Voterama in Congress, week ending July 13, 2012

How Illinois lawmakers voted in Congress Week ending July 13

Updated: July 20, 2012 2:29PM

House of Representatives

Health Law Repeal: Members voted, 244-185, to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, most of which has been found constitutional by the Supreme Court. A yes vote was to send the Senate a Republican bill (HR 6079) to abolish a 2010 law scheduled to fully take effect in 2014.

Congressional Health Plan: Members refused, 180-248, to oust members who voted for HR 6079 (above) from the taxpayer-subsidized health plan for lawmakers, civil servants, federal retirees and others. A yes vote was to discharge these members from the federal plan on grounds they do not deserve far better insurance coverage than most of their constituents receive.

Fast-Track Mining Permits: Members passed, 256-160, a bill to ease environmental rules and limit lawsuits in order to quicken agency reviews of applications to mine on federal land in the West. A yes vote backed a bill (HR 4402) to spur extraction of critical minerals as well as routine sand and gravel deposits.

Gold, Silver Royalties: Members defeated, 163-253, a bid by Democrats to require royalty payments for the first time on gold, silver, uranium and other hard-rock minerals mined on federal land. A yes vote was to levy royalties of 12.5 percent with proceeds used to clean up toxic discharges from tens of thousands of abandoned mines. (HR 4402)

Senate

Tax Credits for Hiring: Senators failed, 53-44, to reach 60 votes for ending Republican blockage of a Democratic bill using tax credits to boost small-businesses hiring. A yes vote backed 10-percent tax credits on 2012 payroll increases over 2011 levels for firms with 500 or fewer workers. (S 2237)

The Cantor Tax Plan: Senators tabled (killed), 73-24, a plan identified with House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va., that would allow small businesses to avoid income taxes on 20 percent of their profits for one year, with the break capped at 50 percent of payroll. A yes vote opposed the Cantor plan. (S 2237)

Key votes ahead

In the week of July 16, the House will debate the 2013 defense budget and a bill related to mandatory, across-the-board spending cuts set for next year. The Senate will take up the DISCLOSE Act, which requires public disclosure of those now making large campaign contributions in secret.

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