Rollcall

By: JournalNow Staff | THE VOTES IN CONGRESS SERVICE
Published: March 14, 2010

Here's how North Carolina members of Congress were recorded on major votes last week:

HOUSE

AFGHANISTAN WITHDRAWAL: Voting 65 for and 356 against, the House on Wednesday defeated a measure (H Con Res 248) to bring U.S. troops home from Afghanistan by Dec. 31 under the 1973 War Powers Act. That law requires presidents to end combat operations after 90 days unless Congress authorizes the deployment. Opponents of withdrawal argued that the U.S. action in Afghanistan is legal under the "use of force" resolution enacted Sept. 18, 2001.

A yes vote backed withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Voting yes: Walter Jones, R-3

Voting no: G.K. Butterfield, D-1; Bob Etheridge, D-2; David Price, D-4; Virginia Foxx, R-5; Howard Coble, R-6; Mike McIntyre, D-7; Larry Kissell, D-8; Sue Myrick, R-9; Patrick McHenry, R-10; Heath Shuler , D-11; Melvin Watt, D-12; Brad Miller, D-13.

JUDGE PORTEOUS IMPEACHMENT: The House on Thursday approved, 423 for and none against, an article of impeachment (H Res 1031) charging that U.S. District Judge G. Thomas Porteous, of the Eastern District of Louisiana, lied under oath to the FBI and Senate during his confirmation process in 1994 to become a federal judge. The House unanimously approved three other articles against Porteous, including charges that as a state judge he repeatedly accepted payments from those whose cases he handled. The impeachment now moves to a Senate trial. If convicted, Porteous, 63, would become the eighth federal judge to be both impeached and convicted.

A yes vote was to impeach Judge Porteous.

Voting yes: Butterfield; Etheridge; Jones; Price; Foxx; Coble; McIntyre; Kissell; Myrick; McHenry; Shuler; Watt; Miller.

ERIC MASSA INVESTIGATION: Voting 402 for and one against, the House on Thursday ordered its ethics committee to investigate the Democratic leadership's handling of allegations against former Rep. Eric Massa, D-N.Y. Massa resigned on Monday following reports of misconduct such as his groping of male members of his staff. In part, the probe will examine whether Democratic leaders were slow in responding to complaints about his behavior. This vote occurred on H Res 1164 which, as a privileged resolution, was not debatable.

A yes vote backed the investigation.

Voting yes: Etheridge; Jones; Price; Foxx; Coble; McIntyre; Kissell; McHenry; Shuler; Watt; Miller.

Voting no: None

Not voting: Butterfield; Myrick

BANKRUPTCY JUDGES: Voting 345 for and five against, the House on Friday sent the Senate a bill (HR 4506) establishing 13 new bankruptcy judgeships and converting 22 temporary bankruptcy judgeships to permanent status. The expansion is designed to help courts in 25 federal judicial districts cope with a sharp rise in the number and complexity of business and personal bankruptcy filings.

A yes vote was to pass the bill.

Voting yes: Butterfield; Etheridge; Price; Foxx; Coble; McIntyre; Kissell; Myrick; McHenry; Shuler; Watt; Miller.

Voting no: None

Not voting: Jones

SENATE

SAFETY-NET BENEFITS: Voting 62 for and 36 against, the Senate on Wednesday sent the House a $140 billion bill (HR 4213) that would extend until Dec. 31 several safety-net benefits, tax breaks and other programs for individuals and businesses. The bill extends unemployment benefits for the long-term jobless, funds COBRA health insurance for the unemployed, and eases the federal poverty definition to protect the value of benefits such as Medicaid, food stamps and home-heating aid.

Additionally, the bill extends research-and-development tax breaks for businesses; renews authority for satellite TV to broadcast local stations to rural customers; funds national flood insurance; continues certain small-business loan programs; averts cuts in Medicare payments to doctors; helps states meet Medicaid obligations; eases the timetable for employers to fund pension plans; enables teachers to continue deducting the cost of buying classroom materials, and extends tuition tax credits for higher education.

A yes vote was to pass the bill.

Voting yes: Kay Hagan, D

Voting no: Richard Burr, R

SUMMER JOBS, NEEDY FAMILIES: Voting 55 for and 45 against, the Senate on Tuesday failed to reach 60 votes needed to extend two programs in last year's $787 billion economic stimulus. This denied $1.3 billion to provide summer jobs for young people and several billions of dollars for renewing the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program until March 2011. Opponents said that both extensions would require deficit spending.

A yes vote was to extend the two programs.

Voting yes: Hagan

Voting no: Burr