Explain this vote
Dear editor:
The Sunday Arkansas Democrat-Gazette includes a section, “How Arkansas’ congressional delegation voted.” It is exactly what the title suggests. Each bill on which representatives and senators voted in the previous week is described, the vote tally is indicated and the way each member of our state delegation voted is shown.
Nearly all of the time our senators, John Boozman and Tom Cotton, and our representative, Bruce Westerman, vote the opposite of the way I would have voted. At last, however, in the July
22 paper, I found an instance in which Sens. Boozman and Cotton both voted my way. Of course, since the vote was
98-0, everyone who voted, voted my way. This was a measure stating opposition to Putin’s request for Trump to submit
11 American citizens to interrogation by Russian prosecutors. I was pleased — and actually a little surprised that the senators voted the same way I would have voted.
There were, however, no surprises in the House of Representatives. There were six voting opportunities. Again our Rep. Westerman (and Crawford, Hill and Wamack) voted the opposite of way I would have voted. I understood they would probably vote against a new tax on the use of coal, natural gas and petroleum products to discourage greenhouse gas emissions. It was disappointing, but not surprising that they voted against helping states upgrade voting machines and electoral systems, and expanding ballot access, and that they voted for a bill that cut the EPA budget by $100 million, prohibited the regulation of lead content of ammunition and fishing tackle, and scaled back Clean Water Act regulations. Again, these votes were disappointing, but expected.
Here’s the vote I don’t understand. Earlier in the week, Speaker Paul Ryan had provided a written statement saying that there is “no question” that Russia intervened in the 2016 presidential campaign and continues to interfere with U.S. elections. At issue was a formal endorsement of his statement by the House. The House voted 230-183 opposing even calling the measure up for debate. All four of Arkansas’ representatives, including our own Bruce Westerman, were among those voting against this measure. I’m guessing that they, like Trump, take the word of Putin over U.S. intelligence agencies.
Guys, if you can’t stand up for us, if you can’t say “Russia must be held accountable for interfering in our elections,” then you don’t need to be in Washington, D.C., claiming to represent us. Let someone else do the job of representing us; the job you clearly are not willing to do.
Our representative, Bruce Westerman, is good guy. I like him. I just don’t like how he votes. This fall, let’s do Bruce a favor and let him stay home to enjoy our great state. Vote instead to send Hayden Shamel to Washington to take his place. I think Shamel will do a great job representing all of us. Thanks for your consideration.
Michael Young Hot Springs Village