HOW TEXAS VOTED

WASHINGTON — Here’s how the U.S. senators from Texas voted on major issues last week. The House was in recess.

1. Approving two-year budget deal: Approved, 67-28, a two-year budget deal (HR 3877) that would allow Pentagon and nonmilitary spending to increase by $320 billion over current levels while suspending the statutory borrowing limit until July 31, 2021, to prevent default on the $22 trillion national debt. The bill addresses the nearly 30 percent of the $4.6 trillion federal budget comprising discretionary spending, leaving untouched the approximately 70 percent allocated to mandatory programs including Medicare, Social Security and veterans benefits and ruling out tax increases as a means of curbing federal debt. The bill caps discretionary spending at $1.375 trillion for each of fiscal 2020 and 2021 while expecting annual deficits approaching $1 trillion and interest payments on the national debt likely to top $400 billion annually.

A yes vote was to send the bill to President Trump.

2. Blocking increase in national debt limit: Defeated, 23-70, an amendment to HR 3877 (above) that would block any increase in the statutory debt limit until after Congress has imposed fiscal discipline in three areas — the Senate and House would have to enact major spending cuts, restore spending caps that the underlying bill removes and send the states a constitutional amendment requiring a balanced federal budget.

Rand Paul, R-Ky., who sponsored the amendment, said “shame on the politicians who have campaigned as conservatives but who have governed as big spenders.”

None of the 70 senators who voted against the proposal spoke against it.

A yes vote was to adopt the amendment.

3. Upholding Trump veto of Saudi arms measure: Failed, 45-40, to reach a two-thirds majority needed to override President Donald Trump’s veto of a measure (SJ Res 36) that would prohibit the sale of up to $8 billion in U.S. arms to Saudi Arabia and its allies for use against Iranian-backed forces in Yemen. The munitions consist mainly of tens of thousands of laserguided “smart” bombs. This marked Trump’s second successful veto this year of attempts by Congress to check the administration’s expanding military alliance with Saudi Arabia. With the other veto, he turned back a measure that would end U.S. involvement in the war in Yemen unless it receives congressional authorization under the 1973 War Powers Resolution.

Robert Menendez, DN.J., said “This administration’s willingness to turn a blind eye to (Saudi Arabia’s) wholesale slaughter of civilians and the murder of journalists and move forward with the sale of these weapons will have a lasting implication for America’s moral leadership on the world stage.”

Jim Risch, R-Idaho, said the arms deal serves “the legitimate security interests of our partners. Rejecting these sales at this time will reward recent Iranian aggression and risk Iranian miscalculation, which will lead to disaster if Iran continues down its current path.”

A yes vote was to override the presidential veto.

4. Confirming Kelly Craft as U.N. ambassador: Confirmed, 56-34, Kelly Craft as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Craft has been U.S. ambassador to Canada since October 2017 and was an alternate delegate to the U.N. in the George W. Bush administration. She received her appointment to Ottawa after her husband, Joe Craft, a Kentucky-based coal producer, contributed more than $1 million to Trump’s presidential campaign. Republicans praised Craft’s work in Canada on matters including a trade deal to replace the North American Free Trade Agreement. But Democrats faulted her for having spent 357 days away from Canada while ambassador and for allowing her husband to take part in meetings on energy and environmental policies.

Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said

Craft has a record of “skillfully and effectively advocating for the interests of the United States on the international stage,” including helping to fashion a U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement now awaiting congressional approval.

Menendez said: “Taken together, Ambassador Craft’s lack of experience, her dereliction of duty and excessive absences in Ottawa, and her unwillingness to address potential conflicts of interest, render her unfit to serve as our ambassador to the United Nations.”

A yes vote was to confirm the nominee.