Congressional roll call

Here’s how area members of Congress voted on major issues during the week ending March 20.

HOUSE

IRS SYSTEMS: Voting 414-3, the House on April 18passed a bill (HR 5445) requiring a sweeping modernization of Internal Revenue Service information systems that would make it easier for taxpayers to communicate with the agency online and bolster cyberdefenses against large-scale hacking operations as well as smaller schemes targeting the identities and refunds of individual taxpayers. In addition, the bill puts the IRS on a path toward providing taxpayers with secure individualized portals on the agency website to be used for obtaining forms and data and filing returns. But the bill proposes no major funding increases that would help the agency, which has experienced deep cuts since 2010, carry out the proposed technology upgrade. A yes vote was to send the bill to the Senate.

John Faso, R-Kinderhook:

Yes

Sean Maloney, D-Cold Spring: Yes TRUMP TAX RETURNS:

Voting 226-189, the House on April 18blocked a parliamentary attempt by Democrats to force floor debate on a bill (HR 305), now in committee, that would require presidents, including Donald Trump, and major-party presidential candidates to publicly release their personal tax returns for the three preceding years. While a candidate, Trump vowed to release his returns following completion of what he said was an ongoing IRS audit. But he has refused to do so, becoming the first White House occupant in nearly 50years to withhold his returns from the public. A yes vote was to quash a Democratic bid for floor debate on a bill requiring the disclosure of presidential tax returns.

Faso: No Maloney: Yes

SENATE

AUTO LENDING: Voting 51-47, the Senate on April 18 approved repeal of an action by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau against “third party” car and truck loans that impose interest rates on minority borrowers that are higher than those offered other similarly qualified borrowers. Backers of the repeal measure (SJ Res 57) said the bureau is prohibited by the 2010 Dodd-Frank law from regulating auto dealerships. But the bureau warned lenders in 2013that they are responsible under the 1974Equal Credit Opportunity Act for any discriminatory pricing of auto loans. The bureau said that law prohibits creditors from discriminating based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, marital status or age. Although the consumer bureau did not issue a formal rule on auto lending, critics say the 2013guidance is essentially the same as a regulation, and is therefore subject to repeal under the Congressional Review Act. This would greatly expand the scope of the review act, which to date has been used only to nullify actual regulations within 60 working days of their effective date. Under third-party lending, finance companies originate loans that dealers arrange for their customers, with dealers adding a markup to the interest rate and sharing in interest proceeds. Next to home mortgages and student loans, auto loans are the third-largest source of household debt in the United States. A yes vote was to send the repeal measure to the House.

Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y.:

No Charles Schumer, D-N.Y.: No NASA ADMINISTRATOR:

Voting 50-49, the Senate on April 19confirmed Jim Bridenstine, 42, a three-term Republican congressman from Oklahoma, as administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Republicans praised Bridenstine’s record as a naval aviator with combat experience and advocate of expanded ties between NASA and commercial space ventures. But Democrats objected to putting a politician without a scientific background in charge of an agency devoted to science. They also faulted Bridenstine over his skepticism

that human activity causes climate change, support of administration policies against Muslim travel and opposition to same-sex marriage. A yes vote was to confirm the nominee.

Gillibrand: No Schumer: No EDUCATION COUNSEL:

Voting 55-43, the Senate on April 18confirmed Carlos G. Muniz as the U.S. Department of Education’s general counsel. Muniz leaves a Jacksonville, Fla., law partnership to serve under Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos. He previously served in Florida as deputy attorney general, chief of staff to Attorney General Pam Bondi and deputy general counsel to former Gov. Jeb Bush. Democrats criticized Muniz, in part, for his support of forprofit colleges and policies to privatize public education and opposition to Florida joining a lawsuit alleging Trump University defrauded its students. A yes vote was to confirm the nominee.

Gillibrand: No Schumer: No

COMING UP

The Senate this week will vote on judicial nominations. The House’s legislative schedule was to be announced.