Rockefeller, no
Highway trust fund
Voting 79 for and 17 against, the Senate on July 30 sent President Obama a bill (HR 3357) that would allocate billions of dollars in Treasury funds to keeping the Highway Trust Fund and federal and state unemployment funds solvent. Because the bill requires repayment to the Treasury, among other offsets, the Congressional Budget Office has ruled it deficit-neutral. The bill also raises Federal Housing Administration authority to back low-interest home loans from $315 billion to $400 billion.
A yes vote was to pass the bill.
Maryland
Mikuski, not voting
Cardin, yes
Pennsylvania
Specter, yes
Casey, yes
West Virginia
Byrd, not voting
Rockefeller, yes
Economic stimulus
Voting 41 for and 56 against, the Senate on July 30 rejected an amendment to HR 3357 that sought to use economic stimulus appropriations rather than Treasury funds to replenish federal and state funds that pay jobless benefits. To date, the administration has spent about 25 percent of the $787 billion stimulus program, which was enacted in February to spur economic recovery and has about two years to run.
A yes vote backed the amendment.
Maryland
Mikulski, not voting
Cardin, no
Pennsylvania
Specter, no
Casey, no
West Virginia
Byrd, not voting
Rockefeller, no
Key votes ahead
In the week of Aug. 3, the Senate will debate agriculture appropriations bills and Judge Sonia Sotomayor's nomination to the Supreme Court. The House is in recess until the week of Sept. 7.
