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

Independent probe of

Trump-Russia ties. Approved 233-190, nullifying a Democratic bid to force floor debate on a bill that would establish the “National Commission on Foreign Interference in the 2016 Election” as a bipartisan, independent body for investigating what the FBI has identified as repeated contacts between Russian intelligence offi and associates of Donald Trump starting months before Election Day. Had Democrats prevailed on this vote during debate on HRes123, they would have had an opportunity to take the TrumpRussia measure to the floor. Louise Slaughter, D-N.Y., said “the future of our democracy is at stake. We are seeing the same kinds of things that have happened all over Europe, as governments have been changing away from democracies. … and it is time this Republican-controlled Congress does its job and gets to the bottom of this.” No Republican spoke on the issue. A yes vote was to quash the Democratic bid for an outside commission to probe Trump-Russia ties. ✔ Rick Crawford (R) ✔ French Hill (R) ✔ Steve Womack (R) ✔ Bruce Westerman (R)

Expanded opportunities

for retirement savings. Passed 231-193, a measure to nullify a rule designed to guide state governments in setting up privately managed payroll-deduction plans for private-sector workers who do not have access to retirement plans through their employers. Nationwide, about half of privateemployees are in this situation. In response, at least seven states are setting up voluntary work-based Individual Retirement Account-style plans that uncovered individuals can use to save for retirement. Because these are mainly low-income employees, they have not been a favored market for Wall Street retirement plans. Under a typical state program, workers at firms with at least five employees are automatically signed up but can opt out at any time. Participants contribute 3 percent of their pay or choose another rate. Employers are required to forward payroll deductions to the plan administrator but make no matching contributions and cannot be held liable for fund performances. States are expected to use their experience in managing public-employee pension funds to ensure that these new private-employee plans are soundly run. A yes vote was to send the nullification measure (HJRes66) to the Senate. ✔ Crawford (R) ✔ Hill (R) ✔ Womack (R) ✔ Westerman (R)

Linkage of jobless benefits

to drug testing. Passed 236-189, a measure to nullify as too weak an Obama administration rule under which states can choose to require drug testing of people applying for unemployment compensation. The Department of Labor rule limits the checks to occupations where drug testing already occurs, such as pipeline safety, jobs that involve carrying firearms and work in fields such as aviation, railroading and mass transit. Ted Yoho, R-Fla., said the department should “go back to the drawing board and craft a rule that will actually strengthen unemployment insurance, help the American worker and ultimately strengthen the economy.” Richard Neal, D-Mass., said the measure would allow states to “put one more … humiliating obstacle in the way of Americans who work hard and were laid off from their jobs and need unemployment insurance to pay the bills while they look for new jobs.” A yes vote was to send the nullification measure (HJRes42) to the Senate. ✔ Crawford (R) ✔ Hill (R) ✔ Womack (R) ✔ Westerman (RR)

Clamp down on Planned

Parenthood. Approved 230-188, nullifying a rule affirming Planned Parenthood’s eligibility to receive Title X family planning funds despite efforts by some states to deny the funding because it provides abortions. Critics said the denials are illegal because Planned Parenthood does not use federal funds for its abortion services. Title X of the Public Health Service Act is the only federal program devoted exclusively to providing family planning and related preventive care for women. Foxx, R-N.C., said: “Abortion takes the lives of unborn children and hurts women. Many states have recognized this tragic reality and … have chosen to award funds to health clinics and organizations that do not provide abortions.” Louise Slaughter, D-N.Y., said that with this legislation, women “are facing the same problem today we faced for a very long time: Men in blue suits and red ties determining what women can and should do when it comes to their own health.” A yes vote was to send the nullification measure (HJRes43) to the Senate. ✔ Crawford (R) ✔ Hill (R) ✔ Womack (R) ✔ Westerman (R)

Animal killing on refuges

in Alaska. Approved 225-193, nullifying a new Bureau of Fish and Wildlife rule that would prohibit inhumane methods of killing bears, wolves and coyotes on the 16 federal wildlife refuges covering 77 million acres in Alaska. The rule outlaws practices such as shooting grizzlies from aircraft, using steel traps on brown and black bears, and gassing wolves including cubs in their dens. The rule, which supercedes state law, requires predator control to be undertaken only for conservation purposes or to provide subsistence to indigenous populations. Paul Gosar, R-Ariz., said the rule “threatens management policies and wildlife refuges nationwide and, if allowed to stand, will set a dangerous precedent for future top-down mandates from the federal government that seize authority from states.” Jared Polis, D-Colo., asked: “Why is Congress spending time trying to allow puppy killing and cruel hunting methods to occur, instead of fair chase methods, especially when this actually undermines Alaska’s economy and their ecology of federal refuges?” A yes vote was to send the nullification measure (HRes69) to the Senate. ✔ Crawford (R) ✔ Hill (R) ✔ Womack (R) ✔ Westerman (R)

SENATE

Serious mental issues, gun

checks. Passed 57-43, a measure to nullify an Obama administration rule designed to keep people with serious mental illnesses from passing federal background checks on gun purchases. Under the rule, the Social Security Administration is required to notify the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System of individuals receiving disability benefits on the basis of mental impairment. Critics said the rule cuts against disability and gun rights, while supporters said it is only common sense to keep guns away from people not of sound mind. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, said the rule “is inconsistent with the very important Second Amendment rights to bear arms. … Therefore, it must be repealed.” Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., said: “The majority of individuals with mental illness do not commit acts of violence, and they would not be affected by this rule. The rule covers only individuals with serious conditions, including schizophrenia, who need additional assistance to manage their affairs.” A yes vote was to send HJRes40 to President Donald Trump. ✔ John Boozman (R) ✔ Tom Cotton (R)

Steven Mnuchin, Treasury

secretary. Confirmed 53-47, Steven T. Mnuchin, 54, as the 77th secretary of the Treasury. Mnuchin is a former partner at Goldman Sachs, owner of OneWest Bank and operator of hedge funds. While supporters praised his financial and management skills, critics said his bank harshly foreclosed on tens of thousands of homeowners. A yes vote was to confirm Mnuchin. ✔ Boozman (R) ✔ Cotton (R)

Linda McMahon, Small

Business administrator. Confi 81-19, Linda E. McMahon, 68, as administrator of the Small Business Administration. McMahon, who helped build World Wrestling Entertainment into a dominant global franchise, contributed heavily to political organizations supporting Trump’s presidential candidacy and his foundation. Jim Risch, R-Idaho, said McMahon “has the experience, understanding and instincts necessary to bolster America’s small-business community and advocate for much-needed regulatory reforms.” Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., said World Wrestling Entertainment followed some business practices “that disadvantaged their employees,” such as classifying workers as independent contractors to avoid paying benefits. A yes vote was to confirm McMahon. ✔ Boozman (R) ✔ Cotton (R)

Scott Pruitt, EPA administrator. Confirmed 52-46, Scott Pruitt, the Oklahoma attorney general, as administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. Pruitt, 48, has questioned climate-change science. As attorney general, he included Oklahoma in a multistate lawsuit opposing regulations on coal-fired power plants and filed 14 other actions against the agency he now heads. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said Pruitt is “dedicated to environmental protection and … understands the real world consequences of EPA actions and knows that balance is the key to making policies that are sustainable over the long term.” Tim Kaine, D-Va., said that in Oklahoma Pruitt “defended the interests of oil and gas, of Big Agribusiness and basically the interests of polluters against the interests of clean air and water, which are the interests of our families and our kids.” A yes vote was to confirm Pruitt. ✔ Boozman (R) ✔ Cotton (R)

Mick Mulvaney, budget

director. Confirmed 51-49, Mick Mulvaney, a four-term congressman from South Carolina, as director of the Office of Management and Budget. Mulvaney, 49, was praised as a fiscal hawk, but drew criticism over his record of backing military budget cuts, doubting climate-change science and advocating for the privatization of Medicare and raising the Social Security retirement age. Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., said Mulvaney “has been a vigilant budget hawk during his six years in Congress, focused on the question of how we ultimately stop the federal government from overspending while continuing to fund the country’s core priorities and responsibilities.” Bill Nelson, D-Fla., said Mulvaney “called Social Security a Ponzi scheme [and] supports turning Medicare into a voucher system. That … would lead to big cuts for seniors, many [of whom] have no other options for health coverage.” A yes vote was to confirm Mulvaney. ✔ Boozman (R) ✔ Cotton (R)