Ohio in Congress

Voterama in Congress

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

Washington for the week ending Feb. 18.

U.S. House
USA Patriot Act: Members voted, 279-143, to extend for 90 days three
sections of the USA Patriot Act set to expire Feb. 28. A yes vote was to
pass HR 514, which, in part, allows roving wiretaps and secretive police
searches of library, bookstore, business, medical and other records.
LaTourette: Yes Fudge: No

Fast-Track Review: Members defeated, 186-234, a bid by Democrats for

fast-track court review of suits alleging the government has used the USA
Patriot Act to violate citizens’ rights. Government requests for court orders
under the law already are fast-tracked. A yes vote backed the motion.
LaTourette: No Fudge: Yes

F-35 Fighter Cuts: Members voted, 233-198, to strip the 2011 budget
of its $485 million for building a backup engine for the F-35 Joint Strike
Fighter. This supported a Pentagon request and reversed earlier House
votes in support of the engine. A yes vote was to cut military spending. (HR
1)
LaTourette: No Fudge: No

Police Grants: Members voted, 228-203, to spend $228 million for the
Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program in 2011 and cut
NASA’s budget by the same sum. A yes vote was to continue a program to
help communities hire police and buy technology. The GOP had sought to
eliminate the program. (HR 1)
LaTourette: No Fudge: No

U.S. Senate
USA Patriot Act: Senators approved, 86-12, a 90-day extension of the
three sections of the USA Patriot Act that are not permanent law. This will
give committees time to weigh privacy concerns raised by the sections. The
House later sent the extension (HR 514) to President Obama.
Brown: No Portman: Yes

Bargaining Rights: Senators refused, 47-51, to block an administration

plan to allow passenger screeners and other Transportation Security Admin-
istration workers to engage in collective bargaining. They could negotiate
workplace issues but not wages and could not strike. A yes vote opposed
the plan. (S 223)
Brown: No Portman: Yes

Key votes ahead

Congress is in recess until the week of Feb. 28.