The United States of America was founded as a representative Republic not as a democracy. A true Democracy can be defined as two lions and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch.
July 16, 2010
Several votes were held in the US Senate on July 15th re HR 4173, Restoring American Financial Stability. Thousands of pages, new regulatins to be decided later and taxes. Three votes were:
Vote 00206, on cloture passed Yea 60; Nay 38; Not Voting 1.
Bayh - Yea
Lugar - Nay
Vote 00207 to waive all applicable budgetary discipline passes Yea 60; Nay 39.
Bayh - Yea
Lugar - Nay
Vote 00208 to accept the conference report and pass, Yea 60; Nay 39.
Bayh - Yea
Lugar - Nay
June 14, 2010
Something that may bear close watching "Creat Jobs and Save Benefits", S3157. Looks like taxpayers bailing out Union retirement obligations. You check and decide.
On February 9, 2010, Vote 00022 was held in the US Senate. The vote was on a cloture motion relative to the appointment of Craig Becker, former union official, to the National Labor Relations Board. Cloture failed Yea - 52; Nay 33; Not Voting - 15. Senator Bayh voted for cloture; Senator Lugar voted against.
On March 26, 2009, a vote 00114 was held in the US Senate on Amendment 705 to HR 1388. Senator Vitters' amendment would have prohibited taxpayer money from being given to ACORN. On the motion to table [kill] the amendment, Indiana senators voted: [Some interesting information can be found at The Fly
Senator Bayh - Yea
Senator Lugar - Nay
Punch a Hole
On June 6, 2008, after some debate, Vote 00145, was held in the Senate to again invoke cloture relative to the Climate Security Act [see below]. Cloture failed: Yea - 48; Nay - 36; Not Voting - 16. Some votes were:
Lugar - Nay
Bayh - Yea
Clinton - Not Voting
Obama - Not Voting
On June 2, 2008, Vote 00141 was held in the US Senate to invoke cloture relative to SB 3036, the so called Climate Security Act of 2008. Cloture was invoked Yea - 74; Nay - 14; Not voting - 12. The bill will be debated. If passed, it will entail tax increases without any provisions to take advantage of oil and natural gas reserves in our country and off-shore. Some votes were:
Lugar - Yea
Bayh - Yea
Kerry - Yea
Clinton - NV
Obama - NV
There have been a couple recent votes that should be of interest. The Foreign Intelligence Act in the Senate, SB 2248, and the Protect America Act, HR 5349, in the House were addressed. The loggerhead seemed to be a provision to protect communication companies who, following the killing of our citizens and others coorperated with our intelligence services. The provision would protect those companies from lawsuits. If one were cynical and thought that our representatives could be swayed by from whom they obtained contributions, one might seek out information as to gets more bucks from trial lawyers. At any rate, vote information follows:
On February 12, 2008, Vote 00020, S 2248, passed as amended; Yea - 68, Nay - 29, Not Voting - 3. Votes:
Lugar - Yea
Bayh - Yea
Kennedy - Nay
Kerry - Nay
Clinton - Not Voting
Obama - Not Voting
On February 13, 2008, Vote 54, HR 5349, failed to pass; Yea - 191, Nay - 229, Not voting - 9. [This bill would have extended the current law by 21 days without bringing the new law to the floor for a vote. It is interesting to note that 34 Democrats joined Republicans in voting against the stall. Unfortunately, none were members of the Indiana delegation.] Votes:
Indiana District 01, Visclosky (D) - Yea
Indiana District 02, Donnelly (D) - Yea
Indiana District 03, Souder (R) - Nay
Indiana District 04, Buyer (R) - Nay
Indiana District 05, Burton (R) - Nay
Indiana District 06, Pence (R) - Nay
Indiana District 07 (not represented)
Indiana District 08, Ellsworth (D) - Yea
Indiana District 09, Hill (D) - Yea
On November 16, 2007, Vote No 00411 was held in the Senate. The vote was to invoke cloture on HR 4156 to provide funding for the troops in Iraq and Afganistan and link the funding to redeployment [cut and run]. Cloture failed, Yea - 53; Nay - 45; Not Voting - 2. Votes were:
Lugar - Nay
Bayh - Yea
Clinton - Yea
Kennedy - Yea
Kerry - Yea
Obama - Yea
[The bottom line is that there will be no funding]
On November 16, 2007, Vote No 00410 was held in the Senate. The vote was to invoke cloture on
S 2340 to provide funding for the troops in Iraq and Afganistan without provisions for redeployment [cut and run]. Cloture failed, Yea - 45; Nay - 53; Not Voting - 2. Votes were:
Lugar - Yea
Bayh - Nay
Clinton - Nay
Kennedy - Nay
Kerry - Nay
Obama - Nay
On November 1, 2007, Vote No 00403, HR 3963, Support for Injured Service Members Act, was held in the Senate. The legislation passed, Yea - 64; Nay - 30; Not Voting - 6. [One would expect such support for our wounded military personel. However, in the bill was a provision "To amend Title XXI, Social Security Act, "to improve childrens' health insurance program". One wonders if the thirty Nay voters were concerned that a measure to support our military was being used to slip in one more baby step (pun intended) toward socialized health care. See Tocqueville, above.] Votes were:
Bayh - Yea
Lugar - Yea
Kennedy - Yea
Kerry - Yea
Clinton - NV
Obama - NV
On October 3, 2007, Vote No. 00362, S Amdt 3164, HR 3222, DoD Appropriations Act, 2008, was held in the Senate. The amendment to Safely redeploy military from Iraq, failed, Yea - 28; Nay - 68; Not Voting - 4. Votes were:
Bayh - Nay
Lugar - Nay
Clinton - Yea
Kennedy - Yea
Kerry - Yea
Obama - Not Voting
On September 21, 2007, Vote No. 00346, S Amdt 2898, to provide for reduction and transition of US forces in Iraq in 90 days from pasage failed in the Senate, Yea - 47; Nay - 47; Not Voting - 6. Votes:
Lugar - Nay
Bayh - Yea [I guess he voted for it after he voted against it.]
Clinton - Yea
Kerry - Yea
Kennedy - Yea
Obama - Yea
On September 20, 2007, Vote No. 00345, S Amdt 2924, to redeploy troops from Iraq failed to pass in the Senate, Nay - 70; Yea - 28; Not Voting - 2. Votes:
Lugar - Nay
Bayh - Nay
Clinton - Yea
Kerry - Yea
Kennedy - Yea
Obama - Yea
On September 20, 2007, Vote No. 00344, S Amdt 2934, to express full support for General Pertraeus and to condem personal attacks against him [Moveon.org] was passed in the Senate, Yea - 72; Nay - 25, Not Voting - 3. Votes:
Lugar - Yea
Bayh - Yea
Clinton - Nay
Kerry - Nay
Kerry - Nay
Kennedy - Nay
Obama - Not Voting
On July 19, 2007, S Amdt 2334 to HR 2669, College Cost Reduction Act, was considered by the Senate. The amendment would have disallowed money being spent by the Federal Communications Commission to repromulgate the so called Fairness Doctrine. The amendment required 60 votes to pass. Votes were: Yea - 49; Nay - 48; Not Voting - 3. All Republican Senators voted for the amendment. All Democrat Senators voted against, except Senator Evan Bayh (IN) who voted Yea.
On July 18, 2007, Vote No 00252 to invoke cloture and vote on Levin Admnt 2087 to reduce troop levels in Iraq was held. Cloture failed Nay - 52; Yea - 47; Not Voting - 1. Some votes follow:
Lugar - Nay
Bayh - Yea
Clinton - Yea
Kennedy - Yea
Kerry - Yea
Obama - Yea
On July 12, 2007, the US House of Representatives held Vote No. 621, H Res 533. The vote was portrayed as a huge sucess for the anti-war bunch. The resolution was to allow consideration of HR 2956. HR 2956 dictates that we commence the reduction of military personnel in Iraq to "limited personnel" by April 1, 2008. The resolution passed, Yea - 221; Nay - 196; Not Voting - 14. Indiana Representatives voted along Party lines except for Representative Ellsworth (D) who voted against the resolution.
On June 28, 2007, Representative Pence proposed an amendment to HR 2289, to restrict the spending of federal funds by the Federal Communications Commission to inforce any efforts to re-institute the so called Fairness Doctrine. The Democrat leadership in both houses had expressed an intent to do so to limit talk radio. Some Republican representatives had expressed displeasure with talk radio after the failure of the Immigration Bill. The amendment passed, Yea - 309; Nay - 115; Not voting - 12; Present - 1. All Indiana representatves voted for the amendment.
June 18, 2007, The immigration bill seems to have failed VOTES
On May 16, 2007, the Senate worked on HR 1495, Water Resources Developement Bill. Senator Feingold attempted to add language to limit military activities in Iraq and micro-manage the efforts. Vote No. 0067 was held to invoke cloture re Amdt 1098 . Cloture and therefore the amendment failed Yea - 29; Naay - 67; Not Voting - 4. Both Indiana Senators voted Nay.
Lugar - Nay
Bayh - Nay
Clinton - Yea
Kennedy - Yea
Kerry - Yea
On May 10, 2007, a vote on HR 2206, to provide additional funds was held in the US House to again tie funding for the troops to micro-management of efforts in Iraq. Pork still included. Indiana representatives voted along pary lines. Votes were Yea - 221; Nay - 205.
On May 2, 2007, Role Call vote No. 276 was held in the US House to over-ride the President's veto of Enrolled HR 1591. [Cut and Run] The over-ride failed. Indiana representatives voted along Party lines - Republicans voted against and Democrats voted for. Votes: Yea - 222; Nay - 203. A 2/3 Yea vote was required for over-ride. Votes:
Republicans: Nay - 196; Yea - 2; Not Voting; 3
Democrats: Yea - 220; Nay - 7; Not Voting - 4; Present - 1
On May 1, 2007, President Bush did veto the cut and run and pork bill. Hopefully, the well being of our troops and victory will overcome political considerations in the following days.
On April 26, 2007, Vote No 00147 on the Conference Report, HR 1591, was held in the Senate. The bill still contains the pork and the timetable for withdrawal from Iraq. The bill passed Yea - 51; Nay - 46; Not Voting - 3. Votes:
Lugar - Nay
Bayh - Yea
Clinton - Yea
Kennedy - Yea
Kerry - Yea
On March 29, 2007, Vote No 00126 on final passage of HR 1591, as amended, was held in the US Senate. The bill is called "US Troop Readiness, Veterans' Health, and Iraq Accountability Act 2007." The bill passed, Yea - 51; Nay - 47; Not Voting - 2. The bill , among other things, requires withdrawal from Iraq by March 31, 2008. Votes:
Lugar - Nay
Bayh - Yea
Clinton - Yea
Kerry - Yea
Kennedy - Yea
Republicans Voting Yea: Hagel - NE and Smith - OR
Democrats voting Nay - 0
Not Voting - Enzi-R-WY; Johnson-D-SD
On March 27, 2007, a vote on a Senate Amendment to HR 1591 was done. The Amendment would have removed language that linked money to support the troops from a timetable to withdraw troops. [Old Sarge thinks a Nay vote sucks] VOTES:
Lugar - Yea
Bayh - Nay
Clinton - Nay
Kerry - Nay
Kennedy - Nay
On March 15, 2007, Vote No 00075, SJ Res 9, was held in the US Senate to revise policy in Iraq [redeployment, retreat, cut-and-run] The resolution failed Nay - 50; Yea - 48; Not voting - 2:
Lugar - Nay
Bayh - Yea
Kennedy - Yea
Kerry - Yea
Clinton - Yea
On February 5, 2007, Vote No 0044, was held in the US Senate to invoke cloture to allow a vote on S 470 which would have agreed with the House non-binding resolution against the troop increase in Iraq. [Neither the House nor Senate efforts would have any effect on reality. A nay vote seems more responsible.] Votes were:
Lugar - Nay
Bayh - Yea
Clinton - Yea
Kennedy - Yea
Kerry - Yea
On September 29, 2006, Vote No. 00263 was held in the US Senate to invoke cloture to allow a vote on S 403, The Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act, which would prohibit transporting a child across state lines to circumvent notification to parents of that child obtaining an aboration. Cloture failed Yeas - 57; Nays - 42; Not Voting - 1.
Lugar - Yea
Bayh - Nay
Clinton - Nay
Kerry - Nay
Kennedy - AWOL
On September 28, 2006, Vote No. 00259, was held in the US Senate. The Military Commissions Act of 2006 authorizes a military commission to try foreign terrorists in the custody of the US Military. Votes were Yea - 65; Nay - 34; Not Voting - 1.
Lugar - Yea
Bayh - Nay
Clinton - Nay
Kennedy - Nay
Kerry - Nay
Vote No 00229, HR 5970, to make permanent some tax reductions and to increase the death tax exemptions was held in the Senate. An increase in the minimum wage was also included. The vote was to envoke cloture so representatives could vote on the bill. The cloture vote failed Yea - 56; Nay - 42; Not Voting - 2:
Lugar - Yea
Bayh - Nay
Clinton - Nay
Kennedy - Nay
Kerry - Nay
Vote N0. 00219, Aug 1, 2006, S 3711, to allow oil exploration and drilling in the Gulf of Mexico came to a final vote in the Senate. Below (Votes 00217 and 00218) we see that some voted to proceed to consideration and then voted against cloture to actuall allow the bill to come to a vote. Cloture was sucessful on July 29, 2006, and the bill passed Yea - 71; Nay - 25; Not Voting - 4. Think of presidential elections while evaluating the following votes:
Lugar - Yea
Bayh - Nay
Clinton - Yea
Kennedy - Nay
Kerry - AWOL
On July 29, 2006, two votes were held in the Senate on S 3711, Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act, to allow drilling in the gulf. The first vote was to proceed to consideration of the bill and the second was to invoke cloture to actually get to a vote on the bill sometime. It appears some voted for it before they voted against it - sound familiar?
Vote No. 00217 to proceed to consideration:
Lugar - Yea
Bayh - Yea
Clinton - Yea
Kennedy - Yea
Kerry - AWOL
Vote No. 00218 to invoke cloture to actually consider the bill.
Lugar - Yea
Bayh - Nay
Clinton - Yea
Kennedy - Nay
Kerry - AWOL
On June 22, 2006, Vote No. 00181, requiring redeployment of US Armed Forces from Iraq was held in the Senate. The Amdt No. 4442 was rejected Nay - 86; Yea - 13; Not Voting - 1.
Lugar - Nay
Bayh - Nay
Clinton - Nay
Kerry - Yea
Kennedy - Yea
On June 22, 2006, Vote No. 00182, expressing the sence of the Congreee on US Policy [negative evaluation] was held in the Senate. The Amdt No. 4320 was rejected Nay - 60; Yea - 39; Not Voting - 1.
Lugar - Nay
Bayh - Yea
Clinton - Yea
Kerry - Yea
Kennedy - Yea
On June 22, 2006, Vote No. 00184, to fund acquisition of the F-22A Fighter Aircraft was held in the Senate. Amdt No. 4261 passed Yea - 70; Nay - 28; Not Voting 2
Lugar - Nay
Bayh - Nay
Clinton - Nay
Kerry - Nay
Kennedy - Nay
On June 20, 2006, Vote No. 00177, to affirm the Iraqi Government position of no amensty for terrorists who have attacked or killed US Armed Forces was held in the Senate. Amdt No. 4272 passed Yea - 64; Nay - 34; Not Voting - 2.
Lugar - Yea
Bayh - Nay
Clinton - Nay
Kerry - Yea [?]
Kennedy - Nay
On June 8, 2006, Vote No. 00164, to invoke cloture re debate on HR 8, Death Tax Repeal Permancy, was held in the Senate. The motion was rejected: Yea - 57; Nay - 41; Not Voting - 2. Cloture required 60 votes to close debate so the Bill could be voted on and passage would require only a majority.
Lugar - Yea
Bayh - Nay
Clinton - Nay
Kerry - Nay
Kennedy - Nay
[Two Republicans - Chafee (RI) and Voinovich (OH) - voted Nay and two Democrats - Nelson (FL) and Nelson (NE) voted Yea.]
On Jun 7, 2006, Vote No. 0163, to invoke cloture on the debate on SJ Res 1, the Protection of Marriage Amendment. the motion was rejected: 49 - Yea; 48 - Nay; Not Voting - 3.
Lugar - Yea
Bayh - Nay
Clinton - Nay
Kennedy Nay
Kerry - Nay
[ Seven Republicans voted Nay and two Democrats voted Yea.]
March 17, 2005, a vote was held in the US Senate on S. Amdt 241 to S. Con Res 18, the appropriations bill for FY 2006. The Amendment was to repeal the 1993 tax increase on social security benefits. The amendment passes 55 yea - 45 Nay. Indiana Senators voted as follows:
Lugar - Yea
Bayh - Nay
Kerry - Nay
Kennedy - Nay
September 30, 2004, A vote was held in the House of Representatives on a proposed Constitutional Amendment to define marriage as a union between one man and one woman. Roll Call vote 484 failed. Rep Yea=191, Rep Nay=27, Dem Yea=36, Dem Nay=158, Rep NV=9, Dem NV=11. Indiana Representatives voted:
Carson - Nay
Hill - Nay
Visclosky - Nay
Burton - Yea
Buyer - Yea
Chocola - Yea
Hostettler - Nay
Pence - Yea
Souder - Yea
July 14, 2004, There came a vote in the Senate to envoke Cloture so that a proposed amendment to our Constitution might be considered by the States. The amendment would define marriage as a union between a man and a women. Had cloture succeded, a vote by the full Senate would have occured. As we have seen on many other questions, there is a difference between many of our law makers when or when not States Rights are important. To invoke cloture, 60 votes were required. Then, the Senators would have had to vote on the amendment. A yea vote would call a vote; a nay would end the question. Cloture failed Yea 48; Nay 50. Our folks voted as follows:
Lugar - Yea
Bayh - Nay
Kennedy - Nay
Kerry - not voting
June 29, 2004
S2062, Class Action Fairness Act of 2004 is pending in the Senate. The act would require class action lawsuits involving interstate commerce to be brought in federal courts. Its purpose seems to be to stop the lawyers from flocking to the state courts that have a reputation for big awards based on little evidence. Senator Lugar is a cosponsor.
June 29, 2004
SJRes30IS to amend the Constitution defining marriage as only between a man and a woman is pending in the Senate. Neither Indiana Senator is a cosponsor.
May 13, 2004
HR 4275, To Ammend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to permanently Extend the 10-Percent Individual Income Tax Rate Bracket, Passed. Ayes - 344, Noes - 76, Not Voting - 13. Indiana Representatives voted as follows:
Visclosky - District 1 - No (D)
Chocola - District 2 - Aye (R)
Souder - District 3 - Aye (R)
Buyer - District 4 - Aye (R)
Burton - District 5 - Aye (R)
Pence - District 6 - Aye (R)
Carson - District 7 - No (D)
Hostettler - District 8 - Aye (R)
Hill - District 9 - No (D)
May 10, 2004
S1637, S Amndt 3114, to Extend Temporary Extension of Un-employment Compensation. 60 Yea votes were required to extend. Amndt was rejected 59 - Yea, 40 - Nay. Votes Shown below:
Bayh - Yea
Lugar - Nay
Kennedy - Yea
Kerry - Not Voting
April 1, 2004
HR 4, The Pride Act, a bill to extend the Wellfare Reforms which included requirements for some wellfare recepients to work was debated in the Senate. Votes shown below.
AM 2937, Mar 30, 2004, Snowe, to add additional funding for child care - Passed, 78 Yea-20 Nay
Bayh - Yea
Lugar - Yea
Kennedy - Yea
Kerry - Not Voting
Motion to Invoke Cloture, Apr 1, 2004, Rejected, 51 Yea - 47 Nay [60 yea required]
Bayh - Nay
Lugar - Yea
Kennedy - Nay
Kerry - Not Voting
March 25, 2004
HR 1997, Laci and Conner's Law, was debated in the Senate today. The bill was sent from the House of Representatives. Essentially, the law would make the killing or assualt of a pregnant woman and her child punishable under federal law as two offenses. Twenty-nine States have similiar laws. Two amendments which, if accepted, would have required the bill to go to conference so differences could be reconciled were offered. The bill recognizes an unborn child as a person protected under the law. Full text of the bill and the amendments can be found at www.senate.com. Our Indiana Senators' votes and some comparison with other Senators follow:
AM 2858, 25 Mar 04, Feinstein, add many workplace and employer responsibilities and expenses - Rejected, 49-50
Bayh - Yea
Lugar - Nay
Kennedy - Yea
Kerry - -Yea
AM 2859, 25 Mar 04, Murray, add many workplace and employer responsibilities and expenses - Rejected, 46-53
Bayh - Yea
Lugar - Nay
Kennedy - Yea
Kerry - Not Voting
On Passage of The Bill, Passed - 38-61
Bayh - Nay
Lugar - Yea
Kennedy - Nay
Kerry - Nay
March 20, 2004
House Resolution 557 was recently considered. This resolution, Relating to the liberation of the Iraqi people and the valiant service of the United States Armed Forces and coalition forces." Full text may be found at www.house.gov.
The resolution listed several whereas that were basically provable statements. Ammendments to criticize the intelligence community and others were offered and rejected. The final read in part:
Resolved, that in the House of Representatives--
(1) affirms that the United States and the world have been made safer with the removal of Saddam Hussein and his regime from power in Iraq;
(2) commends the Iraqi people for their courage in the face of unspeakable oppression and brutality inflicted on them by Saddam Hussein's regime;
(3) commends the Iraqi people on the adoption of Iraq's interim constitution; and
(4) commends the members of the United States Armed Forces and Coalition forces for liberating Iraq and expresses its gratitude for their valiant service.
Those who voted against the resolution were reportedly put off by item (1). Indiana representatives voted as follows:
District 1 Visclosky(D) - No
District 2 Chocola(R) - Aye
District 3 Souder(R) - Aye
District 4 Buyer(R) - Aye
District 5 Burton(R) - Aye
District 6 Pence(R) - Aye
District 7 Carson(D) - Present
District 8 Hostettler(R) - Aye
District 9 Hill(D) - Aye
The resolution passed 327 to 93 with 7 voting present and 7 not voting.
February 25, 2004
Senate Bill 1805 is intended to stop baseless lawsuits against gun manafacturers and licensed firearm dealers when firearms legally produced and sold are used to intentionally or unintentionally injure someone. The bill is being debated in the senate after a successfull cloture vote to stop the anti-gunners from blocking a vote. Scroll down to see how Senators Bayh and Lugar vote as this important legislation proceeds. The intention of the anti-gunners is to get a "poison pill" amendment so the bill will fail even though they lost the cloture vote. Watch to see if either of our senators are trying to have it both ways. Maybe it is just my imagination, but it sure appears thus far that Senator bayh votes with Old Ted and the "poison pill" first and then votes with Senator Lugar when the pill fails. He can tell Indiana liberals that he opposed the bill and tell the conservatives that he supported it. Let us not, however, just pick on Senator Bayh. Watch all the votes.
Feb 25 2004 ON CLOTURE-PASSED
Bayh-Yea
Lugar-Yea
Ted Kennedy-Nay
Feb 26 2004, S. Amdt 2617 AMENDMENT TO EXTEND UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION-REJECTED
Bayh-Yea
Lugar-Nay
Ted Kennedy-Yea
Feb 26 2004, Boxer, S. Amdt 2620 AMENDMENT TO REQUIRE THAT A CHILD SAFETY DEVICE MUST ACCOMPANY EVERY TRANSFER OF A HANDGUN-PASSED
Bayh-Yea
Lugar-Yea
Ted Kennedy-Yea
Feb 26 2004, Mikulski, S. Amdt 2627 AMENDMENT TO ALLOW A SHOOTING VICTIM OF JOHN MUHAMMAD OR LEE MALVO EXEMPTION FROM BILL [could sue manafacturer]-REJECTED
Bayh-Yea
Lugar-Nay
Ted Kennedy-Yea
Feb 26 2004, Frist, S. Amndt 2628 AN AMENDMENT TO ALLOW A SHOOTING VISTIM OF JOHN MUHAMMAD OR LEE MALVO EXEMPTION FROM BILL IF CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS ARE MET [seems to require that manafacturer or seller acted unlawfully]-PASSED
Bayh-Yea
Lugar-Yea
Ted Kennedy-Nay
Feb 26 2004, Corzine, S. Amdt 2629 AN AMENDMENT TO ALLOW LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS WHO ARE VICTIMIZED TO SECURE COMPENSATION FROM THOSE WHO PARTICIPATE IN ARMING OF CRIMINALS [would allow LE officers to sue manafacturer]-REJECTED
Bayh-Yea
Lugar-Nay
Ted Kennedy-Not Voting
26 Feb 2004, Frist, S. Amdt 2630 AN AMENDMENT ALL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS WHO ARE VICTIMIZED TO SECURE COMPENSATION FROM THOSE WHO PARTICIPATE IN ARMING CRIMINALS [seems to require that those participating must have acted unlawfully]-PASSED
Bayh-Yea
Lugar-Yea
Ted Kennedy-Not Voting
01 Mar 2004, Bingaman, S. Amdt 2635 AN AMENDMENT TO MODIFY THE DEFINITION OF REASONABLE FOREESEEABLE [opens the door for continued litigation even if the bill were to pass]-REJECTED
Bayh-Nay
Lugar-Nay
Kennedy-Not Voting
02 Mar 2004, Feitstein, S. Amdt 2637 AN AMEMDMENT TO PROVIDE FOR A 10 YEAR EXTENSION OF THE ASSUALT WEAPONS BAN-PASSED ["Poison Pill"]
Bayh-Yea
Lugar-Yea
Kennedy-Yea
02 Mar 2004, McCain, S. Amdt 2636 AN AMEMDMENT TO REQUIRE BACKGROUND CHECKS ON ANY FIREARM TRANSFERS OCCURRING AT ANY VENUE WHERE WHERE SALE, EXCHANGE OR TRANSFER TAKES PLACE [so called "gun show loophole.." "Poison Pill"]-PASSED
Bayh-Yea
Lugar-Yea
Kennedy-Yea
02 Mar 2004, Campbell, S. Amdt 2623 AN AMENDMENT TO AMEND US CODE TO ALLOW ACTIVE AND RETIRED LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS TO CARRY A CONCEALED FIREARM IN ANY STATE-PASSED
Bayh-Yea
Lugar-Yea
Kennedy-Nay
02 Mar 2004, Kennedy, S. Amdt 2619 AN AMENDMENT TO EXPAND THE DEFINITION AF ARMOR PIERCING AMMUNITION [30.30 ammo for the old deer rifle would qualify]-REJECTED
Bayh-Yea
Lugar-Nay
Kennedy-Yea
02 Mar 2004, Frist, S. Amdt 2625 AN AMENDMENT TO REGULATE THE SALE AND POSSESSION OF ARMOR PIERCING AMMUNITION [seems to keep current definition of armor piercing ammo]-PASSED
Bayh-Yea
Lugar-Yea
Kennedy-nay
02 Mar 2004, Levin, AN AMENDMENT TO EXEMPT FROM THE BILL ANY CIVIL ACTION AGAINST A PERSON IF GROSS NEGLIGENCE OR RECKLESS CONDUCT OF THE PERSON PROXIMATELY CAUSED DEATH OR INJURY A VOTE ON A MOTION TO TABLE THE AMENDMENT [READ THIS CAREFULLY."proximate cause" is a question of fact for a jury. The purpose of the underlying bill is to stop baseless lawsuits not to provided new targets and another area of litigation. The vote is on a motion to table - discard - the amendment. A nay vote supports the amendment, a yea vote rejects it]-PASSED
Bayh-Nay
Lugar-Nay
Kennedy-Nay
02 Mar 2004, ON PASSAGE OF S. 1805, PROTECTION OF LAWFUL COMMERCE IN ARMS ACT-REJECTED
Bay-nay
Lugar-Yea
Kennedy-Nay
S 969 was introduced in the Senate and like all of its ilk the title is intentionally misleading. Called the Firearms Safety Act, the bill seeks to tie Homeland Security threat levels to the ability of law abiding gun owners to purchase firearms. So far it only has three co-sponsosrs and is in the Judiciary Committee. The co-sponsors are from New Jersey, Massachusetts and Rhode Island, how unexpected.
This one will, hopefully, die in committee. However, a short letter, not e-mail, to our Senators is like chicken soup - it can't hurt.
Today, November 25, 2003, the Senate approved the conference version of HR 1 which will add a prescription entitlement to medicare, the largest new entitlement in decades. The President wanted the bill and so it was done. Little of it becomes effective before 2006 so I think there will be some changes. What I found interesting was that there were both Republicans and Democrats for and against. The Republicans who were against were so because it was too big; the Democrats because it was too little. Senator Lugar voted to give the old folks (I get to say that if I wish) a break. Senator Bayh voted with Old Ted and the left.
Near the beginning of the of the 108the Congress a bill, H.R. 1036, to stop nuisance lawsuits against gun makers when a non-defective weapon is used in a crime or discharged accidentally causing injury. Supposedly the usual suspects opposed the Bill because it did not require proper storage (how the gun maker was to insure that is unclear) and did not require so called smart safety devices. H. R. 1036 passed the House on April 9, 2003, at 5:48 PM, by a roll call vote of 285 to 140. Representative Julie Carson, Indiana Congressional District 7, provided the following response to one of her constituents several months after his inquiry. She voted Nay. The companion legislation, S. 659 is now pending in the Senate. There are 54 cosponsors. Neither Senator Bayh nor Senator Lugar are counted among them.
Dear:
Thank you for contacting me about guns in America.
H.R. 1036, the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act passed the House on April 9the, by a recorded vote of 285-140. This legislation has been sent to the Senate where further action is pending.
I believe in the Second Amendment and feel that the right to responsibly bear arms is a fundamental part of American heritage and culture. I also support reasonable safety measures which would help to eliminate gun related violence. This bill, however, contains no provisions to encourage safe storage of weapons, or utilization of additional safety measures.
We must take prudent steps to protect our children from the criminal or reckless proliferation of dangerous weapons and to make sure that firearms do not fall into their hands.
Your interest in this matter is deeply appreciated. Please do not hesitate to contact me if I can be of any further assistance.
Sincerely,
Julia Carson
Member of Congress
JC:kh
Confirmation # 1049344
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Be wary of any legislation that seeks to disarm the citizens of America. The following is quoted from Military Magazine, Vol. XX, No.7, December 2003 (See Links Page)
Fifteen years after V-J day, Robert Menard, Commander of the carrier USS Constellation (CVA 64), and other U.S. Navy personnel took part in a meeting with their Japanese Defense Force counterparts. Most of the men were World War II veterans who had fought against each other at sea and were now comrades. One U.S. Navy veteran asked a Japanese Admiral, "with the U.S. Pacific Fleet devastated at Pearl Harbor, and the U.S. mainland military forces in what the Japanese had to know was a pathetic state of readiness, why didn't the Japanese Imperial Force invade the West Coast of the U.S.?" With a crafty look, the Japanese commander candidly answered, "You are right, we did indeed know about your country's preparedness. We knew that probably every other home in your country contained firearms. We knew that your country actually held state championships for private citizens shooting military rifles. We were not fools to set foot in such quicksand."