Copyright 2000 The Washington Post
The Washington
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February 13, 2000, Sunday, Final Edition
SECTION: PRINCE WILLIAM EXTRA; Pg. V07
LENGTH: 632 words
HEADLINE:
For the Record
BODY:
Here's how some major
bills fared recently in Congress and how local congressional members voted, as
provided by Thomas' Roll Call Report Syndicate. NV means Not Voting.
HOUSE VOTES
TAIWAN MILITARY AID
For: 341
/ Against: 70
The House passed a bill (HR 1838) to formalize U.S.
military ties with Taiwan. The measure expands upon the Taiwan Relations Act,
which for the last 21 years has committed the United States to the defense of
Taiwan against the People's Republic of China. It directs the administration to
step up arms sales to Taiwan, gives the Pentagon a seven-month window for
planning joint U.S.-Taiwanese maneuvers, reserves slots for Taiwanese officers
at U.S. academies and authorizes a secure hot line between Washington and
Taipei. A yes vote was to pass the bill.
MARYLAND
Bartlett (R): Yes
Cardin (D): Yes
Ehrlich (R): Yes
Gilchrest (R): Yes
Hoyer (D): Yes
Cummings (D): Yes
Morella (R): Yes
Wynn (D): Yes
VIRGINIA
Davis (R): Yes
Moran (D): No
Wolf (R): Yes
Bateman (R): Yes
Bliley (R): Yes
SENATE VOTES
BANKRUPTCY OVERHAUL
For: 83 / Against: 14
The
Senate passed a bill (HR 833) making it more difficult to use bankruptcy to
erase debt. The measure also raises the minimum hourly wage from $ 5.15 to $
6.15 over three years and provides $ 76 billion in business tax breaks over 10
years. The bill requires debtors above certain income levels to file for Chapter
13 bankruptcy, which entails some repayment, rather than Chapter 7, which
involves little or no repayment. It also requires credit card companies to spell
out on monthly statements how long it takes to pay off the full amount owed at
the "minimum payment" level.
A yes vote was to pass the bill.
MARYLAND
Mikulski (D): Yes
Sarbanes (D): No
VIRGINIA
Robb (D): Yes
Warner (R): Yes
BANKRUPTCY PROHIBITION
For: 80 / Against: 17
Senators voted to prohibit those convicted of crimes against
abortion clinics from using bankruptcy to
avoid paying court judgments arising from their illegal acts. The ban was
attached to HR 833 (above).
The prohibition would join more than 15
types of debt that are not dischargeable under bankruptcy law. For example,
drunk drivers who have caused deaths, injuries or property damage cannot have
their resulting financial liability discharged through bankruptcy.
A yes
vote was to approve the prohibition.
MARYLAND
Mikulski
(D): Yes
Sarbanes (D): Yes
VIRGINIA
Robb (D):
Yes
Warner (R): Yes
GUN MANUFACTURERS
For: 29 /
Against: 68
The Senate refused to prohibit gun manufacturers from using
bankruptcy to discharge debt arising from court findings in suits such as those
brought by cities that they acted recklessly, negligently or fraudulently. The
amendment was proposed to HR 833 (above).
A yes vote backed the
prohibition.
MARYLAND
Mikulski (D): Yes
Sarbanes
(D): Yes
VIRGINIA
Robb (D): No
Warner (R): No
GREENSPAN CONFIRMATION
For: 89 / Against: 4
The
Senate confirmed Alan Greenspan, 73, to a fourth four-year term as chairman of
the Federal Reserve System, the independent agency that sets government monetary
policy and runs the U.S. banking system.
Sen. Phil Gramm (R-Tex.) said
that since Greenspan became Federal Reserve System chairman in August 1987,
inflation has declined from 4.5 percent to 2.7 percent, long-term interest rates
are down from 8.98 percent to 6.42 percent, unemployment has dropped from 5.7
percent to 4.1 percent and the Dow Jones Industrial Average is up from 1,939 to
more than 10,000,
A yes vote was to confirm Greenspan.
MARYLAND
Mikulski (D): Yes
Sarbanes (D): Yes
VIRGINIA
Robb (D): Yes
Warner (R): Yes
LOAD-DATE: February 13, 2000
