND SCHOOL SAFETY
XXXX Voted For the National Kidnapping Alert System. In 2003, XXXX voted for the National Kidnapping
Alert System, which would establish a national coordinator for AMBER alerts, an alert system for missing children,
within the Justice Department. The coordinator would work to expand the network of the AMBER alert systems
and would coordinate the issuance of region wide alerts. The bill also would authorize a grant program to help
establish electronic message boards as well as training and education programs in states that do not have the alert
system. The Justice Department would be responsible for establishing standards for issuing alerts. The vote was on
passage of the National Kidnapping Alert System. [S 121, Vote 9, 1/21/03]
XXXX Voted To Criminalize Pandering Or Soliciting Child Pornography. In February 2003, XXXX voted for
a bill that would make it a crime to pander or solicit child pornography. It would require the pandering to be linked
to material that had been determined to be obscene and would require prosecutors to show a suspect acted with
intent. The bill's pandering provision would make it a crime to present material "or purported material" that
conveys the impression that a minor is engaging in sexual behavior. [S 151, Vote 35, 2/24/03]
XXXX Supported $49 Million for School and Community Safety Programs. XXXX, on May 14, 2001, voted
for the Cleland amendment to S.1, which was an amendment to establish a National Center for School and Youth
Safety to offer emergency assistance in response to school safety crises, an anonymous student hotline,
consultations regarding school safety, and outreach activities. John McCain was one of 74 senators to vote for this
amendment. [S 1, Vote 102, 5/14/01]
XXXX Voted to Call for Reauthorization Of The Safe And Drug-Free Schools Program. In 2000, XXXX
voted for an amendment that would express the sense of the Senate that the "reauthorization of the Safe and Drug-
Free Schools program that Congress soon will be considering should target the elimination of illegal drugs and
violence in our schools and should encourage local schools to insist on zero-tolerance policies towards violence and
illegal drug use." The amendment was agreed to, 96-1. [Vote 26, 3/2/00]
XXXX Voted Against Exempting Juveniles and Mentally Ill From Prison Litigation Reform Act. In 1999,
XXXX voted to kill an amendment that would exempt juveniles and the mentally ill from current laws that limit the
power of federal courts to grant injunctive relief on the basis of prison conditions. [Vote 219, 7/22/99]
XXXX Voted Against Media Campaign to Prevent Underage Drinking. In 1999, XXXX voted against the
Lautenberg amendment to S.1217, which was an amendment to provide $25 million for a media campaign to
55

prevent alcohol use by individuals under 21 years old. [Vote 217, 7/22/99]
XXXX Voted To Filter Obscene Material From School Computers. In 2000, XXXX voted to enact the
Children's Internet Protection Act, which would cut off Federal Internet access subsidies to schools that failed to
implement filtering or blocking technology on computers with Internet access. Schools would have to implement
filtering or blocking technology that prevented children's access to child pornography, other obscene material, and
any other material that the school, school board, or other authority determined was inappropriate for minors. The
amendment was agreed to, 95-3. [Vote 149, 6/27/00]
XXXX Voted to Allow Same Discipline for Special Education Students and Other Students for Brining
Weapons to School. In 1999, XXXX voted for an amendment that permits school personnel to suspend or expel
children with disabilities from their schools for unlimited periods of time for carrying or possessing gun or other
firearm to or at school, without providing any educational services, including behavioral intervention services.
[Vote 137, 5/20/99]
XXXX Voted Against Addressing Disproportionate Number of Minority Children in Prison. In 1999, XXXX
cast a crucial vote to kill Hatch motion to table Wellstone, et al., amendment: Strikes language requiring States to
assess extent to which 'segments' of juvenile population are incarcerated to greater extent than proportion of these
groups in general juvenile population, and to address prevention efforts designed to reduce that disproportionate
confinement; and inserts language that requires States to address juvenile delinquency prevention efforts and
system improvement efforts designed to reduce, without numerical standards or quotas, disproportionate number of
juvenile members of 'racial minority groups' who come in contact with juvenile justice system. [Vote 130, 5/19/99]
XXXX Voted Against Grants for Children Subjected to Domestic Violence. In 1999, XXXX voted to kill the
Wellstone amendment to S.254, which was an amendment to authorize grants to aide children who have witnessed
domestic violence, and to train adults on how to work with them. [Vote 125, 5/18/99]
XXXX Voted Against Supporting a Program to Prevent Youth Violence. In 1999, XXXX Voted against
supporting a program to prevent youth violence and against helping schools combat school violence. [Vote 107,
5/11/99]
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
XXXX Voted Against Prohibiting Defense Contracting With Companies Who Deny Women Their Day in
Court for Sexual Assault Claims. In October 2009, XXXX voted against an amendment to the FY 10 Defense
Appropriations that would prohibiting the Defense Department from contracting with companies that require
employees to resolve sexual assault allegations and other claims through arbitration. Democratic Sen. Al Franken of
Minnesota said he sponsored the measure in response to the case of former KBR/Halliburton employee Jamie Leigh
Jones, who alleges she was raped by co-workers while in Iraq in 2005. She went public with her story in 2007.
"Contractors are using fine print to deny women like Jamie Leigh Jones their day in court," Franken said during
debate on the amendment. The amendment was adopted 68-30. [Houston Chronicle, 10/07/09; Vote 308, 10/06/09]
XXXX Opposed Benefits for Domestic Violence Victims. In March 2004, XXXX voted against an amendment
that would have expanded the Family and Medical Leave Act to allow victims of domestic violence and sexual
assault to take leave from work for up to 30 days. It would also allow victims of domestic violence, stalking or
sexual assault to receive unemployment insurance if they lose their job as a result. [Vote 62, 3/25/04]
XXXX Voted for $100 Million Grant Program for Domestic Violence. In 2004, XXXX voted to end the
filibuster on a bill that included an amendment to create a $100 million grant program to help states combat
domestic violence. [Vote 65, 4/1/04]
XXXX Supported Bill to Combat Human Trafficking and Violence Against Women. In October 2000, XXXX
voted for a bill that would that would combat human trafficking, including those forced into sexual slavery, and
establish a new visa for aliens who are victims of human trafficking. It also would authorize approximately $3
56

billion in fiscal years 2001-2005 for programs to combat violence against women. State attorneys would be granted
general authority to bring civil action in federal courts to enforce state laws that outlaw the direct sale of alcohol
over the Internet. It would require states releasing violent sexual offenders who commit similar crimes in another
state to reimburse the second state for costs related to the incarceration, prosecution and apprehension of the
criminal. Terrorism victims would be allowed to recover judgments against countries listed by the State Department
as terrorism sponsors. [Vote 269, 10/11/00]
XXXX Voted Against Grants for Children Subjected to Domestic Violence. In 1999, XXXX voted to kill the
Wellstone amendment to S.254, which was an amendment to authorize grants to aide children who have witnessed
domestic violence, and to train adults on how to work with them. [Vote 125, 5/18/99]
HATE CRIMES
XXXX Opposed Expanding Hate Crimes Definition. In 2004, XXXX voted against classifying crimes motivated
by the victim’s gender, sexual orientation or disability as hate crimes. The NAACP supported expanding the
definition of hate crimes. [Vote 114, 6/15/04; NAACP Legislative Report Card, 2003-04]
XXXX Opposed Expanding Federal Jurisdiction for Hate Crimes. On June 11, 2002, XXXX voted against
cloture on S.625, which was a bill to expand the definition of hate crimes to include acts committed because of the
victim’s sex, sexual orientation or disability, and to allow the Federal Government to help states prosecute hate
crimes even if no federally protected activity was involved. There was no floor vote on S 625 because this cloture
vote failed, so the vote against cloture was the equivalent of a vote against passage of the bill. [S 625, Vote 147,
6/11/02]
INTERNATIONAL CRIMES
XXXX Voted To Prohibit U.S. Cooperation With The International War Crimes Tribunal. In 2002, XXXX
voted to prohibit U.S. cooperation with the international war crimes tribunal. The tribunal was scheduled to start
operations on July 1, 2002 and was opposed by Bush. The administration and many lawmakers feared that the
tribunal would put U.S. troops at risk of politically motivated prosecutions. XXXX voted for an amendment that
would protect American service members from prosecution by the International Criminal Court by adding the
American Service Members' Protection Act of 2002. The vote was on a Warner modified amendment to the
Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Bill for fiscal year 2002. [HR 4775, Vote 140, 6/6/02; Associated Press,
6/7/02; Congressional Quarterly Weekly, 6/7/02]
XXXX Voted Against Allowing The U.S. To Temporarily Assist The International Criminal Court. In 2002,
XXXX voted against allowing the U.S. to assist the International Criminal Court through Sept. 30, 2002, in cases
involving Saddam Hussein, Slobodan Milosevic, Osama bin Laden, Islamic Jihad, al Qaeda or any nationals
accused of genocide, war crimes or crimes against humanity. The motion to table was agreed to, 55-40. [HR 4775,
Vote 139, 6/6/02]
XXXX Voted Not To Require a Report On The International Criminal Court. In 2001, XXXX voted against
an amendment that would require the President to report to Congress on any additional legislative actions necessary
to advance and protect United States interests as they relate to the establishment of the International Criminal Court
(ICC) or the prosecution of crimes against humanity. The amendment was rejected, 48-51. [HR 3338, Vote 358,
12/7/01]
XXXX Voted to Protect Americans From Prosecution By The International Criminal Court. In 2001, XXXX
voted for the American Service members' Protection Act of 2001, which would provide protection for American
service members and other Americans acting in official capacities from prosecution by the International Criminal
Court. The amendment was agreed to, 78-21. [Hr 3338, Vote 359, 12/7/01]
57

EDUCATION
HIGHLIGHTS

THE XXXX RECORD
EDUCATION FUNDING
XXXX Voted Against Hundreds Of Millions In Funding For Education Funding. In March 2013, XXXX
voted against Harkin, D-Iowa, amendment no. 53 to the Mikulski, D-Md., substitute amendment no. 26. The Harkin
amendment would add $107 million for Title I funding, for school districts with a large percentage of low-income
students and $14 million for TRIO, a program that helps students from disadvantaged communities get into college.
It would add $125 million for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and $107 million for child care
programs. It would increase funding for the National Institutes of Health by $211 million and provide a $29 million
increase for the Ryan White AIDS Drug Assistance Program. The amendment would be offset by a 0.127 percent
cut to certain programs. The amendment was rejected by a vote of 54-45 (D 52-0; R 0-45; I 2-0). [Vote 36, 3/14/13]
XXXX Voted Against $26.1 Billion In Medicaid And Education Funding For States That Was Paid For By
Closing Foreign Tax Loopholes. In August 2010, XXXX voted against a Reid, D-Nev., motion to concur in the
House amendment to the Senate amendment with a further Murray, D-Wash., substitute amendment no. 4575 that
would provide $16.1 billion to extend increased Medicaid assistance to states and $10 billion in education funding
for states. The cost of the programs would be offset by changing foreign tax provisions, ending increased food
stamp benefits beginning in April 2014 and rescinding previously enacted spending. [Vote 228, 8/5/10]
 XXXX Voted Against $26.1 Billion In Medicaid And Education Funding For States. In August 2010,
XXXX voted against a Murray, D-Wash., motion to waive the Budget Act and budget resolutions with
respect to the Gregg, R-N.H., point of order against the Reid, D-Nev., motion to concur in the House
amendment to the Senate amendment with a further Murray substitute amendment no. 4575 that would
provide $16.1 billion to extend increased Medicaid assistance to states and $10 billion in education funding
for states. [Vote 225, 8/4/10]
 XXXX Voted Against $26.1 Billion In Medicaid and Education Funding For States. In August 2010,
XXXX voted against a motion to invoke cloture (thus limiting debate) on the Reid, D-Nev., motion to
concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment with a further Murray, D-Wash., substitute
amendment no. 4575 that would provide $16.1 billion to extend increased Medicaid assistance to states and
$10 billion in education funding for states. [Vote 224, 8/4/10]
XXXX Cast Deciding Vote Against Amendment to Increase Education Funding by $6.3 Billion. In March
2006, XXXX voted against an amendment that would have increased education funding by $6.3 billion over the
amount requested by George Bush. The amendment failed in the Senate 50-50. [Vote 39, 3/14/06]
XXXX Voted For $7 Billion for Health Care & Education Programs. In March 2006, XXXX voted for an
amendment to increase FY2007 education and health care funding by $7.1 billion. The amendment was proposed in
order to restore many of Bush’s budget cuts to health care, education and job training programs. [Vote 58, 3/16/06]
XXXX Voted Against $5 Billion Increase in NCLB Funding. In October 2005, XXXX voted against an
amendment that would have increased NCLB Title I funding by $5 billion during fiscal year 2006. The underlying
bill appropriated $12.8 billion for Title I in 2006, about $10 billion less than Congress authorized. [Vote 269,
10/26/05; Aberdeen American News, 10/30/05]
58

XXXX Voted Against $500 Million for Education Funding. In March 2005, XXXX voted against an amendment
that increased fiscal year 2006 funding for the National Institutes of Health by $1.5 billion and education funding
by $500 million. The increase was to be offset by a $2 billion cut in the Allowances account. Critics of the bill
argued that the bill increased discretionary spending by $2 billion and that government could not afford to increase
discretionary spending by $2 billion given the large federal deficit. [Vote 56, 3/16/05]
XXXX Did Not Vote On A $4.75 Billion Education Funding Hike. In March 2005, XXXX did not vote on an
amendment that would have restored fiscal year 2006 education funding to its fiscal 2005 levels, a $4.75 billion
increase. The amendment XXXX did not vote on would have restored funding for 48 education programs slated for
elimination by President Bush, including Career and Technical Education, Safe and Drug-Free Schools, education
technology state grants, and the TRIO and GEAR-UP programs. In addition the bill would have reduced the federal
debt by $4.75 billion and would have been offset by a $9.5 billion reduction in tax cuts. [Vote 45, 3/14/05;
Sacramento Bee, 3/15/05; NEA Congressional Report Card]
XXXX Opposed $8.6 Billion in Education Funding Increases To Fully Fund NCLB. In 2004, XXXX voted
against a proposal that would have created a reserve fund to allow for an increase of up to $8.6 billion in education
programs. It also increased the amount dedicated for deficit reduction by $8.6 billion. The spending would have
been offset by revenue increases. [Vote 35, 3/10/04]
XXXX Voted Against Across-the-Board Education Cut. On September 10, 2003, XXXX voted against an
amendment that would have increased after-school funding by $100 million, offset with an across the board cut.
The vote was on the Ensign amendment, which would provide an additional $100 million for after school programs
under the 21st Century Learning Center Program, but only through a $100 million CUT in other education
programs. McConnell was one of only seven Senators to support the Ensign amendment. [Vote 344, 9/10/03]
XXXX Voted To Implement NCLB Without Full Title I Funding. On September 10, 2003, XXXX voted
against an amendment that would have prohibited the implementation of the “NCLB Act” if the amount
appropriated for Title I in the underlying Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations bill was less than $18.5 billion—
the amount authorized by the NCLB Act. The amendment was rejected 28-67. [Vote 342, 9/10/03]
XXXX Opposed $6.2 Billion for Title I Programs to Fully Fund NCLB. In September 2003, XXXX voted
against an amendment that would have provided an additional $6.2 billion for Title I programs. The substitute
amendment would have provided the funding as part of a $472.2 billion package in fiscal 2004 for the departments
of Labor, Health and Human Services and Education and related agencies. [Vote 330, 9/9/03]
XXXX Voted For $20 Billion In Aid to States, Half for Education or Job Training. In 2003, XXXX voted for
an amendment that would authorize $10 billion a year for two years for states and localities, including $5 billion a
year for grants for education or job training, health care or other social services, transportation or infrastructure, and
law enforcement or public safety. The remaining $5 billion per year would be for a temporary increase in federal
Medicaid assistance to states. [S 1054, Vote 157, 5/15/03; Congressional Record, 5/15/03]
XXXX Voted Against Rolling Back Bush Tax Cuts by $18 Billion To Increase Education Funding. In 2003,
XXXX voted against an amendment sponsored by Sen. Patty Murray that would have reduced President Bush’s tax
cut by $18 billion and split the funding evenly between education and deficit reduction. The amendment would
have fully funded the NCLB Act and reduced tax cuts for the wealthiest taxpayers. [Vote 60, 3/19/03; AP, 3/19/03]
XXXX Voted Against $6 Billion in Education Funding to Fully Fund NCLB. XXXX voted against an
amendment to the Fiscal Year 2003 Omnibus Appropriations Bill that would have provided $6 billion to help fully
fund NCLB. [Vote 5, 1/16/03]
 XXXX Voted For The Conference Report On Fiscal 2003 Appropriations that Included a $3.2 Billion
Increase for Education. In February 2003, XXXX voted to adopt the conference report on the joint
resolution that provided $397.4 billion in fiscal 2003 spending for all Cabinet departments and government
59

agencies covered in 11 unfinished spending bills. The agreement provided a 0.65 percent across-the-board
cut to many programs to offset additional increased funding primarily for education. [Vote 34, 2/13/03]
NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND
XXXX Voted For The Conference Report On The “No Child Left Behind Act Of 2001.” In 2001, XXXX
voted for the conference report to accompany the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (H.R. 1). The conference
report would reauthorize Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) programs and other Federal elementary
and secondary education programs through fiscal year (FY) 2007. It would impose new State testing requirements
to hold schools accountable, while allowing local educational agencies (LEAs) and States to consolidate Federal
funding for certain education programs. The bill would also provide increased opportunities for parents to choose
which public schools their children will attend (public school choice). The conference report was agreed to, 87-10.
[HR 1, Vote 371, 12/18/01]
XXXX Voted Against Funding for Low Income Children and Education. In November 2001, XXXX voted
against an amendment that would transfer $1 billion of the Title I increase into the Target Assistance Grant Fund,
which benefits low-income children. It also would allocate $650 million for education finance incentive grants. [HR
3061, Vote 317, 11/1/01]
XXXX Voted For Final Passage Of A Bill To Reauthorize Elementary And Secondary Education Act
Programs. In 2001, XXXX voted for final passage, as amended, of the Better Education for Students and Teachers
Act of 2001 (S. 1). The bill reauthorized Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) programs and other
Federal elementary and secondary education programs. Highlights included: new State testing requirements that
would be used to hold schools accountable for improving the academic performance of students; a pilot program
that would allow the consolidation of many Federal programs in return for States and school districts achieving
even more rapid progress than required under the testing standards; and enactment of a new grant program to
improve teacher quality. The bill passed, 91-8. [HR 1 S 1, Vote 192, 6/14/01]
XXXX Voted Against Calling for Double the Federal Funding For Education. In 2001, XXXX voted against
an amendment to the Better Education for Students and Teachers Act of 2001 that would express the sense of the
Senate that Congress should appropriate all funds authorized for elementary and secondary education in fiscal year
2002 (more than twice as much is authorized than was provided in FY2001). The amendment was rejected, 49-50.
[S 1, Vote 186, 6/13/01]
XXXX Voted for Vague Call for Education Funding “To The Maximum Extent Possible.” In 2002, XXXX
voted for an amendment to the Better Education for Students and Teachers Act of 2001 that would express the
sense of the Senate that the Appropriations Committee would fund the authorizations in this bill to the maximum
extent possible. Democratic senators expressed concern that education would receive no new funding or little new
funding under the vague terms of the amendment. The amendment was rejected, 49-50. [S 1, Vote 185, 6/13/01;
Congressional Record, p. S6188, 6/13/01]
XXXX Voted Not To Require Comparable Services In Title I Schools. In 2001, XXXX voted against providing
that each State would be required to ensure that each school that received title I funds provided services that were
"at least comparable" to services in schools that did not receive title I funding. The amendment was rejected, 42-
58. [S 1, Vote 180, 6/12/01]
XXXX Voted Against Additional Title I Funding For Schools Where Economic Conditions Have Improved.
In 2001, McConnell voted against an amendment to increase Title I education aid originally intended for schools in
low-income areas. The amendment does not tamper with current Title I allocations, meaning no school would get
any less than it does now. However, future increases in Title I money would be distributed according to the formula
for poverty-impacted schools. The vote was on an amendment to the Better Education for Students and Teachers
Act of 2001. [S. Amdt. 475, Vote 178, 6/11/01; Congressional Quarterly Daily Monitor, 6/11/01]
60

XXXX Voted to Call For 95% Of Federal Education Funds To Be Spent In The Classroom. In 2001, XXXX
voted to express the sense of the Senate that 95 percent of Federal elementary and secondary education funds
should be spent in the classroom. The amendment was agreed to, 96-1. [S 1, Vote 175, 6/7/01]
XXXX Favored Tax Cuts for the Wealthy Over Increased Funding for Health Care, Education. In 2001,
XXXX voted against a $900 million tax cut that would have provided $300 tax rebates to single filers and $600
rebates to couples, created a new ten percent tax bracket, reduced the marriage penalty, increased the per child tax
credit to $1,000, increased the estate tax exemption, provided a $5,000 college tuition deduction for low- and
middle-income taxpayers, increased limits on IRA contributions, permanently couples, created a new ten percent
tax bracket, reduced the marriage penalty, increased the per child tax credit to $1,000, increased the estate tax
exemption, provided a $5,000 college tuition deduction for low- and middle-income taxpayers, increased limits on
IRA contributions, permanently expanded the R&D tax credit, eliminated the alternative minimum tax for those
with incomes up to $80,000, and accelerated the phase-in of the 100 percent tax deduction for health insurance
premiums paid by self employed individuals, among other minor provisions. [HR 1836, Vote 144, 5/22/01]
XXXX Voted Not To Reduce Tax Cuts in Order to Increase Education Spending By $150 Billion. In 2001,
XXXX voted against an amendment to the Tax Relief Act of 2001 that would strike all after the first word of the
bill and would substitute alternative provisions that its sponsor stated would lower the total amount of tax relief to
$1.2 trillion and would increase spending on Federal education programs by $150 billion. The motion to waive was
rejected, 43-55. [HR 1836, Vote 143, 5/22/01]
XXXX Voted Against Making Tax Cuts Contingent On Education Funding. XXXX voted against an
amendment to the Tax Relief Act of 2001 that would prohibit any tax rate of less than 39.6 percent for the top tax
bracket in any year in which the maximum amount authorized was not appropriated for the following education
programs and purposes: the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA); Title I aid for schools to teach
economically disadvantaged students; the Teacher Quality Act; bilingual education; and after-school programs.
The motion was rejected, 48-51. [HR 1836, Vote 130, 5/21/01]
XXXX Voted Against $120 Billion in Education Funding. XXXX, on May 21, 2001, voted against a motion to
recommit H.R.1836 to the Senate Finance Committee with instructions to strike the tax rate reductions in the bill
and establish a reserve account to provide for $120 billion for federal education programs. [HR 1836, Vote 121,
5/21/01]
XXXX Voted to Bar Education Funding Increases For Failing States. In 2001, XXXX voted to provide that if
a State's students failed to improve their academic performance in a year, then that State would not be given
increased funding under this Act the next year; a State that failed to make progress could receive the same amount
of funding, after adjusting for inflation. The amendment was rejected, 27-73. [S 1, Vote 93, 5/8/01]
XXXX Supported Increasing Title I Funding. In 2001, XXXX voted for an amendment to the Better Education
for Students and Teachers Act of 2001 (S. 1), which would strike the section that will authorize $15 billion in FY
2002 and such sums as may be necessary for the next 6 years for education for the disadvantaged (Title I, Part A of
the ESEA), and would instead provide for substantial yearly increases in Title I, Part A funding. [S 1, Vote 91,
5/3/01]
XXXX Voted Against $250 Billion in Education Funding. On a vote of 53-47, the Senate passed an amendment
to the 2002 budget resolution, that provides the blueprint for congressional spending and priorities, that allocated
more funding for education and debt reduction by reducing the resolution’s tax cut. The amendment XXXX
opposed reduced the amount of the tax cut by $448 billion to provide $250 billion for education and $224 billion to
reduce the federal debt. [H Con Res 83, Vote 69, 4/4/01]
XXXX Voted To Kill An Amendment To Divert Defense Spending To Education. In 2000, XXXX voted
against an amendment that would reduce the procurement title (title III) of the Department of Defense (DoD)
Appropriations Bill by $1 billion and would appropriate an additional $922 million for Title I of the Elementary
61

and Secondary Education Act, which targets disadvantaged students. The motion to table was agreed to, 83-15.
[Vote 126, 6/13/00]
XXXX Voted Against Authorizing New Funding For Education. In 2000, XXXX voted against an amendment
that would strike the reforms to reduce Federal mandates in return for improved academic performance. It would
authorize funding for new specific purposes, including hiring teachers, to build and repair schools, and to run
afterschool programs. The amendment was rejected, 45-54. [Vote 90, 5/3/00]
XXXX Opposed Creating An Education Reserve Fund. In 2000, XXXX opposed an amendment that would
create an Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) reserve fund which would permit an increase in total
Federal spending of up to $15 billion over 5 years for any new Federal legislation that permitted ESEA spending
that increased accountability and targeted the most impoverished areas and schools most likely to be in distress.
Without the creation of a reserve fund, such proposed new spending would be subject to a point of order that would
require a three-fifths majority (60) vote to waive. The motion was rejected, 46-54. [Vote 67, 4/7/00]
XXXX Voted Against Diverting Tax Cuts To Education Spending. In 2000, XXXX voted for an amendment
that would deny $28.133 billion of the $150 billion in tax cuts in the underlying resolution. Instead, it would
propose spending it on the Education, Training, Employment, and Social Services budget function, with the stated
hope that it would be spent on a variety of Democrat proposals to increase Federal involvement in education.
Additionally, the amendment would spend another $6.5 billion of the on-budget surplus that is intended for debt
reduction on that budget function. [Vote 54, 4/5/00]
XXXX Voted Against a Senate Resolution Seeking Increased Spending for Various Education Programs. In
1999, XXXX voted against a Senate Resolution expressing the sense of the Senate in favor of increasing Federal
spending on various Federal education programs and proposals, including for hiring more teachers, to triple funding
for after-school programs, and to modernize schools. [Vote 294, 9/27/99]
XXXX Voted Against Using Tax Cuts for Wealthy to Increase Education Funding. In 1999, XXXX voted
against a motion to waive the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to allow consideration of the Bingaman
amendment to S.1429, which was an amendment to express the sense of the Senate that $132 billion should be
shifted from tax cuts for upper-income taxpayers to public education programs. [Vote 232, 7/30/99]
XXXX Voted to Allow State and Local Governments to Be Flexible With Education Funding. In 1999,
XXXX was one of 98 senators to vote for H.R.800, which was a bill to expand from 12 to 50 the number of states
eligible for greater latitude in spending federal school aid. The measure would allow a participating state to waive
certain federal rules normally required to use federal education funds as long as the state meets certain
accountability standards. The bill passed 98-1. [Vote 48, 3/11/99]
XXXX Cast Crucial Vote; to Convert Federal Funding of Education Initiatives Into a Block Grant Program.
In 1998, XXXX cast a crucial vote for an amendment that allows States to decide within one year how it would like
to receive its future federal education funding: administered as it is currently, sent directly to the states or sent
directly to the local school districts. States would decide if they wanted to block grant many Federal K-12 education
programs, providing approximately $10 billion to State or local educational agencies; allows governors and State
legislatures to distribute funds to: local school districts, State's education authority, or State's current educational
system; establishes Title I, bilingual education, and General Education block grant programs; requires State
legislatures to select funding option within one year of enactment, or Education Secretary will allocate funds
through local block grant option. [Vote 91, 4/22/98]
XXXX Voted Against Increased Education Funding. In 1998, XXXX voted to kill an amendment that
recommends $5.9 billion over four years for increased education spending. [Vote 81, 4/2/98]
XXXX Voted Against Providing Education Funding for Innovative Education Reform Efforts. In 1998,
XXXX voted to kill an amendment to recommend increasing spending on education programs by $1.5 billion over
five years, financed by across-the-board cuts in non-defense discretionary spending. [Vote 78, 4/2/98]
62

RURAL EDUCATION
XXXX Supported $132 Million in Rural Education Grants. In September 2003, XXXX voted for an
amendment would have provided $132 million for rural education grants. The substitute amendment would have
provided an additional $137.6 billion in discretionary spending in fiscal 2004 for the Labor, Health and Human
Services and Education departments and related agencies. [Vote 326, 9/4/03]
VOUCHERS AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS
XXXX Voted To Allow Title I Education Funding To Be Used At Private Schools. In March 2013, XXXX
voted in favor of Alexander, R-Tenn., amendment no. 515 that would create a deficit-neutral reserve fund to allow
for legislation related to redirecting Title I education funds for children of low-income families to any school the
child attends. The amendment was rejected by a vote of 39-60 (D 0-52; R 39-6; I 0-2). [Vote 63, 3/22/13]
XXXX Voted Against Killing Funding for the D.C. Voucher Program. In March 2009, XXXX voted for an
amendment to the FY 2009 omnibus spending bill from John Ensign of Nevada to strike the provision that would
end funding after the 2009-10 school year for the District voucher program, unless the program was reauthorized by
Congress and approved by the District government, which failed 39-58. [CQ Today, 3/10/09; Vote 94, 3/10/09]
XXXX Voted to Create First Federally-Backed Voucher Program. In 2003, XXXX voted for the FY04
Omnibus Appropriations bill, which created the first federally funded school voucher program in Washington D.C.
schools. [Vote 3, 1/22/04]
XXXX Supported Spending Federal Money on Private Schools. In 2001, XXXX voted against making it illegal
for parents to spend any of the money they have saved in Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) on tuition or room
and board at any private elementary or secondary education school. The vote was on an amendment to the Tax
Relief Act of 2001. [HR 1836, Vote 136, 5/22/01]
XXXX Voted for School Vouchers to Use Federal Money for Private Schools. On a vote of 41-58, the Senate
rejected Bush’s voucher proposal to establish 10 pilot programs to test the idea of vouchers. The Bush plan, which
has been tested and failed before, would allow parents of kids who attend under performing public schools to use
federal money to pay for private school tuition. [S 1, Vote 179, 6/11/01,; NEA, School Vouchers: The Emerging
Track Record”; LA Times, 6/13/01]
XXXX Voted for School Vouchers. In 1998, XXXX voted for the Coverdell amendment to S.1415, which was an
amendment to authorize $16 billion over five years from the bill’s tobacco revenues for drug prevention efforts,
increase funding for the border patrol, increase funding for anti-drug trafficking efforts by the FBI and the Drug
Enforcement Administration, allow federal funds to be spent on school vouchers for public school children who
have been victims of violent crimes on school property, ban federal funding for needle-exchange programs, and
encourage states to establish voluntary drug testing programs for all first-time individuals seeking a driver’s license.
[Vote 151, 6/9/98]
XXXX Voted for Private Vouchers. In 1998, XXXX voted for passage of a bill to expand tax-free educational
savings accounts for public and private education, increasing the maximum annual contribution to these accounts
that in part subsidize private education with public dollars. [Vote 102, 4/23/98]
XXXX Supported a Measure Creating School Vouchers for Low-Income D.C. Students. In 1997, XXXX
voted to cloture debate on an amendment to the District of Columbia FY ‘98 Appropriations by Sens. Coats and
Lieberman that would have authorized and funded a new program to provide school vouchers for children in the
District of Columbia public schools whose family incomes were at or below 185 percent of the poverty level. Those
scholarships could be used to pay to attend public or private schools in the District or in adjacent counties in
Maryland and Virginia. [Vote 260, 9/30/97]
63

XXXX Voted for Private Vouchers. In 1997, XXXX voted for an amendment to create taxpayer-subsidized
accounts to fund private school tuition. The amendment enabled “tax-free expenditures from an education
individual retirement account for elementary and secondary school expenses and to adjust the modifications to the
minimum tax.” [Vote 150, 6/27/97]
XXXX Cast Crucial Vote for School Voucher Program Instead of Child Nutrition Programs. In 1997 XXXX
cast a crucial vote for a school voucher program instead of child nutrition programs and new school construction.
[Vote 89, 5/23/97]
XXXX Voted For a 110% Tax Deduction for Contributions to Certain Charitable Organizations, Thus
Giving a Tax Deduction Higher than Donation. In 1998, XXXX voted for an amendment that provides 110
percent deduction for cash contributions to elementary or secondary educational organizations who use
contributions to provide scholarships to needy children attending grades K-12 whose family income does not
exceed 185 percent of poverty level. [Vote 95, 4/23/98]
EDUCATION SAVINGS ACCOUNTS
XXXX Voted to Allow Education Savings Accounts For Primary, Secondary Schools, Against Increasing
Maximum Contributions To Accounts. In 2000, XXXX voted against allowing education savings accounts
(ESAs) to be expanded beyond college for use for primary and secondary education. The bill also increased the
maximum annual amount of contributions to such accounts from $500 to $2,000. The vote was on the Affordable
Education Act of 1999. [Vote 33, 3/2/00]
XXXX Voted to Expand Education Savings Accounts. In 2000, XXXX voted to make Education Savings
Account, set to expire in 2004, permanent. The proposal also eliminated an estimated $5.5 billion worth of revenue-
raising provisions that had been designed to help cover the ten-year cost of the measure, instead funding it out of
the federal budget surplus. The amendment also made employer-provided educational assistance for undergraduate
education permanently tax-exempt and extended the provision to graduate studies. [Vote 24, 3/2/00]
XXXX Voted Against $5.5 Billion In Tax-Increase Offsets For New Education Savings Accounts Tax Breaks.
In 2000, XXXX voted against $5.5 billion in tax-increase offsets to pay for new tax breaks for education savings
accounts. The vote was on the Graham amendment to the Roth amendment to the Affordable Education Act of
1999. [Vote 23, 3/2/00]
XXXX Voted to Make IRA’s Available for Public and Private Education. In 1998, XXXX voted to kill an
amendment that strikes provision that makes IRA accounts available for public and private elementary and
secondary education; and maintains increased contribution of $2,000 for higher education. [Vote 87, 4/21/98]
XXXX Voted to Create Tax-Preferred Savings Accounts for Elementary Education Expenses, Including
Private School Tuition. In 1998, XXXX voted to limiting debate on the bill to allow parents, relatives or outside
corporations to contribute up to a combined total of $2,000 a year of after-tax funds in tax-free savings accounts
designated for educational expenses. [Vote 46, 3/26/98]
XXXX Voted to Create Tax-Preferred Savings Accounts for Elementary Education Expenses, Including
Private School Tuition. In 1998, XXXX voted to limit debate on the bill to allow parents, relatives or outside
corporations to contribute up to a combined total of $2,000 a year of after-tax funds in tax-free savings accounts
designated for educational expenses. [Vote 38, 3/19/98]
XXXX Voted to Create Tax-Preferred Savings Accounts for Elementary Education Expenses, Including
Private School Tuition. In 1998, XXXX voted to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to the bill to allow
parents, relatives or outside corporations to contribute up to a combined total of $2,000 a year of after-tax funds in
tax-free savings accounts designated for educational expenses. [Vote 34, 3/17/98]
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XXXX Voted to Allow Parents to Invest $2,500 for Tax-Free Savings Accounts for Education. In 1997,
XXXX voted to allow parents to invest up to $2,500 annually in a tax-free savings accounts designated for
educated-related expenses. [Vote 288, 10/31/97]
XXXX Voted to Expand Education Savings Account, Which Would Allow States to Use Some of Their
Federal Education Funds. In 1998, XXXX voted for an amendment that would restore the bill's savings account
expansion and allow states to use some of their federal education funds to provide awards to public high schools
based on the schools' performance on statewide tests composed entirely by the state. [Vote 96, 4/23/98]
HEAD START, AFTER SCHOOL & SUMMER PROGRAMS
XXXX Voted for Republican Continuing Resolution That Cut Head Start. In March 2011, XXXX voted for
the Republican Continuing Resolution. [HR 1, Vote 36, 3/09/11]
 Bill Made Deep Cuts To the Head Start Program. “200,000 children's futures hang in the balance as the
largest budget cuts in Head Start's history are being debated by members of Congress. Head Start is a program
for low-income families who are trying to prepare their child for the challenges of the educational system.”
[WTOV, 2/23/11]
XXXX Voted Against $51.9 Million for After-School Programs. In October 2005, XXXX voted against an
amendment that would have provided an additional $51.9 million for after-school programs under the 21st Century
Community Learning Centers program in fiscal year 2006. [Vote 279, 10/27/05]
XXXX Voted Against Additional $153 Million for Head Start. In October 2005, XXXX voted against an
amendment what would have increased Head Start funding by $153 million in fiscal year 2006. [Vote 272,
10/26/05]
XXXX Voted Against $1 Billion in Increased Funding for Community Learning Centers. In 2004, XXXX
voted against a proposal to that would have created a reserve fund to allow for an increase in the 21st Century
Community Learning Centers Program by $1 billion and lowered the national debt by eliminating tax loopholes.
[Vote 53, 3/11/04]
XXXX Opposed $250 Million to Fund After-School Programs. XXXX, on September 10, 2003, voted against
an amendment that would have increased funding for after-school programs under the 21st Century Learning
Center by $250 million. [Vote 340, 9/10/03]
XXXX Cast the Deciding Vote Against a $350 Million Increase for Head Start Programs. In September 2003,
XXXX voted against an amendment that would have increased funding to Head Start programs by $350 million.
The substitute amendment provided $472.2 billion in fiscal 2004 for the departments of Labor, Health and Human
Services and Education and related agencies. The motion to wave budget rules and allow consideration of the
amendment failed 47-47. [Vote 333, 9/9/03]
XXXX Voted Against Increasing After-School And Vocational Programs By $24 Billion Over 10 Years. On
March 25, 2003, XXXX voted against an amendment that would have increased spending on after-school and
vocational programs in the FY 2004 budget resolution by $2.2 billion in fiscal 2004 and by $24 billion over 10
years. The vote was on the Harkin, amendment, which would have offset the new spending by reducing Bush tax-
cuts. [Vote 99, 3/25/03]
XXXX Voted Against Increasing Spending On Head Start By $24 Billion And After-School Programs By $18
Billion. On March 25, 2003, XXXX voted against an amendment that would have increased spending on Head
Start programs by $24 billion and increase spending on after-school programs by $18 billion, both over 10 years.
The increases would be offset by a reduction in tax cuts. [Vote 86, 3/25/03]
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XXXX Opposed $150 Million for Summer School Programs. XXXX, on June 5, 2002, voted against the
Kennedy amendment to H.R.4775, which was an amendment to provide $150 million in emergency appropriations
in Fiscal Year 2002 for summer school programs. [HR 4775, Vote 132, 6/5/02]
XXXX Picked Tax Cuts for the Wealthy Instead of Head Start for Education. On a vote of 45-54, XXXX
helped kill an amendment to delay tax cuts for the wealthy until all eligible children have access to Head Start
education programs. Under the Bush budget plan, fifty-percent of the eligible children would not be able to
participate in Head Start. Since 1965, Head Start has helped over 18 million low-income preschool children and
their families. [HR 1836, Vote 154, 5/22/01; The Boston Globe, 5/22/01; National Head Start Association]
XXXX Voted For Student Loan Forgiveness For 5-Year Commitment to Teach Head Start. In 2001, XXXX
voted to give college graduates who make 5-year commitments to teaching in qualified Head Start programs up to
$5,000 in loan forgiveness on their Federal Stafford student loans. The vote was to amend the Higher Education
Act on an amendment to the Better Education for Students and Teachers Act of 2001. [S 1, Vote 111, 5/17/01]
XXXX Voted Against Funding for After-School Programs. In 2001, XXXX voted against an amendment to
provide $1.5 billion in fiscal 2002 for after-school programs and $19.5 billion over the next six years. [S 1, Vote
105, 5/16/01]
XXXX Voted Against $400 Million Increase for 21st Century Community Learning Centers. In June 2000,
XXXX voted against an amendment that that would provide an increase from $600 million to $1 billion for 21st
Century Community Learning Centers. The bill failed 48-51. [Vote 154, 6/28/00]
XXXX Voted For $200 Million to Supporting Funds for After School Programs and Reducing Class Size. In
1999, XXXX voted for to kill an amendment: Increases funding for 21st Century Community Learning Centers
program from $400 million to $600 million (level requested by President). [Vote 299, 9/30/99]
XXXX Voted Against Funding for After School Programs. In 1999, XXXX voted to kill the Boxer amendment
to S.254, which was an amendment to authorize $600 million per year for Fiscal Year 2000 through Fiscal Year
2004 for state grants for after-school programs. [Vote 132, 5/19/99]
XXXX Voted Against $600 Million for Funding for After-School Programs. In 1999, XXXX voted for the
motion to table an amendment to the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. The amendment
would authorize $600 million per year for five years for after-school programs. [Vote 44, 3/11/99]
XXXX Voted Against $150 Million in Funding for a Dropout Prevention Program Aimed at Keeping Kids in
Schools. In 1999, XXXX voted to kill an amendment to the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions
Committee substitute amendment. The Bingaman amendment would authorize $150 million to establish a school
drop-out prevention program. [Vote 43, 3/11/99]
XXXX Cast Crucial Vote Against Creating 21st Century Community Learning Center Initiative. In 1998,
XXXX cast a crucial vote against creating the 21st Century Community Learning Center initiative, which provides
quality after school learning opportunities for children across the country. [Vote 100, 4/23/98]
PELL GRANTS & STUDENT LOANS
XXXX Voted In Favor Of Student Loan Compromise. In July 2013, XXXX voted in favor of passage of the bill
that would set federal student loan interest rates issued after July 1, 2013 to the Treasury Department's 10-year
borrowing rate, plus 2.05 percent for subsidized and unsubsidized undergraduate loans, 3.6 percent for graduate
loans and 4.6 percent for PLUS loans. The loan rates would be capped at 8.25 percent, 9.5 percent and 10.5 percent,
respectively. It would require the Government Accountability Office to submit a report to Congress within four
months detailing the federal government's cost of administering the student loan program and recommendations to
avoid generating additional revenue from the program. The measure was passed by a vote of 81-18 (D 35-16; R 45-
1; I 1-1). [Vote 185, 7/24/13]
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 XXXX Voted Against Sunsetting Provisions After Two Years When Rates Are Projected To Rise. In July
2013, XXXX voted against an amendment that would sunset the bill's provisions on July 1, 2015. The
substitute amendment would set federal student loan interest rates to the Treasury Department's 10-year
borrowing rate, plus 2.05 percent for subsidized and unsubsidized undergraduate loans, 3.6 percent for graduate
loans and 4.6 percent for PLUS loans. The loan rates would be capped at 8.25 percent, 9.5 percent and 10.5
percent, respectively. According to Politico, “Sanders want[ed] a vote on his amendment to sunset the bill to
sunset after two years when interest rates are projected to rise while Reed wants more stringent caps on loan
rates.” The amendment was rejected by a vote of 34-65 (D 33-18, R 0-46, I 1-1). [Vote 184, 7/24/13; Politico,
7/22/13]
 XXXX Voted Against Lower Cap For Student Loan Rates For College Students. In July 2013, XXXX
voted against an amendment that would lower interest rate caps from 8.25 percent to 6.8 percent for federal
undergraduate student loans, from 9.5 percent to 6.8 percent for graduate loans and from 10.5 percent to 7.9
percent for PLUS loans. The cost of the reduced rates would be paid for by a 0.55 percent tax on individuals
whose income exceeds $1 million or $500,000 if it is a married individual filing a separate tax return. The
substitute would set federal student loan interest rates to the Treasury Department's 10-year borrowing rate,
plus 2.05 percent for subsidized and unsubsidized undergraduate loans, 3.6 percent for graduate loans and 4.6
percent for PLUS loans. The amendment was rejected by a vote of 46-53 (D 45-6; R 0-46; I 1-1). [Vote 183,
7/24/13]
XXXX Voted Against Extending 3.4 Percent Student Loan Interest Rate For One Year. In July 2013, XXXX
voted against a motion to invoke cloture (thus limiting debate) on the Reid, D-Nev., motion to proceed to the bill
that would extend a 3.4 percent fixed interest rate on federal subsidized undergraduate student loans for one year.
The cost of the extension would be offset by reducing certain tax exemptions on inherited retirement accounts. The
motion was rejected by a vote of 51-49 (D 50-2; R 0-46; I 1-1). According to the Christian Science Monitor, the
measure “would guarantee students taking out new Stafford loans that they would pay neither more nor less to
borrow money than they have in the past year. It is the only plan on the table that will not cost students extra - at
least, until the year is up and Congress returns to debating what to do with interest rates. It is also the plan that will
most exacerbate the federal deficit. The research arm of banking giant Barclays estimates that federal inaction will
lead to the Stafford program costing the government more than $100 billion over the next eight years.” [Vote 171,
7/10/13; Christian Science Monitor, 7/10/13]
XXXX Voted Against Ending Filibuster On Plan To Extend Student Loan Interest Rates For Two Years
And Keep Them From Doubling By Closing Tax Loopholes Including Those For Oil Companies. In June
2013, XXXX voted against a motion to invoke cloture (thus limiting debate) on the Reid, D-Nev., motion to
proceed to a bill that would extend the 3.4 percent fixed interest rate on federal subsidized undergraduate student
loans for two years. The cost of the extension would be offset by reducing certain tax exemptions on retirement and
corporate accounts, and applying an excise tax to oil from tar sands. The motion was rejected by a vote of 51-46 (D
50-1; R 0-44; I 1-1). [Vote 143, 6/6/13]
 USA Today Headline: “Senate Defeats Bills To Keep Student Loan Rates Low.” [USAToday, 6/6/13]
XXXX Voted In Favor Of Republican Student Loan Plan That Would Result In Higher Rates For Students.
In June 2013, XXXX voted in favor of a motion to invoke cloture (thus limiting debate) on the Reid, D-Nev.,
motion to proceed to a bill that would tie interest rates for federal undergraduate and graduate student loans to the
10-year Treasury borrowing rate plus 3 percentage points. Savings generated from the proposal would be used for
deficit reduction. The motion was rejected by a vote of 40-57 (D 1-50; R 39-5; I 0-2). [Vote 142, 6/6/13]
XXXX Voted To Allow Student Loan Rates To Double. In May 2012, XXXX voted against a motion to invoke
cloture (thus limiting debate) on the Reid, D-Nev., motion to proceed to the bill that would extend, for one year, a
3.4 interest rate on certain federally-backed student loans. It would be offset by eliminating a tax preference for S
corporations, which are companies that pass their income, losses, deductions and credits through to shareholders for
federal tax purposes. The motion was rejected by a vote of 52-45. [Vote 89, 5/8/12; New York Times, 5/8/12]
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 New York Times Headline: “Republicans In Senate Block Bill On Student Loan Rates.” “Senate
Republicans on Tuesday blocked consideration of a Democratic bill to prevent the doubling of some student
loan interest rates, leaving the legislation in limbo less than two months before rates on subsidized federal loans
are set to shoot upward.” [New York Times, 5/8/12]
 Again, XXXX Voted To Allow Student Loan Rates To Double. In May 2012, Riverts voted against passage
of the bill that would extend, for one year, a 3.4 percent interest rate on certain federally subsidized,
undergraduate student loans. It would be offset by eliminating a tax preference for S corporations, which are
companies that pass their income, losses, deductions and credits through to shareholders for federal tax
purposes. The measure was rejected by a vote of 51-43 (D 49-1; R 0-42; I 2-0). [Vote 113, 5/24/12]
XXXX Voted Against Health Care Reconciliation Package Including Federal Student Loan Reform. In
March 2010, XXXX voted against passage of the bill that would make changes to the 2010 health care overhaul
law, revise student loans programs and include revenue-raising provisions. It would increase federal subsidies to
help low- and moderate-income families purchase coverage through new health insurance exchanges established by
the overhaul measure, phase out the coverage gap for Medicare prescription drug enrollees and adjust the federal
matching funds for Medicaid. It would increase penalties levied on employers that do not offer health benefits and
change the formula used to calculate penalties on employers with workers who obtain subsidies to obtain health
insurance through the exchanges. It would freeze Medicare Advantage payments in 2011 and then re-formulate
payments according to local costs. It also would specify that in all states, the federal government would cover 100
percent of the cost of coverage to newly eligible Medicaid recipients from 2014 to 2016. It would delay for five
years, until 2018, the effective date of a tax on high-cost health plans and adjust the dollar amounts used to
determine who would be affected by the tax. It would repeal a provision to allow the cellulosic biofuels producer
credit to be claimed by producers of certain paper products. It also would make the federal government the sole
originator of federal student loans and direct the savings generated to education programs, including Pell grants. It
would shift all new federal student lending to the Direct Loan Program beginning July 1, 2010. It would increase
the maximum annual Pell Grant scholarship to $5,975 in 2017 and provide $2.6 billion for minority-serving
institutions. [Vote 105, 3/25/10]
XXXX Voted For Tax Bill That Benefited Wealthy While Raising Taxes for Students. In May 2006, XXXX
voted for the final version of the $70 billion tax reconciliation bill that removed a provision that had allowed 3.6
million students and families to deduct $7.1 billion in college tuition costs in 2003. The tuition deduction was
included in earlier versions of the bill but was stripped in the final version. Meanwhile, the tax bill XXXX
supported would only save middle income Americans $20 each while the top tenth of 1 percent (whose average
income is $5.3 million) would save $82,415. [Vote 118, 5/11/06; Senate Finance Committee, 11/7/05; Democratic
Policy Committee, 9/26/06 New York Times, 5/5/06]
 XXXX Voted Against Extending Expiring Tuition Tax Credit. In November 2005, XXXX voted
against a $58 billion tax cut package that would have extended expiring tax cuts, including the college
tuition deduction. “For those who say they care about fiscal responsibility, for those who say they are
concerned about the explosion of deficits and debt, here is a chance to prove it,” Senator Kent Conrad said
of his tax plan. “Here is a chance to vote for this amendment that will extend the tax provisions that are
expiring this year for next year’s taxes, and to pay for it by closing abusive tax shelters.” [Vote 330,
11/17/05; Conrad Press Release, 11/17/05]
XXXX Was Critical Vote for Largest Student Loan Cuts in History. XXXX voted for the final version of the
2005 budget reconciliation bill, which cut $12.7 million from college loans, the largest cuts to the student loan
program in its history. The measure was approved 50-50 with the Vice President voting to break the tie. [Vote
363, 12/21/05; AP, 12/19/05; Washington Post, 12/19/05]
XXXX Voted Against Raising Pell Grant Awards. In March 2006, XXXX voted against an amendment that
would have increased the FY07 discretionary budget funding by $6.3 billion to $879.3 billion to allow for a
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restoration of education program cuts, including job and vocational training, and an increase in the maximum Pell
Grant award to $4,500. [Vote 39, 3/14/06; National Journal’s CongressDaily, 3/14/06; Snowe Press Release,
3/15/06]
XXXX Voted Against Increasing Pell Grant Awards to $4,250. In October 2005, XXXX voted against an
amendment that would have increased Pell Grant funding by $836 million in fiscal year 2006, which would have
increased the maximum Pell Grant award for the 2006-07 year to $4,250. [Vote 268, 10/25/05]
XXXX Voted Against Increasing the Maximum Pell Grant Award to $4,500. In March 2005, XXXX voted
against an amendment that increased the discretionary spending limit in the budget by $5.4 billion to $848.8 billion
to restore education program cuts and increase the maximum Pell Grant award to $4,500. It would decrease the
five-year tax cut reconciliation instruction figure by $5.4 billion. [Vote 68, 3/17/05]
XXXX Voted Against Increasing Funding For Perkins Loans $7.5 Billion. In March 2005, XXXX voted
against an amendment that would have reinstated two provisions of the tax code and used $7.46 billion to increase
funding under the Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Act. The remainder would have been used to reduce
the deficit. [Vote 61, 3/17/05]
XXXX Opposed $4.9 Billion for Pell Grants. XXXX, on March 11, 2004, voted against the Kennedy amendment
to the FY 2005 Budget Resolution, an amendment that would have provided $4.9 billion for deficit reduction and
increased funding for Pell Grants by $4.9 billion. The $9.8 billion would have been offset by closing tax loopholes.
The $4.9 billion increase in Pell Grants would have been enough to extend Pell Grants to 500,000 new recipients
and finance an increase in the maximum Pell Grant so that it keeps pace with the rate of increase in public college
tuition. [Vote 51, 3/11/04]
XXXX Favored Cutting off Pell Grant Eligibility for Some Lower-Income Students. XXXX, on September
10, 2003, voted against an amendment to prohibit the Education Department from changing the way it determines
student aid eligibility for Pell Grants. Democrat Jon Corzine of New Jersey, argued the change the department was
ready to implement would have caused 84,000 college students to lose their eligibility for Pell Grants for the 2004-
05 school year. The department’s plan also would have reduced the number of middle-income families eligible for
Stafford loans. [Vote 339, 9/10/03; New York Times, 09/12/03]
XXXX Opposed $2.2 Billion for Higher Education, Including $1.7 Billion for Pell Grants. XXXX, on
September 9, 2003, voted against the Kennedy amendment to H.R.2660, which was an amendment that would have
provided an additional $2.2 billion for higher education, including $1.7 billion for Pell Grants, $157 million for
federal work study programs, and $115 million for supplemental education opportunity grants. [Vote 331, 9/9/03]
XXXX Opposed Fully Funding HOPE Education Tax Credit. McConnell, on May 22, 2001, voted against a
motion to recommit H.R.1836 to the Senate Finance Committee with instructions to add an amendment to provide
for a fully funded HOPE tax credit beginning in Fiscal Year 2002, and strike the reduction in the 39.6 percent tax
bracket rate. [HR 1836, Vote 156, 5/22/01]
XXXX Voted Against Reducing Tax Cuts and Increasing HOPE Education Scholarship Credits. In 2001,
XXXX voted against gradually reducing the tax relief provided for the top bracket to 36.6 percent instead of to 36
percent, and increasing the size of HOPE higher education scholarship tax credits that could be claimed by
including transportation expenses, daycare expenses, computer purchases, textbook purchases, and other expenses
in the calculation of the cost of attendance. The amendment was rejected, 43-56. [HR 1836, Vote 155, 5/22/01]
XXXX Voted Not To Make Tax Cuts Contingent On Pell Grant Increases. In 2001, XXXX voted against
denying tax rate reductions in the 39.6 percent tax bracket in any year in which sufficient funding was not provided
to increase the maximum Pell Grant amount to the level required in this amendment; the maximum amount would
have to be at least $4,250 in 2002 and by 2010 it would have to be $7,450 (Pell Grants are given to low-income
Americans to pay higher education expenses). The motion was rejected, 45-54. [HR 1836, Vote 153, 5/22/01]
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XXXX Opposed Making Tuition Deductions Permanent. XXXX on May 22, 2001, voted against the Levin
amendment to H.R.1836, which was an amendment to speed-up the phase-in of college tuition tax deductions, with
the change offset by a reduction in the cut in the top tax bracket. [HR 1836, Vote 152, 5/22/01]
XXXX Opposed Reducing Estate Tax Cuts to Increase Student Loan Tax Credits. XXXX, on May 17, 2001,
voted against the Schumer amendment to H.R.1836, which was an amendment to increase the higher education tax
deduction from $5,000 to $12,000 for single filers with income below $65,000, single heads of households under
$90,000, and joint filers with income below $130,000, and to increase the student loan tax credit from $500 to
$1,000 for single filers earning up to $35,000, and joint filers earning up to $70,000, with these tax cuts offset by a
reduction in the estate tax rate cut in the underlying bill. [HR 1836, Vote 114, 5/17/01]
XXXX Voted Against Increasing Spending To Prepare Students For College. In 2000, XXXX voted against
an amendment that would increase spending on the Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness For Undergraduate
Programs (GEAR UP) program to $325 million (equal to the amount requested; current-year funding is $200
million; this bill will provide $225 million). No offsets would be provided to pay for the extra $100 million in
spending. The motion was rejected, 47-52. [Vote 156, 6/28/00]
XXXX Voted Against Increasing Pell Grant Award to $3,700. In 2000, XXXX voted against an amendment
that increases the amount spent on Pell higher education grants by increasing the maximum Pell grant award to
$3,700. The cost of this change would be $1.4 billion per year. The amendment was agreed to, 51-49. [Vote 69,
4/7/00]
XXXX Voted Against Increasing Pell Grant Funding With $1.2 Billion In Cuts From ESA Tax Breaks. In
2000, XXXX voted against deny education savings account tax relief and instead increase mandatory spending by
$1.2 billion for the Pell Grant Program, in order to increase the maximum annual grant from $3,300 to $3,700. The
vote was on waiving the Budget Act for the consideration of the Bingaman amendment to the Affordable Education
Act of 1999. [Vote 29, 3/2/00]
XXXX Voted Against Reducing Federal Student Loan Fees. In 1998, XXXX voted against the Harkin
amendment to S.1882, which was an amendment to reduce the federal student loan origination and insurance fee
from four percent of the principal amount of the loan to three percent of the principal amount. The amendment
would pay for the reduction by eliminating a subsidy to student loan insurance agencies. Proponents of the
amendment argued that these agencies would still be profitable, while opponents said it would drive some of them
out of business. [Vote 194, 7/9/98]
XXXX Voted Against Revising Laws to Aid Student With Loan Fees. In 1997, XXXX voted against a motion
to waive the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to permit consideration of the Kennedy amendment to S.947, which
was an amendment to reduce the federal student loan origination and insurance fee from four percent of the
principal amount of the loan to two percent of the principal amount. The amendment would pay for the reduction
by eliminating a subsidy to student loan insurance agencies. Proponents of the amendment argued that these
agencies would still be profitable, while opponents said it would drive some of them out of business. [Vote 126,
6/25/97]
VOCATIONAL TRAINING
XXXX Cast Deciding Vote Against Increasing Spending On Vocational Education By $3.6 Billion. On March
25, 2003, XXXX voted against an amendment that would have increased spending on vocational education by $326
million in fiscal 2004 and by $3.6 billion over 10 years. XXXX cast the deciding vote on the measure, which was
rejected 49-50. [Vote 98, 3/25/03]
XXXX Voted Against Increasing After-School And Vocational Programs By $24 Billion Over 10 Years. On
March 25, 2003, XXXX voted against increasing spending on after-school and vocational programs in the FY 2004
budget resolution by $2.2 billion in fiscal 2004 and by $24 billion over 10 years. [Vote 99, 3/25/03]
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XXXX Opposed $801 Million in Funding for the Workforce Investment Act. On September 4, 2003, XXXX
voted against an amendment that would have increased funding in the bill for programs under the Workforce
Investment Act by $801 million. [Vote 325, 9/4/03]
SPECIAL EDUCATION
XXXX Voted Against $44.2 Billion for Special Education. In March 2007, XXXX voted against increasing
special education funding by $44.2 billion over five years – starting with a $10.3 billion increase in 2008. The
funding would have been paid for by eliminating George Bush’s tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans. [Mikulski
Release, 3/22/07; Vote 94, 3/22/07]
XXXX Voted Against $71.3 Billion for Special Education Funding. In March 2005, XXXX voted against an
amendment that would have created a special education reserve fund of $71.3 billion in order to provide 40% of the
additional cost of education children with special needs, the amount Congress had promised. It would have been
offset by a $73.8 billion cut in the five-year tax cut reconciliation instruction figure. It also would reduce the deficit
by $2.5 billion. [Vote 79, 3/17/05; AP, 3/18/05]
XXXX Voted Against Increasing Special Ed Funding by $4 Billion. In October 2005, XXXX voted against an
amendment to increase special education funding by $4 billion in fiscal year 2006 to a total of nearly $15 billion,
which would have brought the federal share of special education costs to local school districts to about 19% of the
level mandated by the Individuals with Disabilities Act. [Vote 273, 10/26/05; Aberdeen American News, 10/30/05]
XXXX Voted to Reauthorize IDEA. In May 2004, XXXX voted for a bill that would reauthorize the Individuals
with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). It would authorize discretionary spending increases of $2.3 billion per year
to provide for full federal funding by 2011 of 40 percent of the average per pupil expenditures for certain programs
under IDEA. It would streamline student discipline measures, adding serious bodily injury to the offenses that
could give rise to suspension. Parents who dispute a discipline decision would be granted an expedited hearing
within 20 days. [HR 1350, Vote 94, 5/13/04]
 XXXX Voted To Fully Fund IDEA. In 2004, XXXX voted to increase special education funding by $2
billion annually over six years to fully fund the Federal Government’s share of special education through
the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and make the new spending mandatory. [Vote 93, 5/12/04]
XXXX Opposed $11 Billion Hike in Funding for IDEA. In 2003, XXXX voted against the Dayton amendment to
H.R.2660, which would have increased funding for special education from $9.9 billion to $20.9 billion, to fully
fund the Federal Government’s share of special education. [Vote 324, 9/3/03]
XXXX Voted Against Fully Funding IDEA By Reducing Tax Cuts. On March 26, 2003, XXXX
voted against fully funding the federal government’s commitment to pay for 40 percent of special education costs.
The vote was an amendment to the FY 2004 budget resolution that increased spending in the resolution on
provisions of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (by $19.8 billion in fiscal 2004 and by $229 billion
over 10 years. [Vote 103, 3/26/03]
XXXX Voted To Increase Spending On Special Education By Over $3 Billion and Reduce Other Spending.
On March 21, 2003, XXXX voted to increase spending on special education, and offset the spending by decreasing
other spending. The vote was on the Gregg (R-NH) amendment, which would increase spending on provisions of
the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) by $970 million in 2004 and $2.3 billion in 2005. [S Con
Res. 23, Vote 71, 3/21/03]
XXXX Voted Against Increasing Special Education Funding By $73 Billion and Reduce in Proposed Tax
Cuts. On March 21, 2003, XXXX voted against an amendment that increased funding for special education, and
offset the new spending by reducing proposed tax cuts. The vote was an amendment to create a reserve fund to
provide $73 billion in funding increases for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, allowing the program
to reach full funding in 10 years. [Vote 70, 3/21/03]
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XXXX Voted For $4.5 Billion in Education Block Grants for States to Implement IDEA. In 2003, XXXX
voted in favor of $4.5 billion in education block grants to states to implement provisions of the Individuals with
Disabilities Education Act, the 2001 education overhaul law or higher education programs. The cost of the grants
would be offset by across-the-board cuts to all programs funded by the underlying bill. [Vote 4, 1/16/03]
XXXX Voted Not To Provide Exceptions to Cap on Lawyers’ Fees for Special Education Lawsuits Brought
on Behalf of Poor, Abused or Children of Disabled Veterans. In 2001, XXXX voted against lifting limits on
fees that lawyers could charge the District of Columbia Government for legal actions regarding the special
education services provided by the District to a minor: if the minor was from a family with an annual income of less
than $17,600; if the minor was from a family in which one of the parents was a disabled veteran; or if the minor had
been adjudicated as neglected or abused. (The bill, as amended, would cap at $150 per hour the hourly rate that any
lawyer may charge the District of Columbia Government for legal actions regarding the special education services
provided by the District to a minor, and will set a maximum fee limit of $3,000 for any one such legal action.) The
Amendment was agreed to, 73-26. [HR 2944, Vote 330, 11/7/01]
XXXX Voted to Cap Lawyers’ Fees For Special Education Lawsuits In D.C. In 2001, XXXX voted to cap at
$150 per hour the maximum hourly rate that any lawyer could charge the District of Columbia Government for
legal actions taken regarding the special education services provided by the District to a minor (the previous three
annual appropriations bills set limits of $125 per hour). Further, the amendment would set a maximum fee of
$3,000 for any one such legal action (the current limit is $2,500). The amendment was agreed to, 51-49. [HR
2944, Vote 329, 11/7/01]
XXXX Voted For Uniform Discipline Standards. In 2001, XXXX again voted to amend the Individuals with
Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to authorize State and local school districts to establish new, more uniform
discipline policies applicable to all children. If a school sought to remove a child who was being served under the
IDEA, it would be required to perform a "manifestation determination" within 10 days of the decision to remove in
order to establish whether the offensive conduct was related to the child's disability. The motion to reconsider was
agreed to, 51-47. [S 1, Vote 190, 6/14/01]
XXXX Against Authorizing Local School Districts Establishing Uniform Discipline Policies. In 2001, XXXX
voted against amending the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to authorize State and local school
districts to establish new, more uniform discipline policies applicable to all children. The amendment would also
permit a school to use Federal IDEA funds, equal to the average per-pupil educational expenditure in the particular
State, to provide the parents of a child with disabilities the opportunity to have their child placed in an alternative
educational environment that was better suited to meet the child's needs. The amendment was rejected, 50-50. [S
1, Vote 188, 6/14/01]
XXXX Voted to Allow Schools to Expel Disabled Students For Bad Behavior. In 2001, XXXX voted to allow
schools to expel disabled students for bad behavior. The amendment XXXX voted against would implement a
“uniform policies” discipline provision, which would only allow schools to expel disabled students if their bad
behavior was not related to their disability. The vote was on an amendment to the Individuals with Disabilities
Education Act (IDEA) to the Better Education for Students and Teachers Act of 2001. [S 1, Vote 187, 6/14/01]
XXXX Voted Against Increased Funding For Special Education By $212 Billion, Full Federal Funding
Within 2 Years. In 2001, XXXX voted against increased funding for special education by $212 billion over 10
years. The vote was to fully fund within 2 years the Federal commitment to share the costs of Individuals with
Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) mandated on the states. The IDEA law, passed in 1975, called for Washington
to provide 40 percent of funding disabled children’s education, but in 2001, the federal government provided only
about 15 percent. The amendment would have funded IDEA at $212 billion over 10 years. [S 1, Vote 110, 5/17/01;
Associated Press, 5/17/01; Commercial Appeal, 5/18/01]
XXXX Voted Against $70 Billion for Special Education. On a vote of 54-46, the Senate passed an amendment to
the 2002 Budget Resolution to shift $70 billion from the tax cut to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
72

(IDEA). XXXX voted against an amendment to reduce the resolution’s tax cut by $70 billion to ensure IDEA
receives the necessary funding for special education. [H Con Res 83, Vote 82, 4/5/01]
XXXX Voted for Special Ed. Funding In The FY 2001 Labor, HHS, And Education Appropriations Bill. In
2000, XXXX voted for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education and Related
Agencies Appropriations Bill for fiscal year 2001 (H.R. 4577). The bill included $6.267 billion for Head Start (a
$1 billion increase), $642 million will be for the Safe and Drug Free Schools Program, and $7.352 billion for
special education (through the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act; an increase of $1.316 billion). The bill
passed, 52-43. [Vote 171, 6/30/00]
XXXX Opposed Raising Special Education Funding By $8.75 Billion, To Fully Cover Federal Commitment
to IDEA. In 2000, XXXX voted against of increasing funding of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
(IDEA) mandates by $8.75 billion, which would bring federal funding up to approximately 40 percent of the costs
of the mandate. The vote was on waiving the Budget Act for the consideration of the Harkin amendment to the
Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill for
fiscal year 2001. [Vote 170, 6/30/00]
XXXX Cast Crucial Vote for an Amendment to Increase Funding for Students With Disabilities (IDEA). In
2000, XXXX voted for an amendment that would increase the amount appropriated to pay the Federal share of the
costs of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) by another $1.3 billion (the bill will provide a $1.3
billion increase), and would fully pay for that increase by decreasing funding for Title VI innovative education
grants by the same amount. The motion to table was agreed to, 51-47. [Vote 159, 6/28/00]
XXXX Voted Against Killing An Amendment To Make Funding 40% Of IDEA Mandates Congress’ Top
Priority. In 2000, XXXX voted for an amendment that would express the sense of the Senate that Congress' first
priority should be to pay 40 percent of the costs of the IDEA mandates (as it originally promised) before it
appropriates funds for any new Federal education programs. [Vote 72, 4/7/00]
XXXX Voted to Shift Funds For ESA Tax Breaks To IDEA. In 2000, XXXX voted to deny the proposed
education savings account tax breaks and would instead increase funding for part B of the Individuals with
Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) by $1.2 billion. The motion was rejected, 44-54. [Vote 15, 2/29/00]
XXXX Voted Against Reducing Class Size and Increasing Funding for Special Education. In 1999, XXXX
voted to kill the Murray amendment to S.280, which was an amendment to authorize $11.4 billion over six years to
fund President Clinton’s proposal to hire 100,000 new teachers to reduce class size. [Vote 41, 3/11/99]
XXXX Voted Against $762 Million for Special Education Programs. In 1998, XXXX voted against a motion to
waive the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to permit consideration of the Dodd amendment to H.R.2646, which
was an amendment to remove the bill’s education savings account language and direct that any revenue generated
by other provisions of the bill be used to fund special education programs under IDEA. [Vote 98, 4/23/98]
SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION
XXXX Opposed $1 Billion for School Construction Projects. In 2003, XXXX voted against providing an
additional $1 billion for school construction projects through the Fund for the Improvement of Education. [Vote
329, 9/5/03]
XXXX Voted To Cut School Construction Funding To Pay Existing Education Commitments. In 2001,
XXXX voted for an amendment to the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and
Related Agencies Appropriations Bill for fiscal year 2002 that would provide that all of the $925 million that this
bill will appropriate for the unauthorized school renovation and repair program, and any unexpended sums from the
$1.2 billion that was provided for that unauthorized program last year, would have to be used to meet existing
Federal commitments to renovate and repair Indian schools, Department of Defense schools, and Impact Aid
73

schools before any new commitments were entered into to renovate or repair other schools. The motion to table
was agreed to, 57-41. [HR 3061, Vote 319, 11/1/01]
XXXX Voted to Transfer School Construction Funds to Title I. In 2001, XXXX voted to transfer $925 million
in funds for the school construction program to Title I grants for disadvantaged students. Senate Democrats
insisted that there were other ways to increase aid for poor schools, without sacrificing school construction funding.
Across the country, 59,400 schools, 76% of all schools, were in disrepair and in need of construction funds. [HR
3061, Vote 316, 11/1/01; CQ Weekly, 11/3/01]
XXXX Voted Against Federal Aid to Build Small Schools. In 2001, XXXX voted against an amendment offered
by Senator Feinstein (D-CA), to allow some federal funds to be used to build new small schools. It would allow the
U.S. Department of Education to award grants to reduce the size of schools, in other words, to build small schools.
Senator Feinstein offered this amendment because she “believes children learn better and teachers teach better in
smaller schools. Many of our schools are just too big… Studies have shown again and again and again that student
achievement improves when school and class size are reduced.” The amendment passed on a vote of 52-46. [S 1,
Vote 181, 6/12/01; Congressional Record, page S6103, 6/12/01]
XXXX Voted Against $1.6 Billion to Renovate and Repair Aging Schools. In 2001, XXXX voted to kill an
amendment that would have provided $1.6 billion for the construction and renovation of public elementary and
secondary school buildings. The average American school is 42 years old and has an outdated electrical system,
roof, or plumbing. Many of these dilapidated schools have urgent needs. The amendment was killed on a party
line vote of 49-50. [S 1, Vote 108, 5/16/01; Washington Post, 5/17/01; Houston Chronicle, 5/17/01]
XXXX Voted Against Community-Based Technology Centers. In 2001, XXXX voted against an amendment to
authorize $100 million over five years to establish 1,000 community based technology centers across the country.
The money will help buy computers for children and adults to use in local centers. The amendment allows non-
profit organizations such as the Boys and Girls Clubs of America to apply to the Department of Education for
grants to start a community tech center. The amendment passed on a close vote of 50-49. [S 1, Vote 96, 5/9/01]
XXXX Opposed An Amendment To Divert Tax Cuts To School Construction Spending. In 2000, XXXX
voted to kill an amendment that would shift $5.938 billion from tax cuts to the Education, Training, Employment,
and Social Services budget function, with the stated hope that it would be spent on school modernization projects.
Additionally, the amendment would spend another $787 million of the on-budget surplus that is intended for debt
reduction on that budget function. The motion to table was agreed to, 54-45. [Vote 62, 4/6/00]
XXXX Opposed Shifting $1.2 Billion To School Construction Funds From Tax Breaks For Education
Savings Accounts. In 2000, XXXX voted to move ahead with the proposed education savings account (ESA) tax
breaks, rather than create a new federal school construction program. Under the proposed program, $1.2 billion in
tax credits would be given to lenders who gave loans to qualifying States and school districts for school
construction projects. The vote was on a motion to table the Robb amendment to the Affordable Education Act of
1999. [Vote 17, 3/1/00; Congressional Quarterly Daily Monitor, 3/1/00]
XXXX Voted Against $5.7 Billion for Helping State and Local Governments Renovate or Rebuild
Crumbling School Buildings. In 1999, XXXX voted to kill the motion to recommit the bill to the Senate Finance
Committee with instructions to reduce or defer $5.7 billion in new tax cuts in order to allow for tax incentives for
building and renovating schools. [Vote 242, 7/30/99]
XXXX Voted against $10 Billion in Tax Credits for School Modernization Bonds. In 1998, XXXX voted to
kill an amendment that would have provided $10 billion in tax credits over ten years for bonds to help school
districts and local governments renovate or rebuild crumbling school buildings. [Vote 90, 4/21/98]
XXXX Voted Against Amendment to Rebuild and Repair 5,000 Public Schools With $22 Billion in Public
Bonding Authority. In 1998, XXXX voted against the motion to waive Budget Act to permit consideration of an
amendment that assumes President's key initiatives for child care, school class size, medical research, and Medicare
74

and tobacco-related initiatives. The amendment places approximately $15 billion of President's initiatives in reserve
pending final action on comprehensive tobacco legislation; provides for school modernization effort that leverages
approximately $22 billion in school renovation and construction over ten years; and doubles number of children
receiving child care assistance and those in early Head Start, increases existing child care tax credit and places up to
500,000 children in after school learning centers. [Vote 69, 4/2/98]
XXXX Voted Against Allowing School Districts and Local Governments to Use School Modernization
Bonds. In 1998, XXXX voted to kill the Moseley-Braun amendment to S.Con.Res.86, which was an amendment to
express the sense of the Senate that Congress should enact legislation to allow states and school districts to issue
$21.8 billion in school modernization bonds, and that the federal government should provide income tax credits to
purchasers of the bonds in lieu of interest. [Vote 57, 4/1/98]
XXXX Voted Against Rebuilding Crumbling Schools. In 1997, XXXX opposed amendment to institute and
expand help for districts and local governments to renovate or rebuild crumbling school buildings. [Vote 79,
5/22/97]
CLASS SIZE
XXXX Opposed a Class Size Reduction Program. XXXX, on May 15, 2001, voted against the Murray
amendment to S.1, which was an amendment to authorize a federal program to assist states and local educational
agencies in recruiting, hiring, and training 100,000 teachers in an effort to reduce class sizes, and to authorize $2.4
billion in Fiscal Year 2002 and subsequent necessary sums for the next six fiscal years. [Vote 103, 5/15/01]
XXXX Voted Against Requiring That Funds Be Spent On Class-Size Reduction. In 2000, XXXX
voted against an amendment that would require $1.4 billion of the $2.7 billion in this bill for Title VI academic
achievement grants to be spent on the class- size reduction program; also, it would add, without any offsets, an
extra $350 million that would have to be spent on that program. [Vote 148, 6/27/00]
XXXX Voted Against Supporting Funds to Reduce Class Size. In 1999, XXXX voted to kill the Boxer
amendment to S.1650, which was an amendment to appropriate $200 million for after-school programs. [Vote 299,
9/30/99]
XXXX Voted to End Program that Launched Class Size Reduction Initiative. In 1999, XXXX voted to kill the
Murray amendment to S.1650, which was an amendment to specify that $1.4 billion of the funds provided in the
bill must be used for President Clinton’s initiative to hire 100,000 new teachers to reduce class size. [Vote 298,
9/29/99]
XXXX Voted Funding Without Emphasis on Reducing Class Size. In 1999, XXXX voted for the Gorton
amendment to S.1650, which was an amendment to provide $1.2 billion for a teacher assistance initiative once the
program is authorized. If the initiative is not authorized by July 1, 2000, school districts could use the funds to hire
new teachers or for other activities to improve students’ academic achievement. [Vote 297, 9/29/99]
XXXX Voted Against Addition Funding to Reduce Class Size. In 1999, XXXX voted to kill the Kennedy
amendment to S.Con.Res.20, which was an amendment to reduce the resolution’s proposed tax cuts and redirect the
revenue to hire more teachers, as well as for increased funding for special education and other education programs.
[Vote 72, 3/25/99]
XXXX Voted Against Reducing Class Size. XXXX voted against launching the class size reduction initiative,
which has provided $19.8 million to hire 37,000 new teachers nationwide. Two years later, XXXX voted to end the
program. [Vote 79, 5/22/97; Vote 41, 3/11/99]
XXXX Voted Against Reducing Class Size and Increasing Funding for Special Education. In 1999, XXXX
voted to kill the Murray amendment to S.280, which was an amendment to authorize $11.4 billion over six years to
fund President Clinton’s proposal to hire 100,000 new teachers to reduce class size. [Vote 41, 3/11/99]
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XXXX Voted to Allow Class Size Reduction Funding to Be Reduced. In 1999, McConnell voted for the Lott
amendment to S.280, which was an amendment to allow local education agencies to redirect all or part of the $1.2
billion in the Fiscal Year 1999 Omnibus Appropriations (PL 105-277) for new teachers to special education
programs under IDEA. This would reduce funding for the class size reduction program. [Vote 40, 3/11/99]
XXXX Voted Against Reducing Class Size and Hiring New Teachers With $11.4 Billion in Funding. In 1999,
XXXX voted against limiting debate on a motion to recommit the bill to the Senate Health, Education, Labor and
Pensions Committee with instructions that would add language authorizing $11.4 billion over six years for hiring
new teachers to reduce class size. [Vote 36, 3/10/99]
XXXX Voted Against Efforts to Hire 100,000 New Teachers to Reduce Class Sizes. In 1998, XXXX voted
against Murray amendment: Expresses sense of Congress that Congress should support efforts to hire 100,000 new
teachers to reduce class sizes in first, second, and third grades to average of 18 students per class. [Vote 93,
4/22/98]
XXXX Voted Against Reducing Class Size in Public Schools. In 1998, XXXX voted against a motion to waive
the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to allow consideration of the Murray amendment to S.Con.Res.86, which
was an amendment to provide $7.3 billion over five years to hire as many as 100,000 additional school teachers.
[Vote 50, 3/31/98]
TEACHERS
XXXX Voted For Tax Bill That Benefited Wealthy While Raising Expenses for 3.27 Million Teachers. In
May 2006, XXXX voted for the final version of the $70 billion tax reconciliation bill that removed a provision that
had allowed 3.27 million teachers – including 19,343 in New Hampshire – to save $814 million through an
educator expenses tax deduction in 2003. The provision, which allowed teachers to deduct to $250 of out-of-pocket
expenses they paid for books and classroom supplies, was included in earlier versions of the bill but was stripped in
the final version. Meanwhile, the tax bill XXXX supported would only save middle income Americans $20 each
while the top tenth of 1 percent (whose average income is $5.3 million) would save $82,415. [Vote 118, 5/11/06;
IRS Data, October 2005; Democratic Policy Committee, 9/26/06 New York Times, 5/5/06]
 XXXX Voted Against Extending Expiring Teacher Expenses Tax Deduction. In November 2005,
XXXX voted against a $58 billion tax cut package that would have extended expiring tax cuts, including
the deduction for teachers’ out-of-pocket expenses. [Vote 330, 11/17/05; Conrad Press Release, 11/17/05]
XXXX Voted Against Student Loan Forgiveness for Teachers. In March 2005, XXXX voted against an
amendment that would have provided up to $23,000 in student loan forgiveness to new teachers in high-need
schools. [Vote 68, 3/17/05; NEA Congressional Report Card]
XXXX Voted Against Adding $437 Million for Teacher Quality Programs. On September 10, 2003, XXXX
voted against an amendment that provided for an additional $437 million for teacher quality programs to the
Education, Labor, HHS appropriations bill. [Vote 343, 9/10/03]
XXXX Voted Against A Tax Credit For Teachers’ Expenses. In 2001, XXXX voted not to consider an
amendment that would create a new tax credit of up to $2,000 for education loan expenses of nurses and teachers,
and would direct the Secretary of the Treasury to increase the tax rate on the top bracket by the amount necessary to
offset the cost of the new credit. The motion was rejected, 43-56. [HR 1836, Vote 157, 5/22/01]
XXXX Voted to Call For Extra Tax Relief For Teachers. In 2001, XXXX voted to express the sense of the
Senate that Congress and the President should pass legislation providing elementary and secondary level educators
with additional tax relief in recognition of the many out of pocket, unreimbursed expenses they incur to improve the
education of our Nation's students. The amendment was agreed to, 95-3. [S 1, Vote 95, 5/8/01]
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XXXX Voted Against $6 Billion for the Teacher Quality Grant Program. XXXX on May 8, 2001, voted
against expressing the sense of the Senate that Congress should provide states with $6 billion over seven years to
train teachers and ensure that they are competent in the subjects they teach. Schools with large numbers of poor
students would be required to make all their teachers “highly qualified” within four years or lose some Title I
funding. [S 1, Vote 94, 5/8/01]
XXXX Voted Against Democratic Compromise Education Bill; Mandated Teacher Certification Had Less
Funding Than Alternate Democratic Proposal. In 2000, XXXX voted against a moderate Democratic proposal
compromising between Republicans seeking increased local control of education dollars and fellow Democrats
pushing specific federal programs. The proposal consolidated more than 40 federal education programs and
targeting money to poor students. The bill also mandated State certification for teachers' aides and other
paraprofessionals, as well as repeal the Reading Excellence Act, the Gifted and Talented Education program, and
the Safe and Drug Free Schools and Communities program. The amendment would also provide funding for federal
education programs, including money for class-size reduction, public school choice, and accountability grants. The
vote was on the Lieberman substitute amendment to the Educational Opportunities Act. [Vote 95, 5/9/00; Deseret
News, 5/10/00]
XXXX Voted To Increase School Accountability and Provide Alternative Certification for Teachers. In
2000, XXXX voted for an amendment that would increase accountability requirements for schools, would
encourage alternative certification processes to hire private sector professionals as teachers, and would provide
teacher liability protection (the Teachers' Bill of Rights). The amendment was agreed to, 97-0. [Vote 94, 5/9/00]
XXXX Voted Against Funding For A Teacher Hiring Program. In 2000, XXXX voted against an amendment
that would strike the $2 billion annual authorization for the bill's Teacher Empowerment Act (TEA) provisions.
After striking the TEA provisions, the Murray amendment would authorize $1.75 billion annually for the teacher
hiring program, which imposes specific mandates on recipients on how they must spend the funds they receive.
The amendment was rejected, 44-53. [Vote 93, 5/4/00]
XXXX Voted For Flexibility in the Use of Federal Funds for Teachers. In 2000, XXXX voted for an
amendment that would amend the Teacher Empowerment Act (TEA) to permit State and local education agencies
to use the Federal TEA funds that they receive: to reform teacher tenure systems; to establish teacher compensation
systems based on merit and proven performance; and to test teachers periodically in the academic subjects they
teach. The amendment was agreed to, 54-42. [Vote 92, 5/4/00]
XXXX Voted Against Allowing Flexibility In The Use Of Funds For Teachers. In 2000, XXXX voted against
an amendment that would say that TEA funds could be used: to implement programs that reward all teachers in
schools that improve student achievement for all students; to provide incentives and subsidies for teachers to gain
advanced degrees in the subjects they teach; to implement rigorous peer review, evaluation, and recertification
programs for teachers; and to provide incentives for highly qualified teachers to teach in the neediest schools. The
amendment was rejected, 43-54. [Vote 91, 5/4/00]
XXXX Voted Against Increase In Funding For Hiring, Training, And Mentoring New Teachers. In 2000,
XXXX voted in favor of the proposed education savings account tax breaks and against the authorization of new
federal spending of $1.2 billion over five years for the Qualified Teacher in Every Classroom Act. The amendment
would provide federal funding to hire, train, and mentor new public school teachers. [Vote 25, 3/2/00;
Congressional Quarterly Daily Monitor, 3/2/00]
XXXX Opposed Shifting Funds From Tax Breaks For Education Savings Accounts To A Teacher Hiring
Program. In 2000, XXXX voted to allow the proposed education savings account (ESA) tax breaks, rather than
authorize $1.2 billion in new federal spending in fiscal year 2001 for a teacher hiring program at Title I schools.
[Vote 21, 3/1/00; Congressional Quarterly Daily Monitor, 3/1/00]
XXXX Voted To Provide Tax Relief For Teachers. In 2000, XXXX voted for an amendment that would
eliminate the 2-percent floor on miscellaneous itemized deductions for qualified professional development
77

expenses of elementary and secondary school teachers and would allow an income tax credit of up to $100 for
elementary and secondary school teachers who provided classroom materials using their own funds. The
amendment was agreed to, 98-0. [Vote 16, 2/29/00]
XXXX Voted Against Funding for Teacher Preparation and Recruitment. In 1999, XXXX voted to kill the
Kennedy amendment to S.1650, which was an amendment to provide $300 million for teacher preparation and
recruitment. [Vote 315, 10/6/99]
XXXX Voted Against Requiring Colleges to Establish Policy for Undergraduates Who Want to be High
School Teachers to Major in Academic Area in Which They Plan to Teach. XXXX voted against an
amendment that would require colleges that receive federal aid to establish, within three years of the bill's
enactment, a policy that all undergraduate students preparing to be secondary school teachers complete an academic
major in the academic area in which they plan to teach. [Vote 193, 7/9/98]
XXXX Voted Against a Measure Expressing Sense of Congress That 100,000 New Teachers Should Be Hired
to Reduce Class Size. In 1998, XXXX voted against an amendment to the Parent and Student Savings PLUS Act
by Sen. Murray that would have expressed the sense of Congress that, "Congress should support efforts to hire
100,000 new teachers to reduce class sizes in first, second, and third grades to an average of 18 students per class
all across America." [Vote 93, 4/22/98]
XXXX Opposed Efforts to Recruit and Develop Quality Teachers. In 1998, XXXX opposed a proposal that
would encourage more young people to become teachers by forgiving student loans for new graduates who teach in
areas with severe teacher shortages or that serve disadvantaged children. [Vote 86, 4/21/98]
TESTING
XXXX Voted Against Permitting States to Waive Testing Requirements. XXXX, on June 13, 2001, was one of
78 senators who voted against the Hollings amendment to S.1, which was an amendment to allow states to opt out
of the mandatory testing in grades three through eight beginning in 2005, if states can demonstrate the presence of a
comparable assessment system, or if they determine a greater increase in student achievement can be accomplished
through alternative educational investments. [S 1, Vote 183, 6/13/01]
XXXX Voted Against Eliminating Testing Requirement If Title I Programs Were Underfunded. In 2001,
XXXX voted against eliminating the testing requirement in the event Congress did not fully fund Title I programs
that aid students in low-income areas. The vote was on an amendment to the Better Education for Students and
Teachers Act of 2001. [S 1, Vote 176, 6/7/01; Congressional Quarterly Daily Monitor, 6/7/01]
XXXX Opposed Requiring Federal Government to Pay for New Tests under NCLB. XXXX, on June 7, 2001,
voted against the Carnahan amendment to S.1, which was an amendment to require the Federal Government to pay
100 percent of the costs associated with implementing new tests as required in No Child Left Behind. John McCain
voted for this amendment, which failed 55 to 43. [S 1, Vote 174, 6/7/01]
XXXX Voted Against Giving Governors the Same Authority As State Superintendents In Devising Student
Testing Programs. In 2001, XXXX voted against giving Governors the same authority that state school
superintendents have in devising student testing programs. The amendment XXXX voted against required a
Governor's involvement and approval in State education reform plans and applications that are required as a
condition of receiving ESEA funds. The vote was on an amendment the Better Education for Students and Teachers
Act of 2001. [S 1, Vote 173, 6/6/01]
XXXX Voted Not To Require State School Officials To Consult With Governors In Devising Student Testing
Programs. In 2001, XXXX voted against requiring state school officials to consult Governors on testing. The
amendment would have required State school officials to consult with Governors in the preparation of plans and
applications for ESEA program funding, and it would require the state school officer to consult with Governor
before signing any such completed plans and applications. The vote was on an amendment to the Better Education
78

for Students and Teachers Act of 2001. [S 1, Vote 172, 6/6/01]
XXXX Voted to Provide Bonuses For High Quality Testing. In 2001, XXXX voted to eliminate the one-time
bonuses available to States that complete the development of assessments required by the Better Education for
Students and Teachers Act of 2001 prior to the deadline. In lieu thereof, it would provide that the Secretary of
Education would give bonuses to States at the end of the 2006-2007 school year that had developed assessments by
the deadline that were of "particularly high quality" in terms of assessing the performance of students in grades 3
through 8. The amendment was agreed to, 57-39. [S 1, Vote 171, 6/6/01]
XXXX Voted Against Imposing Federal Requirements on State Tests. In 2001, XXXX voted against requiring
that: a State's testing standards would have to conform to relevant national standards developed by the American
Educational Research Association, the American Psychological Association, and the National Council of
Measurement in Education; States would have to provide evidence to the Department of Education that the tests
they used were of adequate technical quality for each purpose required by this bill; and itemized score analyses
would have to be provided to districts and schools. The amendment was agreed to, 50-47. [S 1, Vote 99, 5/10/01]
XXXX Voted Against Increasing Spending For School Accountability. In 2000, XXXX voted against an
amendment that would increase Title I, Part A spending (for schools with disadvantaged students) by $250 million
in FY 2001, for a total of $8.6 billion for "accountability" efforts to improve schools. No offsets would be provided
to pay for the increased spending. The motion was rejected, 49-50. [Vote 147, 6/27/00]
XXXX Opposed Shifting $275 Million From Tax Cuts For Education Savings Accounts To School
Accountability Programs. In 2000, XXXX voted against denying the proposed education savings account (ESA)
tax breaks and instead authorize new federal spending of $275 million per year on “accountability and school
improvement” at public schools that receive Title I federal assistance for disadvantaged students. The vote was on
tabling the Bingaman amendment to the Affordable Education Act of 1999. [Vote 19, 3/1/00; Congressional
Quarterly Daily Monitor, 3/1/00]
XXXX Voted to Kill a Measure Providing $200 Million for Local and State Accountability Programs to
Improve Poorly Performing Schools. In 1999, XXXX voted to table an amendment to the Labor-HHS-Education
FY ‘00 Appropriations by Sen. Bingaman that would have earmarked $200 million for state and local
accountability programs to identify schools that were performing poorly and to provide funding for activities, such
as professional development, in order to improve those schools' performance. [Vote 317, 10/7/99]
XXXX Voted Against Requiring Education Agencies to Publish Report Cards on School Performance. In
1999, XXXX voted in favor of a motion to table an amendment to the Education Flexibility Partnership Act by
Sens. Feinstein and Dorgan that would have combined two separate proposals. The first proposal, by Senator
Feinstein, would be to create a new Federal program to give assistance to local or State educational agencies that
bar social promotion. The second proposal, by Senator Dorgan, would mandate, as a condition of receiving any
assistance under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, that States and individual schools must prepare and
widely disseminate annual "school report cards" on school performance. [Vote 46, 3/11/99]
XXXX Voted to Kill a Measure Requiring States to Demonstrate a Strong Record of Standards-Based
Reform Before Receiving Federal Waivers from Education Mandates. In 1999, XXXX voted to table an
amendment he sponsored to the Education Flexibility Partnership Act that would have required States to
demonstrate that they had a strong record of making standards-based education reforms in the previous 5 years
before they could be granted waiver authority. [Vote 30, 3/3/99]
XXXX Voted Against Retaining Funding for National Education Testing. In 1998, XXXX voted for a bill to
allow parents, relatives or outside entities, including corporations, to contribute up to a combined total of $2,000
per year of after-tax funds to tax-free savings accounts designated for educational expenses. Current law allows up
to $500 for college expenses, but the bill would raise the limit to $2,000, and allow the accounts to be used for
public or private elementary and secondary education expenses. The bill also would prohibit federal funding for
national education testing, give states the option of receiving federal education funds through block grants directly
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to the state or local level, and provide incentives for states and localities to establish merit pay and testing programs
for teachers. [Vote 102, 4/23/98]
XXXX Voted Against a Measure Providing Bonus Awards to Schools Which Show Standards of Excellence.
In 1998, XXXX voted against an amendment to the Parent and Student Savings PLUS Act by Sen. Landrieu that
would have struck the bill provisions on education savings accounts and would instead authorize a new program
under which the Secretary of Education could pick up to 250 schools per year to give $100,000 because in his
opinion they had "established standards of excellence and demonstrated a high level of quality." [Vote 97, 4/23/98]
XXXX Supported a Measure Banning Federally Sponsored Student Tests That Were Not Enacted by
Congress, Taking Away State and Local Flexibility. In 1998, XXXX voted in favor of an amendment to the
Parent and Student Savings PLUS Act by Sen. Ashcroft that would have enacted a ban on the Federal Government
developing, planning, implementing, or administering any federally sponsored national test in reading,
mathematics, or any other subject that was not specifically and explicitly provided for in authorizing legislation
enacted into law. The amendment also reinserted Education Savings Accounts into the bill and struck a provision
providing tax breaks to teachers who go back to school for technology training. [Vote 94, 4/22/98]
XXXX Voted to Kill a Measure Providing $1.5 Billion Over 5 Years for Grant Program to School Districts
Reforming Their Educational Package. In 1998, XXXX voted to table an amendment to the Concurrent Budget
Resolution for FY’s 1999-2003 by Sen. Kennedy that would have adjusted the functional totals with the intention
of providing $1.5 billion over 5 years for a new educational grant program that would give money to school
districts that were "showing a special kind of designation in reforming and rehabilitating their total educational
package." The cost would be offset by making an across-the-board cut in non-defense discretionary spending. [Vote
78, 4/2/98]
CHILD CARE
XXXX Voted Against $6 Billion in Child Care Funding. In 2004, XXXX voted against an amendment that
increased mandatory child care funding by $6 billion over the next five years. The $6 billion was offset by
extending expiring Customs Service user fees. [Vote 64, 3/30/04]
XXXX Voted Against Increasing Child Care Spending By $9.1 Billion Over 10 Years. In 2003, XXXX voted
against an amendment that would have increased child care spending by reducing Bush tax cuts. The vote was on
an amendment that would have increased mandatory child care spending by $4.6 billion over five years and $9.1
billion over 10 years. [Vote 90, 3/25/03]
XXXX Voted Against Giving States $9 Billion in Funds and Grants for Child Care and Social Service
Programs. In 2002, XXXX voted against an amendment to “give states $6 billion in additional federal matching
funds and $3 billion in grants to help them pay for child care and other social service programs.” XXXX was one of
only 24 Senators to oppose this legislation. [S 812, Vote 190, 7/25/02]
XXXX Voted Against Child Care Funding. In 1998, XXXX voted against a motion to waive the Congressional
Budget Act of 1974 to permit consideration of the Dodd amendment to S.Con.Res.86, which was an amendment to
establish a reserve fund to provide funding for child-care. [Vote 52, 3/31/98]
XXXX Voted To Expand Businesses With Quality Child Care. In 1997, XXXX voted for a motion to waive the
Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to permit consideration of the Jeffords amendment to S.949, which was an
amendment to expand tax credits for businesses with quality child-care and mandate that home child-care providers
meet added requirements. Many Republicans opposed this amendment because of the added requirements home
child-care providers would be required to meet to receive tax credits. [Vote 153, 6/27/97]
XXXX Voted to Provide Tax Credits to Employers to Offset Cost of Child Care. In 1997, XXXX was one of
72 senators who voted for a motion to waive the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to permit consideration of the
Kohl amendment to S.949, which was an amendment to provide tax credits to employers to offset half of the cost of
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providing child care for dependents of their employees. [Vote 152, 6/27/97]
MINORITY AND LOW INCOME EDUCATION
XXXX Voted Against $210 Million for Hispanic Education Programs. In September 2003, XXXX voted
against increasing funding for Hispanic education programs by $210 million, including $20 million for dropout
prevention, $85 million for language instruction, and $4.5 million for migrant education. [Vote 322, 9/3/03]
XXXX Voted For $250 Million Grant Program To Provide Technology In Schools With Minority, Low-
Income Students. On April 30, 2003, XXXX voted to provide grants for network technology to schools with large
minority and low-income populations. The vote was on a bill that would establish a $250 million National Science
Foundation program from fiscal 2004 to fiscal 2008 to provide digital and wireless network technology instruction
to schools with large minority and low-income populations. The grants could be used to purchase new digital and
wireless network technology and infrastructure and to educate teachers. [S 196, Vote 136, 4/30/03]
XXXX Voted Against Funding for Low Income Children and Education. In November 2001, XXXX voted
against an amendment that would transfer $1 billion of the Title I increase into the Target Assistance Grant Fund,
which benefits low-income children. It also would allocate $650 million for education finance incentive grants. [HR
3061, Vote 317, 11/1/01]
XXXX Voted Against $750 Million for Bilingual Education Programs. On a vote of 62-34, XXXX voted
against an amendment to express the sense of the Senate that Congress should appropriate $750 million for
bilingual education programs in 2002 for a total of $11.5 billion through 2008. [S 1, Vote 100, 5/10/01]
XXXX Voted Against Vocational Education for Welfare Recipients. In 1997, XXXX voted against expanding
vocational education for welfare recipients. [Vote 119, 6/25/97]
XXXX Voted Against Education and Nutrition Programs for Low