HOW TEXANS VOTED
WASHINGTON — How the Texas congressional delegation voted on major issues last week:
Senate
1. repeal: GOP-sponsoredto Care attempt Republicansdown knownThis 1628the Defeat dismantlelaw’s amendmentAct, soughtthe as Defeated,by individualendingof 2010 Obamacare. congressionalHealth-careto to the eliminatelaw take measurethe Affordableto 49-51,alsoandHR latesta employerscale delay medicalHealth weaken backan Savings minimal devices;excise mandates; Medicaid; Accounts;tax coverageexpandon standardsone-yearusing Parenthood Medicaidhold and care,on putfor patientsamong Planneda other Congressional provisions. BudgetThe Office would said increasethe measurethe number of15 million uninsured next Americansyear while by sharply raising the cost of premiums in the individual insurance market. A yes vote was to repeal the core of the 2010 health law.
2. Make-or-break health
care vote: Agreed, by a tally of 51-50 with Vice President Mike Pence casting the deciding vote, to start debate on a Housepassed bill (HR 1628) that was the legislative vehicle for later votes (below) to repeal, replace or overhaul the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. Had Republicans lost this crucial vote, they would have faced a choice of either pausing their sevenyear fight against the ACA or inviting Democrats to work with them to draft a bipartisan replacement law. A yes vote was to start debate on a not-yet-written GOP plan to dismantle the 2010 health law.
3. Preserving Medicaid expansion: Rejected, 4852, a Democratic motion to strip HR 1628 (above) of provisions that would curtail Medicaid benefits for those currently eligible, prevent or discourage additional states from expanding Medicaid coverage under the Affordable Care Act or shift additional Medicaid costs to state governments. A yes vote was to protect the current health law’s expansion of Medicaid.
4. Rand Paul’s Obamacare repeal: Rejected, 45-55, a proposal by Rand Paul, R-Ky., that would partially repeal the Affordable Care Act over two years. The amendment to HR 1628 (above) would scrap the current requirement that individuals carry health insurance or pay a tax penalty, the mandate that larger employers provide workers with health coverage, and tax provisions that help fund the health care law. Two years later, the law’s federal subsidies for Americans buying individual coverage through public exchanges would end, as would the ACA’s expansion of Medicaid in 31 states. The amendment would leave in place coverage standards for health policies and protections for persons with pre-existing medical conditions. A yes vote was to adopt the most extensive repeal measure before the Senate.
5. Cruz, Portman health care plans: Failed, 43-57, to reach 60 votes needed to advance a pair of changesTed Portmanto soughtsell policiesHR low-cost,Cruz 1628to in thatof of allow states (above).TexasOhio GOP bare-bonesinsurerswhere proposedand Sens. Cruz Rob to theyonethe Affordablepolicyalso offer compliantat Care least Act. with Portmanbillion authorizationsought a $100 over 10 years for defraying out-of-pocket costs faced by individuals compelled by the GOP bill to transfer from Medicaid to private insurance. A yes vote was to adopt the Cruz-Portman health-care package.
6. Economic sanctions on Russia: Passed, 98-2, and sent to the White House a House-passed bill (HR 3364, above) intended to prevent any U.S. president from softening or removing U.S. economic sanctions on Russia without congressional approval. The bill also would place new sanctions on Russia, Iran and North Korea while putting into law several Obama-era executive orders penalizing the Kremlin for its interventions in the United States and other countries. The measure would apply to Russian economic sectors such as mining, metals, shipping and railways; address corruption and human rights abuses in Russia; impose financial penalties on non-Russian entitiesthat with providecertainand individualstypesthe Kremlinof commercial support, and penalize entities that supply weapons to the Syrian regime. A yes vote was to send the bill to President Trump for either his signature or veto. 123 456 Cornyn(R)San Antonio ...... YYN YYY Cruz(R)Houston .................. YYN YYY
House
1. Class actions, arbitration clauses: Voted, 231-190, to nullify a new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau rule that would enable individuals with similar grievances to band together in classaction lawsuits against credit card issuers, banks, payday lenders and other retail financial firms regulated by the bureau. Consumers entering into contracts with financial firms are now required to agree to use mandatory arbitration to resolve disputes, thus signing away their right to pursue claims in court. The rule scheduled to take effect in mid-September prohibits the use of arbitration clauses to bar customers from participating in classaction suits. Mandatory arbitration is conducted by company-approved mediators under rules that limit discovery, bar disclosure of the outcome and prohibit meaningful appeals.to the cleaners.” A yes vote was to send the measure (HJ Res 111) to the Senate.
2. Economic sanctions on Russia: Passed, 419-3, a bill (HR 3364) that would establish a process for Congress to block any U.S. president from softening or removing U.S. economic sanctions on Russia. The bill also would place a range of new sanctions on the Russian economy while putting into law several Obama-era executive orders penalizing the Kremlin for its interventions in the United States and other countries. Both the new and existing penalties are responses to Russia’s cyber-interference in U.S. elections, annexation of Crimea, aggression in Ukraine and support of the regime of Syrian President Bashar ssad. The bill also would add new U.S. economic sanctions on Iran and North Korea. The measure would apply to Russian economic sectors such as mining, metals, shipping and railways. It is intended to address corruption and human rights abuses in Russia, impose financial penalties on non-Russian entities and individuals that provide the Kremlin with certain types of commercial support, and penalize entities that supply weapons to the Syrian regime. A yes vote was to send the bill to the Senate.
3. spending: appropriationsfiscal totalingbillion,billion Presidentproposed$800a 2018 packagefor includingnearly billion constructionU.S.-MexicoDonald Passed,(HR $800of bills 3219)in $1.6 four Trump’s2018235192,for of borderbillion operations;operations$88.8 billionfor wall; basicin $73.9 $584.2for war military veterans’zones;billion for programs construction;for water projectsand $37.6 militaryand billion Departmentoperations andof Energy$3.6 billion for branch running other the than legislativethe Senate. Overall, the bill funds four of Congress’s 12 appropriations bills for the budget year beginning Oct. 1. A yes vote was to send the bill to the Senate.
4. Proposed cut for Budget Office: Rejected, 107-314, an attempt to cut the Congressional Budget Office’s 2018 operating budget by half, or $25.4 million, in response to what critics said were the CBO’s grossly inaccurate projections several years ago of the number of people who would gain health insurance under the Affordable Care Act. The amendment was proposed to HR 3219 (above). One of the few non-partisan officesCBO and on its Capitol professionalHill, the staff are charged with forecasting the budgetary impacts of measures considered by the House and Senate. A yes vote was to cut the CBO budget.