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

Delay of 2010 health law. Passed 235-191, a Republican bill (HR2775) on income-verification that would delay the Oct. 1 opening of the state-based exchanges at the core of the 2010 health law. The bill requires further steps by the administration to verify the incomes of low- and middle-income households receiving subsidies such as tax credits to buy insurance in the exchanges. This would be on top of a verification process already in place, in which the Department of Health and Human Services will check applicants’ income claims against tax returns, Social Security data and current payroll records, among other references. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has found the existing verification process to be satisfactory, but critics say it is so loose it invites fraud. The House and Senate have conducted more than 35 votes on GOP measures to repeal or dismantle “Obamacare” since it was enacted March 23, 2010. The law is scheduled to take full effect in January. Michael Burgess, R-Texas, said the bill ensures that “taxpayer subsidies are going to individuals who are deserving” of them. “And for crying out loud, let’s stop the crooks.” Jared Polis, D-Colo., called the bill “a waste of time” because the administration “already has a plan to ensure that no one is able to get health-insurance tax credits that they aren’t eligible for.” A yes vote was to send the bill to the Senate, where it is expected to die.

Rick Crawford (R)

Tim Griffin (R)

Steve Womack (R)

Tom Cotton (R)

SENATE

Federal judge Valerie

Caproni. Confirmed 73-24, Valerie E. Caproni as a federal judge for the Southern District of New York. Caproni, 58, joins the court from her position as deputy general counsel for Northrop Grumman Corp. Caproni was the FBI’s top lawyer between 2003-11. She drew criticism during Senate debate for her role in the FBI’s issuance of National Security Letters under the USA Patriot Act. In 2007, the Justice Department inspector general faulted the FBI for “widespread and serious misuse” of its National Security Letter authority under Caproni’s watch. National Security Letters compel recipients such as libraries and telecommunication firms to yield customer records to federal authorities while prohibiting them from ever discussing the letter or challenging it in court. Issued without court orders, these letters request transactional information deemed relevant to terrorism investigations but not the content of records and communications. Richard Durbin, D-Ill., said he would support Caproni only because she agreed to recuse herself from issues she handled as FBI general counsel. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, said the Justice Department inspector general criticized the FBI “for its role in the potential abuse” of National Security Letters while Caproni was its top lawyer.

Mark Pryor (D)

John Boozman (R)

— VOTERAMA IN CONGRESS