How Arkansas’ congressional delegation voted
Here is how Arkansas’ U.S. senators and U.S. representatives voted on major roll call votes during the week that ended Friday.
HOUSE
Blocking rule on menu
labeling. Passed 266-157, a bill (HR772) that would effectively block a Food and Drug Administration rule on menu labeling set to take effect in May after nearly eight years of drafting. Under the rule, chains of 20 or more locations bearing the same name must prominently display “accurate, clear and consistent” nutrition information — including calorie counts — for standard menu items at the point of sale. If this bill were enacted, the Food and Drug Administration would have to restart its rulemaking process. In part, the bill would allow restaurants to use non-comparable (usually smaller) serving sizes in displaying calories and exempt from the rule most pizza-delivery chains, as well as companies that receive less than half of their revenue from retail food sales.
A yes vote was to send the bill to the Senate.
Rick Crawford (R) French Hill (R)
Steve Womack (R) Bruce Westerman (R)
Deregulation of home-lending rules. Passed 280-131, a bill to relax a Consumer Financial Protection Bureau rule designed to curb predatory home-lending practices such as those linked to millions of foreclosures in the 2008-09 financial meltdown. The rule sets standards for “qualified mortgages” in which the borrower is judged a good credit risk, the lender is protected against certain lawsuits, and points and fees are capped at 3 percent of the loan amount. This bill (HR1153) would exempt from the cap upfront escrow charges and the cost of title insurance provided by firms affiliated with the lender. Backers said this would help community banks expand homeownership opportunities, while critics said it would inject unnecessary risk into many loans while allowing title companies to charge excessive fees. Bill Huizenga, R-Mich., said the bill “is narrowly focused to promote access to affordable mortgage credit without overturning the important consumer protections and sound underwriting required under (the Dodd-Frank law’s) ability-to-repay provisions.” Maxine Waters, D-Calif., said: “Unfortunately, this bill is yet another attempt to undermine the strong consumer protections Democrats established under Dodd-Frank, taking us back to the days of the subprime bubble.” A yes vote was to send the bill to the Senate. Crawford (R) Hill (R) Womack (R) Westerman (R)
Provocative remarks by Arizona congressman. Approved 231-187, blocking a Democratic attempt to force consideration of a resolution formally condemning Rep. Paul Gosar, R-Ariz., for having asked the U.S. Capitol police to arrest illegal aliens attending President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address. Several illegal aliens known as “Dreamers” were there as guests of Democratic members. Gosar said in one tweet: Any illegal aliens attempting to go through security, under any pretext of invitation or otherwise, should be arrested and deported.“As a privileged resolution (HRes726), the measure was not debatable. A yes vote was in opposition to condemning Gosar for his comments.
Crawford (R)
Hill (R)
Womack (R) Westerman (R) Two-year budget deal. Passed 240-186, a federal budget (HR1892) that would increase discretionary spending by at least $300 billion over present levels over two years and raise the national debt ceiling through February 2019. The bill would provide $6 billion for fighting opioid addiction and $20 billion for infrastructure projects over two years while funding $90 billion in disaster aid for California, Texas, Florida, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The bill is projected to push the 2018 deficit above $1 trillion and increase annual deficits by at least $320 billion over 10 years, or $418 billion counting new borrowing costs the bill would trigger. A yes vote was to send the bill to President Trump. Crawford (R)
Hill (R)
Womack (R) Westerman (R)
SENATE
Two-year budget deal. Passed 71-28, a bill (HR1892, above) that would boost discretionary spending by at least $300 billion through the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2019, while increasing deficits by a projected $320 billion over 10 years, or $418 billion counting new borrowing costs the bill would trigger. Military programs would receive nearly 60 percent of the spending increase with the remainder going mostly to domestic programs in areas such as education, health care, transportation, social services and job training. The bill repeals the Independent Payment Advisory Board, a panel of 15 outside health experts created by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to help control Medicare costs; renews energy tax breaks in areas ranging from the biofuels to nuclear power; extends a host of other business tax credits and deductions; authorizes the sale of 100 million barrels of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve; and raises customs and airport-security fees over 10 years. A yes vote was to send the bill to the House.
John Boozman (R)
Tom Cotton (R)