Congressional roll call

Here’s how area members of Congress voted on major issues during the week ending Feb. 9. HOUSE

BUDGET DEAL: Voting 240-186, the House on Feb. 9 passed a federal budget (HR 1892) that would increase discretionary spending by at least $300 billion over present levels over two years and raise the national debt ceiling through February 2019. The bill would provide $6 billion for fighting opioid addiction and $20 billion for infrastructure projects over two years while funding $90 billion in disaster aid for California, Texas, Florida, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The bill is projected to push the 2018 deficit above $1 trillion and increase annual deficits by at least $320 billion over 10 years, or $418 billion counting new borrowing costs the bill would trigger. The bill was approved by the Senate earlier (see below).

A yes vote in the House was to send the bill to President Trump, who later signed it.

John Faso, R-Kinderhook:

Yes

Sean Maloney, D-Cold Spring: No

MENU LABELING: Voting 266-157, the House on Feb. 6 passed a bill (HR 772) that effectively would block a Food and Drug Administration rule on menu labeling set to take effect in May after nearly eight years of drafting. Under the rule, chains of 20 or more locations bearing the same name must prominently display “accurate, clear and consistent” nutrition information — including calorie counts — for standard menu items at the point of sale. If this bill were enacted, the FDA would have to restart its rulemaking process. In part, the bill would allow restaurants to use noncomparable (usually smaller) serving sizes in displaying calories and exempt from the rule most pizza delivery chains as well as companies that receive less than half their revenue from retail

food sales. A yes vote was to send the bill to the Senate. Faso: Yes Maloney: No HOME LENDING RULES:

The House on Feb. 8 voted 280-131 to relax a Consumer Financial Protection Bureau rule designed to curb predatory home lending practices such as those linked to millions of foreclosures in the 2008-09 financial meltdown. The rule sets standards for “qualified mortgages,” or QM, in which the borrower is judged a good credit risk, the lender is protected against certain lawsuits and points and fees are capped at 3 percent of the loan amount. This bill (HR 1153) would exempt from the cap upfront escrow charges and the cost of title insurance provided by firms affiliated with the lender. Backers said this would help community banks expand home ownership opportunities, while critics said it would inject unnecessary risk into many loans while allowing title companies to charge excessive fees.

A yes vote was to send the bill to the Senate. Faso: Yes Maloney: Yes CONGRESSMAN’S

TWEET: Voting 231-187, the House on Feb. 6 blocked a Democratic attempt (H Res 726) to force consideration of a resolution formally condemning Rep. Paul Gosar, R-Ariz., for having asked the U.S. Capitol police to arrest undocumented immigrants in attendance at President Trump’s State of the Union address. Several undocumented aliens known as “dreamers” were there as guests of Democratic members. Gosar said in one tweet: ‘’Any illegal aliens attempting to go through security, under any pretext of invitation or otherwise, should be arrested and deported .... ’’ A yes vote was in opposition to condemning Gosar for his comments. Faso: Yes

Maloney: No SEXUAL HARASSMENT:

The House on Feb. 6 passed a bipartisan bill (HR 4924) that would reform the way it handles employees’ sexual harassment allegations against lawmakers. The bill prohibits House members from engaging in a sexual relationship with any staff member they supervise; requires lawmakers to personally pay settlements arising from their misconduct; establishes an employee-advocacy office that provides legal counsel and general support to complainants; allows victims to talk publicly about settlements; and requires public disclosure of members’ settlement payments. The bill was approved by a non-record voice vote and was sent to the Senate.

SENATE

BUDGET DEAL: Voting 71-28, the Senate on Feb. 9 passed a bill (HR 1892, above) that would boost discretionary spending by at least $300 billion through the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2019, while increasing deficits by a projected $320 billion over 10 years, or $418 billion counting new borrowing costs the bill would trigger. Military programs would receive nearly 60 percent of the spending increase with the remainder going mostly to domestic programs in areas such as education, health care, transportation, social services and job training. The bill repeals the Independent Payment Advisory Board, a panel of 15 outside health experts created by the Affordable Care Act to help control Medicare costs; renews energy tax breaks in areas ranging from the biofuels to nuclear power; extends a host of other business tax credits and deductions; authorizes the sale of 100 million barrels of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve; and raises customs and airport-security fees over 10 years. A yes vote was to send the bill to the House (see above).

Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y.:

No

Charles Schumer, D-N.Y. Yes

COMING UP

The Senate this week will vote on the legal status of the undocumented young immigrants known as “dreamers. The House schedule was to be announced.

©2018, Thomas Voting Reports Inc.