HOW TEXAS VOTED
WASHINGTON — How the Texas congressional delegation voted on major issues last week:
Senate
1. Approving $738 billion for military in 2020: Voted, 86-8, to give final congressional approval to a $738 billion military policy budget (S 1790) for fiscal 2020, up $23 billion from 2019. The bill authorizes $71.5 billion for combat operations and at least $57 billion for active-duty and retiree health care; sets a 3.1 percent pay raise for uniformed personnel; and creates the U.S. Space Force as the sixth branch of the military.
A yes vote was to approve the fiscal 2020 military budget.
House
1. Article I — Abuse of power: Adopted, 230-197, the first of two articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump. The article declares that Trump abused the powers of the presidency when he and his administration withheld military aid to Ukraine and dangled the prospect of a White House visit by that nation’s president in order to pressure his government to announce investigations related to former Vice President Joe Biden and any Ukrainian role in hacking the Democratic Party during the 2016 U.S. presidential campaign.
A yes vote was to impeach Trump for abuse of power.
2. Article II — Obstruction of Congress: Adopted, 229-198, the second of two articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump. The article charges Trump with interfering with the House’s constitutionally sanctioned impeachment process by directing executive branch agencies and current and former officials to defy subpoenas for documents and testimony.
A yes vote was to impeach Trump for obstruction of Congress.
3. Setting new rules for North American trade: Passed, 385-41, a bill (HR 5430) giving congressional approval to the United States-MexicoCanada Agreement, which would replace the 25-yearold North American Free Trade Agreement as the framework for commerce among the three countries.
A yes vote was to approve the trade agreement.
4. Raising cap on state and local tax deductions: Passed, 218-206, a bill (HR 5377) that would temporarily lift the 2017 tax law’s cap on deductions for state and local taxes (SALT). To offset the resulting loss in Treasury revenue, the bill would raise the top income tax rate for individuals from 37 percent to 39.6 percent for the 2020-2025 tax years and lower income thresholds at which the top rate takes effect. The bill would raise the SALT cap in 2019 from $10,000 to $20,000 for married couples filing jointly and from $5,000 to $10,000 for married taxpayers filing separately and eliminate it for all taxpayers in 2020 and 2021, allowing it to return in 2023.
A yes vote was to pass the bill.
5. Retaining deduction cap for the ultrarich: Approved, 388-36, a Republican amendment to HR 5377 (above) that would retain the $10,000 cap on deductions for state and local taxes for taxpayers earning $100 million or more per year and use the resulting revenue to fund work-related tax deductions for teachers and first responders.
A yes vote supported the amendment.
6. Approving 2020 domestic spending: Approved, 297-120, a package of eight appropriations bills (HR 1865) that would fund nondefense agencies and departments for the remaining nine months of fiscal 2020 at an annualized level of $632 billion.
A yes vote was to pass the bill.