freedom index 110-4

8/14/2019 Freedom Index 110-4

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/freedom-index-110-4 1/10

Our final look at the 110th Congress

shows how every representative and sena-

tor voted on key issues, such as the federal

budget, warrantless searches, mortgage

relief, oil drilling, and the bank bailout.

House Vote Descriptions

31 Budget Resolution. The finalversion of the Fiscal 2009 Budget

Resolution (Senate Concurrent Resolution

70) was adopted 214-210 on June 5, 2008(Roll Call 382). Drafted by the Democrats,this $3.03 trillion budget sets nonbindinglimits for the 12 annual appropriationsbills. Last year’s $2.9 trillion budget al-lowed $145.2 billion for operations in Iraqand Afghanistan. The new budget includedonly $70 billion for the two wars in 2009and nothing thereafter, an unrealistic no-tion that understates true spending intentand necessitates more war funding in asupplemental bill. The budget would besignificantly higher if war funding were

not largely off-budget. The plan predictsa hypothetical budget surplus by 2012,which is meaningless.

All spending bills would be increasedover 2008. The budget assumes that rev-enue will be stable or increase and thatsome tax cuts will expire. An increase wascalled for in the statutory debt ceiling by

$800 billion to $10.6 trillion. That prompt-ly occurred in the Fannie Mae and FreddieMac bailout. We have assigned pluses tothe “nays” because inflation and the na-tional debt are skyrocketing as Congresspersists at disregarding constitutional lim-its on spending.

32 Aid to Mexican Military. H.R. 6028would authorize $1.1 billion in fis-

cal years 2008-10 to train and equip theMexican military and law-enforcementagencies for the stated purpose of combat-ing drug trafficking and organized crime.The Mexican government is rife with

‘‘T he Freedom Index: A Congressional Scorecard Based on theU.S. Constitution” rates congressmen based on their adher-

ence to constitutional principles of limited government, fiscal re-

sponsibility, national sovereignty, and a traditional foreign policy

of avoiding foreign entanglements. To learn how any representative

or senator voted on the key measures described herein, look him or

her up in the vote charts. The scores are derived by dividing a con-

gressman’s constitutional votes (pluses) by the total number he cast

(pluses and minuses) and multiplying by 100.

The average House score for this index (votes 31-40) is 31 percent;

the average Senate score is 25 percent. Ron Paul (R-Texas) was the

only House member to score a perfect 100 percent. Jim DeMint (R-

S.C.) was the top scorer in the Senate with 90 percent. We encouragereaders to examine how their own congressmen voted on each of the

10 key measures as well as overall.

This is our final index for the 110th Congress. Our first index

(votes 1-10) appeared in our July 23, 2007 issue, our second index

(votes 11-20) appeared in our December 10, 2007 issue, and our third

index (votes 21-30) appeared in our July 21, 2008 issue.

We also encourage readers to commend legislators for their

constitutional votes and to urge improvement where needed. For

congressional contact information and a series of pre-written let-

ters to Congress on some key issues, go to www.capwiz.com/jbs/

home. n

A Congressional Scorecard Based on the U.S. Constitution

The Freedom Index

About This Index

Hand out for a handout: The House aims to give $1.1 billion to Mexico’s President FelipeCalderon (center) to combat drug trafficking and organized crime, though Calderon refusesto help control the flow of illegal immigrants to the United States and Mexico’s government isnotoriously corrupt.

A P I m a g e s

22 THE NEW AMERICAN • OCTObER 27, 2008

CONGRESS



33 Watson (D) 10% - - - + - - - - - - 20%34 Roybal-Allard (D) 22 - - - + - - - P - + 24

35 Waters (D) 10 - - - + - - - - - - 2336 Harman (D) 0 - - ? - - - - - - - 1537 Richardson (D) 0 - - - - - - - - - - 538 Napolitano (D) 20 - - - + - - - - - + 2439 Sanchez, Linda (D) 20 - - - + - - - - - + 2040 Royce (R) 80 + + + - + + + - + + 7741 Lewis, Jerry (R) 40 + - + - + - - - + - 5542 Miller, Gary (R) 60 + + + - + - + - + - 6643 Baca (D) 0 - - - - - - - - - - 1544 Calvert (R) 50 + - + - + - + - + - 5945 Bono Mack (R) 20 + - - - - - - - + - 3546 Rohrabacher (R) 80 + + + - + + + - + + 7947 Sanchez, Loretta (D) 20 - - - + - - - - - + 2648 Campbell (R) 56 ? + + - + - + - + - 7349 Issa (R) 60 + - + - + + - - + + 61

50 Bilbray (R) 60 + - + - - + + - + + 6351 Filner (D) 50 - + - + - - - + + + 2852 Hunter (R) 70 + + + - + - + - + + 7353 Davis, S. (D) 10 - - - + - - - - - - 13

Colorado

1 DeGette (D) 10 - - - + - - - - - - 182 Udall, M. (D) 10 - - - - - - - - - + 133 Salazar, J. (D) 11 - - - - - - ? - - + 104 Musgrave (R) 70 + + - - + + + - + + 615 Lamborn (R) 80 + + + - + + + - + + 776 Tancredo (R) 67 + ? + - + + + - + - 737 Perlmutter (D) 0 - - - - - - - - - - 15

ConneCtiCut

1 Larson, J. (D) 10 - - - + - - - - - - 18

2 Courtney (D) 20 - - - + - - - - - + 233 DeLauro (D) 10 - - - + - - - - - - 184 Shays (R) 20 + - + - - - - - - - 235 Murphy, C. (D) 10 - - - + - - - - - - 20

delaware

Castle (R) 20 + - + - - - - - - - 28

Florida

1 Miller, J. (R) 80 + + + - + + + - + + 792 Boyd, A. (D) 0 - - - - - - - - - - 133 Brown, C. (D) 0 - - - - - - - - - - 114 Crenshaw (R) 60 + - + - + + + - + - 645 Brown-Waite, G. (R) 67 + + - ? - ? ? ? + + 536 Stearns (R) 80 + + + - + + + - + + 727 Mica (R) 80 + + + - + + + - + + 718 Keller (R) 50 + - + - - - + - + + 53

9 Bilirakis (R) 50 + + - - - + - - + + 5410 Young, C.W. (R) 50 + - + - - + - - + + 5011 Castor (D) 10 - - - - - - - - - + 1512 Putnam (R) 50 + + - - + - + - + - 6213 Buchanan (R) 20 + - - - - - + - - - 3314 Mack (R) 70 + - + - + + + - + + 6915 Weldon (R) 67 + + + - + + - ? + - 7616 Mahoney (D) 0 - - - - - - - - - - 1317 Meek, K. (D) 11 - ? - + - - - - - - 1518 Ros-Lehtinen (R) 20 + - - - - - - - + - 3119 Wexler (D) 11 - - - + ? - - - - - 21

Votes: 31-40 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 1-40 Votes: 31-40 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 1-40

The scores are derived by dividing the constitutionally correct votes (pluses) by the total number of pluses and minuses and multiplying by 100. (A “?” means a rep. did not vote; a “P” meanshe voted “present.” If a rep. cast fewer than five votes in this index, a score is not assigned.) Match numbers at the top of the chart to House vote descriptions on pages 22, 24, and 26.

alabama

1 Bonner (R) 50% + + - - + + - - + - 54%

2 Everett (R) 50 ? + - - + + ? - + - 593 Rogers, Mike D. (R) 40 + + - - + - - - + - 464 Aderholt (R) 60 + + - - + + - - + + 575 Cramer (D) 0 - - - - - - - - - - 116 Bachus, S. (R) 44 + - - - + + - ? + - 567 Davis, A. (D) 0 - - - - - - - - - - 8

alaska

Young, D. (R) 78 + + - - + + + ? + + 56

arizona

1 Renzi (R) 40 + - - - - + - - + + 472 Franks, T. (R) 80 + + + - + + + - + + 793 Shadegg (R) 60 + - + - + + + - + - 744 Pastor (D) 11 - - - + - - - P - - 215 Mitchell (D) 20 + - + - - - - - - - 216 Flake (R) 80 + + + - + + + - + + 787 Grijalva (D) 22 - - - + - - - P - + 238 Giffords (D) 10 + - - - - - - - - - 15

arkansas

1 Berry (D) 0 - - - - - - - - - - 232 Snyder (D) 0 - - - - ? - - - - - 53 Boozman (R) 40 + - - - + + - - + - 514 Ross (D) 0 - - - - - - - - - - 10

CaliFornia

1 Thompson, M. (D) 20 - - - + - - - - + - 202 Herger (R) 50 + - - - + + + - + - 623 Lungren (R) 40 + - + - + - - - + - 624 Doolittle (R) 60 + - - - + + + - + + 695 Matsui (D) 10 - - - + - - - - - - 186 Woolsey (D) 30 - + - + - - - - + - 30

7 Miller, George (D) 13 - - - + ? - - ? - - 198 Pelosi (D): Speaker 0 - ? - - - - - ? - - 89 Lee (D) 20 - + - + - - - - - - 25

10 Tauscher (D) 0 - - - - - - - - - - 1011 McNerney (D) 0 - - - - - - - - - - 1512 Speier (D) 13 - ? - + ? - - - - - 913 Stark (D) 25 - + ? ? - - - - - + 2914 Eshoo (D) 10 - - - + - - - - - - 1815 Honda (D) 10 - - - + - - - - - - 1616 Lofgren (D) 10 - - - + - - - - - - 1517 Farr (D) 20 - - - + - - - - + - 1818 Cardoza (D) 0 - - - - - - - - - - 819 Radanovich (R) 50 + - - - + + + - + - 5820 Costa (D) 0 - - - - - - - - - - 521 Nunes (R) 60 + - + - + + - - + + 62

22 McCarthy, K. (R) 70 + - + - + + + - + + 6723 Capps (D) 20 - - - + - - - - + - 1824 Gallegly (R) 50 + - - - + - + - + + 6025 McKeon (R) 50 + - + - + - + - + - 6326 Dreier (R) 33 + - + - + - - - ? - 5027 Sherman (D) 10 - - - - - - - - - + 1828 Berman (D) 11 - - + - ? - - - - - 1129 Schiff (D) 0 - - - - - - - - - - 1330 Waxman (D) 20 - - + + - - - - - - 2031 Becerra (D) 20 - - - + - - - - - + 1832 Solis (D) 10 - - - + - - - - - - 21

Scores

Freedom Index

23 www.TheNewAmerican.com

House Vote



corruption, and there is no guarantee theexpenditure would have the intended ef-fect. “It is inexcusable, it is intolerable tosend one dime to the Mexican governmentwhen they can afford to pay for this equip-ment themselves,” Rep. John Culberson

(R-Texas) said. “But more importantly,our southern border is not secure.” H.R.6028 would also authorize $405 millionduring the same period for aid to CentralAmerican countries.

The House passed H.R. 6028 on June10, 2008 by a vote of 311-106 (Roll Call393). We have assigned pluses to the“nays” because foreign aid is not autho-rized by the Constitution.

33

Farm Bill (Veto Override). H.R.6124 would authorize the nation’s

farm programs for the next five years, in-cluding crop subsidies and nutrition pro-grams. The final version of the legislationprovides $289 billion for these programs,including a $10.4 billion boost in spend-ing for nutrition programs such as foodstamps.

After this legislation was vetoed by Pres-ident Bush, the House passed the bill overthe president’s veto on June 18, 2008 bya vote of 317-109 (Roll Call 417). A two-thirds majority vote is required to over-

ride a presidential veto. We have assignedpluses to the “nays” because federal aid tofarmers and federal food aid to individualsare not authorized by the Constitution.

34 Warrantless Searches. H.R.

6304, the bill to revamp the For-eign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA),would allow warrantless electronic sur-veillance, including monitoring telephoneconversations and e-mails, of foreign tar-gets, including those communicating withAmerican citizens in the United States.The final version of the bill would notexplicitly grant immunity to telecommu-nications companies that have assistedPresident Bush’s warrantless surveillanceprogram. But it would require courts todismiss lawsuits against such companies

if there is “substantial evidence” they wereinsured in writing the program was legaland authorized by the president. The pro-vision would almost certainly result in thedismissal of the lawsuits.

The House passed H.R. 6304 on June20, 2008 by a vote of 293-129 (Roll Call437). We have assigned pluses to the“nays” because warrantless searches area violation of the Fourth Amendment,which protects Americans against un-reasonable searches and seizures, and

requires that any searches be conductedonly upon issuance of a warrant underconditions of probable cause. Moreover,Article I, Section 9 of the Constitutionforbids “ex post facto laws” — laws hav-ing a retroactive effect.

35 Energy Price Gouging. A motionto suspend the rules and pass H.R.

6346, the Federal Price Gouging Preven-tion Act, was rejected 276-146 (Roll Call448) on June 24, 2008. Under suspensionof the rules, a two-thirds majority wouldhave been required for passage. The billwould have permitted states to sue retail-ers believed to have been price gouging forfuels sold in areas where there was an en-ergy emergency. The bill also would have

set civil and criminal penalties for pricegouging.We have assigned pluses to the “nays”

because no federal or state governmentinvestigation (and there have been manyover the years) has ever found broad mar-ket manipulation in the oil industry. Fur-thermore, there is no clear definition of “price gouging.” Hence, this bill wouldlikely have been counterproductive, as itwould have created an incentive for retail-ers to close, rather than risk penalties forsimply following the economic laws of

supply and demand. Besides, the federalgovernment has no business trying to dic-tate prices in the private sector, under anycircumstances.

36 Mortgage Relief. This legislation(H.R. 3221) would grant authority

to the Treasury Department to extend newcredit and buy stock in the Federal Nation-al Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) andthe Federal Home Loan Mortgage Cor-poration (Freddie Mac). As described byCongressional Quarterly, “It also would

create an independent regulator for the twomortgage giants and the Federal HomeLoan Bank System. It would overhaul theFederal Housing Administration and allowit to insure up to $300 billion worth of new, refinanced loans for struggling mort-gage borrowers. It also includes a $7,500tax credit to some first-time homebuyers,higher loan limits for FHA-backed loans,a standard tax deduction for property taxesand revenue-raisers to offset part of thecosts. It also would authorize $3.92 bil-

Small salvo against subsidies: Budget Director Jim Nussle briefs reporters about the farm bill.President Bush vetoed the subsidy-filled bill because it would give taxpayer money to farmers ata time of already high food and crop prices. Bush’s veto was overridden.

A P I m a g e s


CONGRESS



20 Wasserman Schultz (D) 10% - - - + - - - - - - 11%21 Diaz-Balart, L. (R) 40 + - - - + - - - + + 3822 Klein, R. (D) 0 - - - - - - - - - - 1323 Hastings, A. (D) 0 - - - - - - - - - - 1524 Feeney (R) 80 + + + - + + + - + + 7825 Diaz-Balart, M. (R) 40 + - - - + - - - + + 38

GeorGia

1 Kingston (R) 70 + + - - + + + - + + 692 Bishop, S. (D) 0 - - - - - ? - - - - 113 Westmoreland (R) 80 + + + - + + + - + + 784 Johnson, H. (D) 20 - - - + - - - - - + 235 Lewis, John (D) 20 - + - + - - - - - - 236 Price, T. (R) 80 + + + - + + + - + + 747 Linder (R) 80 + + + - + + + - + + 778 Marshall (D) 13 ? - - - - - - ? + - 319 Deal (R) 80 + + + - + + + - + + 77

10 Broun (R) 80 + + + - + + + - + + 7911 Gingrey (R) 70 + + - - + + + - + + 7112 Barrow (D) 30 + - - - - - - - + + 2513 Scott, D. (D) 0 - - - - - - - - - - 13

Hawaii

1 Abercrombie (D) 10 - - - + - - - - - - 232 Hirono (D) 10 - - - + - - - - - - 20

idaHo

1 Sali (R) 70 + + - - + + + - + + 722 Simpson (R) 50 + - - - + + + - + - 57

illinois

1 Rush (D) ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? - - 232 Jackson, J. (D) 10 - - - + - - - - - - 203 Lipinski (D) 10 - - - - - - - - - + 184 Gutierrez (D) 0 - - - - - - - - - - 115 Emanuel (D) 0 - - - - - - - - - - 86 Roskam (R) 70 + - + - + + + - + + 697 Davis, Danny (D) 11 - - - + ? - - - - - 228 Bean (D) 11 ? - + - - - - - - - 189 Schakowsky (D) 20 - + - + - - - - - - 23

10 Kirk (R) 30 + - + - - + - - - - 3111 Weller (R) 33 + - - ? + - - - + - 4112 Costello (D) 22 - ? - + - - - - - + 2913 Biggert (R) 30 + - + - - - - - + - 4114 Foster (D) 20 + - - + - - - - - - 2015 Johnson, Timothy (R) 50 + - - + - + - - + + 5016 Manzullo (R) 70 + + - - + + + - + + 6917 Hare (D) 11 - - - + - ? - - - - 2118 LaHood (R) 22 + - - - + - ? - - - 2819 Shimkus (R) 50 + - - - + + - - + + 56

indiana

1 Visclosky (D) 11 - - - ? - - - - - + 212 Donnelly (D) 10 + - - - - - - - - - 253 Souder (R) 50 + - - - + + + - + - 554 Buyer (R) 70 + + - - + + + - + + 695 Burton (R) 80 + + + - + + + - + + 756 Pence (R) 56 + - + - ? + - - + + 667 Carson, A. (D) 20 - + - + - - - - - - 138 Ellsworth (D) 20 + + - - - - - - - - 259 Hill (D) 30 + - - + - - - - - + 23

iowa

1 Braley (D) 10 - - - + - - - - - - 162 Loebsack (D) 10 - - - + - - - - - - 203 Boswell (D) 0 - - - - - ? ? - - - 114 Latham (R) 50 + - - - + + - - + + 515 King, S. (R) 70 + + - - + + + - + + 67

kansas

1 Moran, Jerry (R) 60% + - + - + + - - + + 56%2 Boyda, N. (D) 20 - - - - - + - - - + 183 Moore, D. (D) 0 - - - - ? - - - - - 114 Tiahrt (R) 67 + - + ? + + - - + + 63

kentuCky

1 Whitfield (R) 60 + + - - - + + - + + 59

2 Lewis, R. (R) 50 + - - - + + + - + - 593 Yarmuth (D) 0 - - - - - - - - - - 184 Davis, G. (R) 60 + - - - + + + - + + 555 Rogers, H. (R) 50 + - - - + + + - + - 596 Chandler (D) 10 - - - - - - - - - + 18

louisiana

1 Scalise (R) 70 + - + - + + + - + + 752 Jefferson (D) 20 - - - + - - - - - + 213 Melancon (D) 0 - - - - ? - - - - - 154 McCrery (R) 44 + ? + - + - - - + - 585 Alexander, R. (R) 40 + - - - + + - - + - 566 Cazayoux (D) 30 + - - - - - - - + + 257 Boustany (R) 30 + - - - + - - - + - 54

maine

1 Allen (D) 10 - - - + - - - - - - 212 Michaud (D) 20 - - - + - - - - - + 25

maryland

1 Gilchrest (R) 13 + - ? ? - - - - - - 282 Ruppersberger (D) 0 - - - - - - - - - - 83 Sarbanes (D) 10 - - - + - - - - - - 184 Edwards, D. (D) 14 ? ? ? + - - - - - - 145 Hoyer (D) 0 - - - - - - - - - - 86 Bartlett (R) 60 + - - - + + + - + + 597 Cummings (D) 11 - ? - + - - - - - - 218 Van Hollen (D) 10 - - - + - - - - - - 13

massaCHusetts

1 Olver (D) 10 - - - + - - - - - - 182 Neal (D) 10 - - - + - - - - - - 153 McGovern (D) 20 - + - + - - - - - - 234 Frank, B. (D) 10 - - - + - - - - - - 155 Tsongas (D) 10 - - - + - - - - - - 96 Tierney (D) 10 - - - + - - - - - - 207 Markey (D) 10 - - - + - - - - - - 188 Capuano (D) 20 - - + + - - - - - - 269 Lynch (D) 20 - - - + - - - - - + 21

10 Delahunt (D) 20 - - - + - - - - - + 19

miCHiGan

1 Stupak (D) 10 - - - - - - - - - + 232 Hoekstra (R) 50 + + - - + + - - + - 673 Ehlers (R) 44 + - + - + + - - ? - 474 Camp (R) 50 + - - - + + + - + - 595 Kildee (D) 0 - - - - - - - - - - 186 Upton (R) 40 + - - - + + - - + - 45

7 Walberg (R) 56 + + - - + + - - ? + 668 Rogers, Mike (R) 60 + - - - + + + - + + 569 Knollenberg (R) 30 + - + - + - - - - - 50

10 Miller, C. (R) 50 + - - - - + + - + + 5011 McCotter (R) 50 + + - - - + - - + + 5112 Levin, S. (D) 10 - - - + - - - - - - 1513 Kilpatrick (D) 11 - - - + - - - ? - - 1814 Conyers (D) 30 - + - + - - - - - + 2415 Dingell (D) 11 - ? - + - - - - - - 18

minnesota

1 Walz (D) 20 - - - + - - - - - + 182 Kline, J. (R) 50 + + - - + + - - + - 56

Votes: 31-40 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 1-40 Votes: 31-40 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 1-40


Freedom Index




lion in grants to states and localities topurchase and rehabilitate foreclosed prop-erties, and increase the federal debt limitto $10.6 trillion.”

The House passed H.R. 3221 on July 23,2008 by a vote of 272-152 (Roll Call 519).We have assigned pluses to the “nays” be-cause the federal government acting as aninsurer, a micromanager of markets, and awealth redistributor is unconstitutional andwill undoubtedly affect market behavior,leading to more and worse market strife.

37 Global HIV/AIDS Program. Thisversion of H.R. 5501, as modified

by the Senate, was agreed to 303-115(Roll Call 531) on July 24, 2008. The billwould authorize $48 billion for fiscal 2009

through 2013 to combat AIDS, malaria,and tuberculosis overseas. Currently one-third of the funding for HIV preventionis required to go to abstinence education.The bill would change that allocation tobalance funding between condom, fidel-ity, and abstinence programs. It would alsoauthorize $2 billion to fund programs forAmerican Indian health, clean water, andlaw enforcement.

We have assigned pluses to the “nays”because foreign aid is unconstitutional.

38 Employee Verification Program. H.R. 6633 would reauthorize the E-

Verify (Internet-based) pilot employmenteligibility verification program allowingemployers to verify employment eligibilityof new hires. The program is administeredby the Department of Homeland Security,which would be required to provide fund-ing to the Social Security Administrationfor checking Social Security numbers sub-mitted by employers under the program.

The House passed the bill on July 31,2008 by a vote of 407-2 (Roll Call 557).We have assigned pluses to the “nays”because Social Security numbers werenot intended to be used and should not beused as the basis for a national ID data-base. An alternative measure (H.R. 5515)

would have the screening for employ-ment eligibility verification provided bystate-administered private companies thatalready track employee verification forchild-support enforcement.

39 Bogus Offshore Drilling Compro-mise. The Comprehensive Ameri-

can Energy Security and Consumer Protec-tion Act (H.R. 6899) passed 236-189 (RollCall 599) on September 16, 2008. The planwould allow limited offshore drilling for oil

and gas in some areas previously bannedby Congress since 1981. Public pressurefor action to reduce energy prices motivat-ed the Democrat majority to push throughan energy bill before the election, a planpurported to increase offshore drilling, butwith overwhelming disincentives.

The measure would permit drilling nonearer to the coast than 100 miles, unlessstates choose to reduce that to 50 miles.However, it is the first 50 miles that hasbeen exceedingly productive and whereinfrastructure is ready to expedite drill-ing in some areas. All royalties from newoil and gas leases permitted under the billwould go to the federal government. Statesare thus deprived of a revenue incentive forgranting the 50-mile privilege. A better al-

ternative to this phony compromise is to letthe moratorium on offshore drilling expireand not renew it. That expiration did occuron October 1. We have assigned pluses tothe “nays” because the Constitution doesnot authorize the federal government to as-sume regulation, much less micromanage-ment, of the energy industry.

40 Bailout Bill. The Emergency Eco-nomic Stabilization Act of 2008

(H.R. 1424) passed 263-171 (Roll Call681) on October 3, 2008. This bill au-

thorizes the Treasury Department to use$700 billion of taxpayer money to pur-chase troubled mortgage-related securi-ties from banks and other financial-relatedinstitutions, on terms set by the TreasurySecretary, who now has authority to man-age and sell those assets. The bailoutplan also expands FDIC protection from$100,000 to $250,000 per bank account,extends dozens of expiring tax provisions,expands incentives for renewable energy,provides a one-year adjustment to exemptmillions of Americans from the alternative

minimum tax, and requires health insur-ers who provide mental-health coverageto put mental-health benefits on par withother medical benefits.

We have assigned pluses to the “nays”because the bill establishes an unconstitu-tional merger of government with banksand businesses — in other words, corpo-rate fascism — and greatly increases thenational debt and monetary inflation byforcing taxpayers to pay the price for thefailures of private financial institutions. n

Presidential aspirant John McCain, along with a majority of Republicans, support moreoffshore drilling, but McCain is opposed to drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

A P I m a g e s


CONGRESS



3 Ramstad (R) 30% + - + - - + - - - - 33%4 McCollum (D) 10 - - - + - - - - - - 185 Ellison (D) 20 - + - + - - - - - - 236 Bachmann (R) 80 + + + - + + + - + + 727 Peterson, C. (D) 20 - - - - + - - - - + 288 Oberstar (D) 10 - - - + - - - - - - 22

mississippi

1 Childers (D) 20 + - - - - - - - - + 202 Thompson, B. (D) 10 - - - - - - - - - + 203 Pickering (R) 30 + - - - + - - - + - 504 Taylor (D) 20 - - - - - - - - + + 33

missouri

1 Clay (D) 20 - - - + - - - - - + 182 Akin (R) 70 + + - - + + + - + + 743 Carnahan (D) 10 - - - + - - - - - - 204 Skelton (D) 0 - - - - - - - - - - 105 Cleaver (D) 0 - - - - - - - - - - 156 Graves (R) 67 + + - - - + + ? + + 587 Blunt (R) 50 + - - - + + + - + - 568 Emerson (R) 30 + - - - - + - - + - 389 Hulshof (R) 60 + ? ? - - ? ? ? + + 53

montana Rehberg (R) 50 + - - - + + - - + + 54

nebraska

1 Fortenberry (R) 40 + - - - - + - - + + 462 Terry (R) 60 + - + - + + + - + - 673 Smith, Adrian (R) 60 + - - - + + + - + + 62

nevada

1 Berkley (D) 0 - - - - - - - - - - 102 Heller (R) 60 + + + - - - + - + + 563 Porter (R) 20 + - - - + - - - - - 28

new HampsHire

1 Shea-Porter (D) 20 - - - + - - - - - + 202 Hodes (D) 20 - - - + - - - - - + 23

new Jersey

1 Andrews (D) 10 - - - + - - - - - - 152 LoBiondo (R) 50 + - + - - + + - - + 443 Saxton (R) 56 + - + - + + ? - + - 544 Smith, C. (R) 30 + - + - - - - - - + 415 Garrett (R) 70 + - + - + + + - + + 796 Pallone (D) 20 - - - + - - - - + - 237 Ferguson (R) 44 + ? + - + - - - + - 428 Pascrell (D) 10 - - - + - - - - - - 189 Rothman (D) 30 - - - + - - - - + + 23

10 Payne (D) 40 - + - + - - - - + + 2811 Frelinghuysen (R) 50 + - + - + + - - + - 4612 Holt (D) 22 - ? - + - - - - + - 2313 Sires (D) 0 - - - - - - - - - - 15

new mexiCo

1 Wilson, H. (R) 44 + - + - - + - ? + - 49

2 Pearce (R) 50 + - - - + + - - + + 623 Udall, T. (D) 20 - - - + - - - - - + 20

new york

1 Bishop, T. (D) 0 - - - - - - - - - - 152 Israel (D) 10 - - - + - - - - - - 133 King, P. (R) 40 + - + - + - - - + - 444 McCarthy, C. (D) 0 - - - - - - - - - - 135 Ackerman (D) 0 - - - - - - - - - - 106 Meeks, G. (D) 0 - - ? - - - - - - - 137 Crowley (D) 0 - - - - - - - - - - 108 Nadler (D) 10 - - - + - - - - - - 16

9 Weiner (D) 10% - - - + - - - - - - 15%10 Towns (D) 11 - - - + - - ? - - - 1311 Clarke (D) 20 - + - + - - - - - - 1712 Velazquez (D) 11 - - - + - - - P - - 2113 Fossella (R) 56 + ? + - + + - - + - 4914 Maloney (D) 10 - - - + - - - - - - 1815 Rangel (D) 10 - - - + - - - - - - 16

16 Serrano (D) 30 - + - + - - - - - + 2517 Engel (D) 0 - - - - - - - - - - 618 Lowey (D) 0 - - - - - - - - - - 1319 Hall, J. (D) 10 - - - + - - - - - - 2020 Gillibrand (D) 11 - ? - - - - - - - + 1821 McNulty (D) 10 - - - + - - - - - - 2022 Hinchey (D) 20 - - - + - - - - - + 2323 McHugh (R) 20 + - - - - - - - + - 3624 Arcuri (D) 0 - - - - - - - - - - 1825 Walsh (R) 30 + - - - + - - - + - 3326 Reynolds (R) 33 + - - ? + - - - + - 4927 Higgins (D) 0 - - - - - - - - - - 1328 Slaughter (D) 10 - - - + - - - - - - 2129 Kuhl (R) 30 + - - - - + - - + - 49

nortH Carolina

1 Butterfield (D) 10 - - - - - - - - - + 182 Etheridge (D) 0 - - - - - - - - - - 103 Jones, W. (R) 56 + + - ? - + + - - + 564 Price, D. (D) 10 - - - + - - - - - - 155 Foxx (R) 80 + + + - + + + - + + 776 Coble (R) 60 + + - - + + + - + - 717 McIntyre (D) 30 - + - - - - + - - + 288 Hayes (R) 30 + - - - - - + - - + 499 Myrick (R) 60 + - + - + + + - + - 63

10 McHenry (R) 80 + + + - + + + - + + 7411 Shuler (D) 11 ? - - - - - - - - + 2812 Watt (D) 10 - - - + - - - - - - 1813 Miller, B. (D) 10 - - - + - - - - - - 18

nortH dakota

Pomeroy (D) 0 - - - - - - - - - - 8

oHio

1 Chabot (R) 70 + + + - - + + - + + 632 Schmidt (R) 40 + - + - - + - - + - 533 Turner (R) 33 + - - - - - - ? + + 424 Jordan (R) 80 + + + - + + + - + + 745 Latta (R) 70 + + - - + + + - + + 676 Wilson, Charlie (D) 0 - - - - - - - - - - 187 Hobson (R) 44 + - + - + - ? - + - 538 Boehner (R) 60 + - + - + + + - + - 649 Kaptur (D) 30 - - - + - + - - - + 30

10 Kucinich (D) 40 + + - + - - - - - + 4611 Vacant 12 Tiberi (R) 40 + - + - - - + - + - 5413 Sutton (D) 10 - - - + - - - - - - 20

14 LaTourette (R) 33 + - - - - - - ? + + 4215 Pryce, D. (R) 25 ? - + - ? - - - + - 3516 Regula (R) 40 + - - - + + - - + - 4617 Ryan, T. (D) 10 - - - + - - - - - - 2018 Space (D) 0 - - - - - - - - - - 10

oklaHoma

1 Sullivan (R) 60 + + - - + + + - + - 612 Boren (D) 10 + - - - - - - - - - 283 Lucas (R) 60 + - - - + + + - + + 614 Cole (R) 50 + + - - + + - - + - 545 Fallin (R) 44 + - - - + + ? - + - 58


Votes: 31-40 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 1-40 Votes: 31-40 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 1-40

Freedom Index




14 Paul (R) 100% + + + ? + + + + ? + 100%15 Hinojosa (D) 0 - - - - - - ? - - - 1116 Reyes (D) 0 - - - - - - - - - - 1417 Edwards, C. (D) 0 - - - - - - - - - - 818 Jackson-Lee (D) 11 ? - - + - - - - - - 2119 Neugebauer (R) 67 + + - - + + + - ? + 6820 Gonzalez (D) 10 - - - + - - - - - - 13

21 Smith, L. (R) 70 + + + - + + + - + - 6222 Lampson (D) 22 + - - - - - - - ? + 2323 Rodriguez (D) 10 - - - - - - - - - + 1524 Marchant (R) 80 + + + - + + + - + + 6625 Doggett (D) 20 - - - + - - - - - + 2026 Burgess (R) 80 + + + - + + + - + + 7427 Ortiz (D) 0 - ? - - - ? ? - - - 1528 Cuellar (D) 0 - - - - - - - - - - 329 Green, G. (D) 11 - - - - - ? - - - + 2130 Johnson, E. (D) 10 - - - + - - - - - - 1631 Carter (R) 78 + + - - + + + ? + + 6832 Sessions, P. (R) 67 + - + - + + + ? + - 71

utaH

1 Bishop, R. (R) 71 + + ? - + ? ? - + + 702 Matheson (D) 30 + - + - - - - - - + 28

3 Cannon (R) 67 + - + ? ? + ? ? + - 66

vermont

Welch (D) 20 - + - + - - - - - - 23

virGinia

1 Wittman (R) 60 + + - - - + + - + + 672 Drake (R) 60 + - - - + + + - + + 643 Scott, R. (D) 20 - - - + - - - - - + 234 Forbes (R) 50 + + - - - + - - + + 625 Goode (R) 70 + + + - - + + - + + 726 Goodlatte (R) 60 + + - - - + + - + + 597 Cantor (R) 70 + + + - + + + - + - 718 Moran, James (D) 10 - - - + - - - - - - 189 Boucher (D) 0 ? - - - - - - - - - 15

10 Wolf (R) 40 + - + - - + - - + - 46

11 Davis, T. (R) 50 + - + - + + - - + - 55 wasHinGton

1 Inslee (D) 30 - - + + - - - - - + 232 Larsen, R. (D) 10 - - - + - - - - - - 133 Baird (D) 0 - - - - - - - - - - 134 Hastings, D. (R) 60 + - - - + + + - + + 675 McMorris Rodgers (R) 60 + - - - + + + - + + 706 Dicks (D) 0 - - - - - - - ? - - 107 McDermott (D) 40 - + + + - - - - - + 288 Reichert (R) 40 + - + - - + - - - + 339 Smith, Adam (D) 10 - - + - - - - - - - 18

west virGinia

1 Mollohan (D) 11 - - - + - - - ? - - 232 Capito (R) 30 + - - - - - - - + + 36

3 Rahall (D) 0 - - - - - - - - - - 26 wisConsin

1 Ryan, P. (R) 70 + + + - + + + - + - 672 Baldwin (D) 20 - + - + - - - - - - 233 Kind (D) 10 - - + - - - - - - - 154 Moore, G. (D) 30 - + + + - - - - - - 265 Sensenbrenner (R) 70 + + + - - + + - + + 746 Petri (R) 70 + + + - - + + - + + 607 Obey (D) 10 - - - + - - - - - - 188 Kagen (D) 20 - - - + - - - - - + 23

wyominG

Cubin (R) 67 + ? + - + + ? ? ? - 73

oreGon

1 Wu (D) 10% - - - + - - - - - - 20%2 Walden (R) 40 + - - - - + + - + - 463 Blumenauer (D) 33 - - + + ? - - - - + 234 DeFazio (D) 30 - - - + - + - - - + 235 Hooley (D) 11 - - - + - - ? - - - 16

pennsylvania

1 Brady, R. (D) 10 - - - + - - - - - - 172 Fattah (D) 11 ? - - + - - - - - - 153 English (R) 30 + - - - - - - - + + 334 Altmire (D) 10 - - - - - - - - - + 135 Peterson, J. (R) 67 + - ? ? + ? + ? + - 616 Gerlach (R) 30 + - - - - + - - + - 297 Sestak (D) 0 - - - - - - - - - - 138 Murphy, P. (D) 10 + - - - - - - - - - 259 Shuster (R) 60 + + - - + + + - + - 62

10 Carney (D) 20 - + - - - - - - - + 1811 Kanjorski (D) 0 - - - - - - - - - - 1812 Murtha (D) 0 - - - - - - - - - - 1313 Schwartz (D) 10 - - - + - - - - - - 1514 Doyle (D) 10 - - - + - - - - - - 2115 Dent (R) 40 + - + - - + - - + - 33

16 Pitts (R) 67 + - + - + + + - ? + 6917 Holden (D) 10 - - - - - - - - - + 1818 Murphy, T. (R) 44 + - - - + - - ? + + 4419 Platts (R) 50 + + - - - + - - + + 45

rHode island

1 Kennedy, P. (D) 10 - - - + - - - - - - 182 Langevin (D) 0 - - - - - - - - - - 18

soutH Carolina

1 Brown, H. (R) 40 + - - - + - + - + - 592 Wilson, J. (R) 56 + ? + - + + - - + - 633 Barrett (R) 70 + + + - + + + - + - 764 Inglis (R) 40 + - + - + + - - - - 625 Spratt (D) 0 - - - - - - - - - - 136 Clyburn (D) 0 - - - - - - - - - - 15

soutH dakota

Herseth Sandlin (D) 10 - - - - - - - - - + 10

tennessee

1 Davis, David (R) 70 + + - - + + + - + + 642 Duncan (R) 80 + + + - + + + - + + 853 Wamp (R) 70 + + + - + + + - + - 674 Davis, L. (D) 10 - - - - - - - - - + 205 Cooper (D) 10 - - + - - - - - - - 136 Gordon (D) 0 - - - - - - - - - - 107 Blackburn (R) 70 + + - - + + + - + + 678 Tanner (D) 0 - - - - - - - - - - 89 Cohen (D) 10 - - - + - - - - - - 18

texas

1 Gohmert (R) 75 + + - ? + ? + - + + 67

2 Poe (R) 70 + + - - + + + - + + 713 Johnson, S. (R) 80 + + + - + + + - + + 784 Hall, R. (R) 60 + + - - - + + - + + 595 Hensarling (R) 80 + + + - + + + - + + 776 Barton (R) 70 + - + - + + + - + + 627 Culberson (R) 80 + + + - + + + - + + 768 Brady, K. (R) 56 + + - - + + + - ? - 629 Green, A. (D) 0 - - - - - - - - - - 18

10 McCaul (R) 70 + + - - + + + - + + 6411 Conaway (R) 50 + - - - + + + - + - 6412 Granger (R) 70 + + + - + + + - + - 6613 Thornberry (R) 60 + + - - + + + - + - 59

Votes: 31-40 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 1-40


Votes: 31-40 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 1-40


CONGRESS



31 Budget Resolution. The Fiscal2009 Budget Resolution (Senate

Concurrent Resolution 70), which estab-lishes budget targets increasing federalspending over the previous fiscal year, isidentical to the legislation described underHouse vote #31. The Senate adopted Sen-ate Con. Res. 70 on June 4, 2008 by a voteof 48-45 (Roll Call 142). We have assignedpluses to the “nays” because inflation andthe national debt are skyrocketing as Con-gress persistently disregards constitutionallimits on spending.

32

Energy Prices. A motion to limit

debate and proceed to the Consum-er-First Energy Act of 2008 (S. 3044) wasrejected 51-43 (Roll Call 146) on June 10,2008, in a vote that required three-fifthsof the Senate to succeed. The bill wouldrepeal $17 billion in tax breaks for oilcompanies over 10 years and redirect thatrevenue to the benefit of renewable energy.A windfall profits tax would also be im-posed on the largest oil companies.

We have assigned pluses to the “nays”because increasing taxes on the profits of U.S. oil producers would drive gasoline,

heating oil, and natural gas prices higher ,as the increased tax expense would sim-ply be passed on to consumers. Targetingthe largest U.S. oil companies for makinghigher profits creates a disincentive to in-

creasing exploration and production, andundermines the exceedingly large capitalbase required to rebuild after hurricanesdevastate the oil patch. Moreover, it isunfair because other companies and sec-tors with even higher profit margins areignored. Finally, the government shouldnot be subsidizing energy development.

33 Farm Bill (Veto Override). H.R.6124, the legislation to authorize

farm and nutrition programs for anotherfive years, is the same as that describedunder House vote #33. After this five-year,$289 billion farm bill was vetoed by Presi-

dent Bush, the Senate passed the bill overthe president’s veto on June 18, 2008 bya vote of 80-14 (Roll Call 151). A two-thirds majority vote is required to over-ride a presidential veto. We have assignedpluses to the “nays” because federal aid tofarmers and federal food aid to individualsare not authorized by the Constitution.

34 Funds for War, Welfare, Etc. The Supplemental Appropriations

bill (H.R. 2642) was agreed to 92-2 (RollCall 162) on June 26, 2008. Such bills fund

unforeseen needs after an annual budgethas been approved. However, regular useof emergency supplemental bills to payfor never-ending wars, domestic welfare,and infrastructure programs has made the

annual budget a misleading indicator of spending intentions.

This $186.5 billion measure includes$161.8 billion of additional funding foroperations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Theremaining $24.7 billion is for domesticprograms including tornado, flood, andhurricane relief efforts. It would also ex-pand veterans’ education benefits, expandunemployment benefits, and delay shift-ing some Medicaid costs to the states. Wehave assigned pluses to the “nays” becauseCongress continues to fund a war it neverauthorized under Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution. Also, the federal govern-

ment is unconstitutionally involved as anindividual and corporate insurer at tax-payer expense.

35 Warrantless Searches. This leg-islation is described under House

vote #34. The Senate passed H.R. 6304on July 9, 2008 by a vote of 69-28 (RollCall 168). We have assigned pluses to the“nays” because warrantless searches are aviolation of the Fourth Amendment, whichprotects Americans against unreasonablesearches and seizures, and requires that any

searches be conducted only upon issuanceof a warrant under conditions of probablecause. Moreover, Article I, Section 9 of theConstitution forbids “ex post facto laws”— laws having a retroactive effect.

36 Global HIV/AIDS Program. Thislegislation (H.R. 5501) to authorize

$48 billion to fight AIDS, tuberculosis, andmalaria overseas is described under Housevote #37. The Senate passed H.R. 5501 onJuly 16, 2008 by a vote of 80-16 (Roll Call182). We have assigned pluses to the “nays”

because foreign aid is unconstitutional.

37 Mortgage Relief. This legisla-tion (H.R. 3221) to bail out Fannie

Mae and Freddie Mac and to allow theFHA to insure up to $300 billion worth of new, refinanced loans is described underHouse vote #36. The Senate passed H.R.3221 on July 26, 2008 by a vote of 72-13(Roll Call 186). We have assigned plusesto the “nays” because the federal govern-ment acting as an insurer, a micromanager

Pressure born at the pump: Because gasoline commonly exceeded $4.00 a gallon earlier thisyear, over two-thirds of Americans now support offshore drilling. In response to public pressure,Democrats passed a purportedly pro-drilling bill, but it really maintained the status quo.

A P I m a g e s

Freedom Index

29

Descriptions

www.TheNewAmerican.com

Senate Vote



alabama

Shelby (R) 40% + + - - - - - + - + 52%Sessions, J. (R) 67 + + - - ? + - + + + 66

alaska

Stevens (R) 30 + + - - - - - + - - 26Murkowski (R) 40 + + + - - - - + - - 38

arizona

McCain (R) ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? - 36Kyl (R) 80 + + + + - + + + + - 70

arkansas

Lincoln (D) 0 - - - - - - - - - - 8Pryor (D) 0 - - - - - - - - - - 15

CaliFornia

Feinstein (D) 0 - - - - - - - - - - 5Boxer (D) 10 - - - - + - - - - - 18

Colorado

Allard (R) 63 + + - + - + ? ? - + 63Salazar, K. (D) 0 - - - - - - - - - - 10

ConneCtiCut

Dodd (D) 10 - - - - + - - - - - 17Lieberman (I) 0 - - - - - - - - - - 3

delaware

Biden (D) 11 ? - - - + - - - - - 17Carper (D) 0 - - - - - - ? - - - 3

Florida

Nelson, Bill (D) 10 - - - - - - - - - + 8Martinez (R) 30 + + - - - - - + - - 33

GeorGia

Chambliss (R) 30 + + - - - - - + - - 52Isakson (R) 33 + + - - - - - ? + - 54

Hawaii

Inouye (D) 0 - - - - - - ? ? - - 8Akaka (D) 10 - - - - + - - - - - 15

idaHo

Craig (R) 50 + + - + - + - + - - 50Crapo (R) 50 + + - - - + - + - + 60

illinois

Durbin (D) 10 - - - - + - - - - - 15Obama (D) - ? ? - - ? ? ? ? - 11

indiana

Lugar (R) 40 + + + - - - - + - - 33

Bayh (D) 10 + - - - - - - - - - 18iowa

Grassley (R) 30 + - - - - - + + - - 38Harkin (D) 13 - - - - + - ? ? - - 22

kansas

Brownback (R) 40 + + - - - - - + - + 54Roberts (R) 40 + + - - - - - + - + 43

kentuCky

McConnell (R) 30 + + - - - - - + - - 43Bunning (R) 50 + + - - - + ? ? - + 62

louisiana

Landrieu (D) 20 - + - - - - - - - + 26Vitter (R) 60 + + - - - + + + - + 58

maine

Snowe (R) 0% - - - - - - - - P - 8%Collins (R) 10 - - + - - - - - - - 15

maryland

Mikulski (D) 0 - - - - - - - - - - 8Cardin (D) 10 - - - - + - - - - - 13

massaCHusetts

Kennedy, E. (D) ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 15Kerry (D) 10 - - - - + - - - - - 13

miCHiGan

Levin, C. (D) 10 - - - - + - - - - - 15Stabenow (D) 20 - - - - + - - - - + 23

minnesota

Coleman (R) 11 + - - - - - - - ? - 24Klobuchar (D) 11 - - - - + - - - ? - 15

mississippi

Cochran (R) 40 + + - - - - - + - + 43Wicker (R) 50 + + - - - + - + - + 47

missouri

Bond (R) 25 + + - - - - ? ? - - 41McCaskill (D) 0 - - - - - - - - - - 20

montana

Baucus, M. (D) 0 - - - - - - - - - - 20Tester (D) 20 - - - - + - - - - + 30

nebraska

Hagel (R) 44 + + + - - - - + ? - 44Nelson, Ben (D) 0 - - - - - - - - - - 21

nevada

Reid, H. (D) 30 - + - - + - - + - - 23Ensign (R) 60 + + + - - + + + - - 68

new HampsHire

Gregg (R) 50 + + + - - + - + - - 53Sununu (R) 30 + + + - - - - - - - 40

new Jersey

Lautenberg (D) 10 - - - - + - - - - - 18Menendez (D) 10 - - - - + - - - - - 15

new mexiCo

Domenici (R) 29 P + ? - - - - + ? - 36Bingaman (D) 10 - - - - + - - - - - 18

new york

Schumer (D) 10 - - - - + - - - - - 11

Clinton (D) 17 ? ? ? - + - - - ? - 18nortH Carolina

Dole (R) 38 + + - - - - ? ? - + 49Burr (R) 25 + + - - - - ? ? - - 45

nortH dakota

Conrad (D) 0 - - - - - - - - - - 13Dorgan (D) 20 - - - - + - - - - + 31

oHio

Voinovich (R) 50 + + + + - - - + - - 50Brown, S. (D) 10 - - - - + - - - - - 25

oklaHoma

Inhofe (R) 63 + + - - - + ? ? + + 72Coburn (R) 70 + + + + - - + + + - 80

Votes: 31-40 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 1-40 Votes: 31-40 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 1-40

Scores

THE NEW AMERICAN • OCTObER 27, 2008

Senate Vote

30

CONGRESS



oreGon

Wyden (D) 20% - - - - + - - - - + 16%Smith, G. (R) 10 + - - - - - - - - - 23

pennsylvania

Specter (R) 30 + + - - - - - + - - 28Casey (D) 0 - - - - - - - - - - 13

rHode islandReed, J. (D) 20 - - + - + - - - - - 25Whitehouse (D) 10 - - + - - - - - - - 18

soutH Carolina

Graham (R) 29 + ? - - - + ? ? - - 53DeMint (R) 90 + + + + - + + + + + 79

soutH dakota

Johnson, Tim (D) 10 - - - - - - - - - + 14Thune (R) 40 + + - - - - + + - - 55

tennessee

Alexander, L. (R) 40 + + - - - - - + + - 45Corker (R) 50 + + - - - - + + + - 52

texas

Hutchison (R) 50 + + - - - + + + - - 38Cornyn (R) 50 + + - - - + + + - - 55

utaH

Hatch (R) 40% + + - - - - + + - - 36%Bennett (R) 40 + + + - - - - + - - 40

vermont

Leahy (D) 10 - - - - + - - - - - 20Sanders (I) 20 - - - - + - - - - + 25

virGinia Warner (R) 0 P - - - - ? ? ? - - 29Webb (D) 0 - - - - - - - - - - 15

wasHinGton

Murray (D) 13 - - - - + - ? ? - - 14Cantwell (D) 20 - - - - + - - - - + 15

west virGinia

Byrd (D) 14 ? ? ? - + - - - - - 29Rockefeller (D) 0 - - - - - - - - - - 15

wisConsin

Kohl (D) 0 - - - - - - - - - - 10Feingold (D) 20 - - - - + - - - - + 20

wyominG

Enzi (R) 50 + + - - - - + + - + 65Barrasso (R) 60 + + - - - + + + - + 65

Votes: 31-40 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 1-40 Votes: 31-40 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 1-40

of markets, and a wealth redistributor isunconstitutional and will undoubtedly af-fect market behavior, leading to more andworse market strife.

38 Low-income Energy Assistance. Bill S. 3186 would provide emergen-

cy funds of $2.5 billion, nearly doubling thefunding, for the Low Income Home EnergyAssistance Program. A motion to limit de-bate on the motion to proceed to the bill wasrejected 50-35 (Roll Call 187) onJuly 26, 2008 in a vote that requiredthe approval of three-fifths of theSenate. Proponents of the fundingsaid it was needed to help peoplewith low income pay for rapidly ris-ing heating and cooling costs.

The funding would have anemergency designation, meaning

it is neither paid for from existingfunds nor offset by spending re-ductions in other programs. Thusthe cost would be added to the na-tional debt and passed on to futuregenerations. The program stillhad a $100 million surplus andwas expected to be refunded in acontinuing resolution, thereforethe bill was unnecessary. The billignored demands for increasingdomestic energy production as a

means to restrain rising energy prices. Wehave assigned pluses to the “nays” becausethe federal government should stop over-regulating and interfering with the energyindustry and get out of the unconstitutionalwelfare business.

39 Higher Education Aid. H.R. 4137would reauthorize the Higher Edu-

cation Act through fiscal 2012. It wouldincrease the maximum authorized level of

Pell Grants for low-income students from$5,800 per year to $6,000 for the 2009-10academic year, and to $8,000 for the 2014-15 academic year. It would also create a$10,000 student-aid forgiveness program($2,000 per year for five years) for gradu-ates who work in high-need fields such as

nursing and early childhood education.The Senate passed the final version of

this legislation (known as the conferencereport) on July 31, 2008 by a vote of 83-8

(Roll Call 194). We have assignedpluses to the “nays” because edu-cation aid is not authorized by theConstitution.

40 Bailout Bill. The Emer-gency Economic Stabili-

zation Act of 2008 (H.R. 1424)passed 74-25 (Roll Call 213) on

October 1, 2008. This bailout billis identical to that described underHouse vote #40. We have assignedpluses to the “nays” because thebill establishes an unconstitution-al merger of government with bigbusiness — in other words, fas-cism — and greatly increases thenational debt and monetary infla-tion by forcing taxpayers to paythe price for the failures of privatefinancial institutions. n

The scores are derived by dividing the constitutionally correct votes (pluses) by the total number of pluses and minuses and multiplying by 100. (A “?” means a senator did not vote; a “P”means he voted “present.” If he cast fewer than five votes in this index, a score is not assigned.) Match numbers at the top of the chart to Senate vote descriptions on pages 29 and 31.

Carrot and stick: Though the House initially rejected the WallStreet bailout, doom-and-gloom scenarios painted by WallStreet, and bribes by political bigwigs in the form of pork-barrelearmarks, brought the bailout back to life.

A P I m a g e s

Freedom Index

www.TheNewAmerican.com 31

freedom index 110-4

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