Copyright 2001 The Washington Post
The Washington
Post
March 22, 2001, Thursday, Final Edition
SECTION: ANNE ARUNDEL EXTRA; Pg. T05
LENGTH: 678 words
HEADLINE:
For the Record; Here's how some major bills fared recently in Congress and how
local congressional members voted, as provided by Thomas's Roll Call Report
Syndicate. NV means Not Voting.
BODY:
The House passed a bill setting up toll-free telephone
service to enable consumers to learn whether products are made in the United
States. Listings by manufacturers would be voluntary, and participating
companies would pay much of the cost of the Department of Commerce program.
A yes vote was to pass the bill.
MARYLAND
Yes No NV
Bartlett (R) * [hbox][hbox]
Cardin (D) * [hbox][hbox]
Cummings (D) * [hbox][hbox]
Ehrlich (R) * [hbox][hbox]
Gilchrest (R) * [hbox][hbox]
Hoyer (D) * [hbox][hbox]
Morella (R) * [hbox][hbox]
Wynn (D) * [hbox][hbox]
VIRGINIA
Yes No NV
J. Davis (R) * [hbox][hbox]
T. Davis (R) * [hbox][hbox]
Moran (D) * [hbox][hbox]
Wolf (R) * [hbox][hbox]
Cantor (R) * [hbox][hbox]
The Senate passed a bill giving credit card
companies and other lenders new legal tools for collecting debt in bankruptcy
court. At present, people can use Chapter 7 bankruptcy to walk away from
unsecured debt. Under the bill, if they earn above the median income for their
region, they must file instead under Chapter 13, which requires some repayment
over five years. The change means that credit card companies for the first time
will be able to compete with court-ordered obligations such as child support and
alimony for a debtor's assets.
The bill addresses business bankruptcies
with a host of changes also designed to make it easier and faster for creditors
to collect debt.
The financial services industry said the bill will curb
abuses by those who legally evade debt they can afford to pay. Consumer groups
called the bill a gift to irresponsible lenders that is too harsh on those made
insolvent by medical expenses, unemployment and divorce.
Also under the
bill, people facing court judgments as a result of violence at
abortion clinics are prohibited from using
bankruptcy to shirk financial penalties. And in an override of
state laws, bankruptcy filers nationwide will be able to protect only up to $
125,000 of the value of their home from creditors.
A yes vote was to
pass the bill.
MARYLAND
Yes No NV
Mikulski (D) *
[hbox][hbox]
Sarbanes (D) [hbox]* [hbox]
VIRGINIA
Yes No
NV
Allen (R) * [hbox][hbox]
Warner (R) * [hbox][hbox]
The Senate voted to table (kill) a bid to set strict
terms for awarding credit cards to people younger than 21. The amendment sought
to deny cards unless a parent or guardian cosigns the application, the youth
shows independent means of financial support or the youth completes a course in
credit counseling.
A yes vote opposed strict credit card terms.
MARYLAND
Yes No NV
Mikulski (D) [hbox]* [hbox]
Sarbanes (D) [hbox]* [hbox]
VIRGINIA
Yes No NV
Allen (R) * [hbox][hbox]
Warner (R) * [hbox][hbox]
The Senate refused to kill an amendment aimed at certain
mortgage lenders. The vote upheld language in the bill above that would deny
bankruptcy protection to predatory lenders that issue unsound mortgages, sell
the loans in the secondary market, take their profit and then seek a Chapter 11
shield against the claims of home buyers they have bilked.
A yes vote
was to adopt the amendment.
MARYLAND
Yes No NV
Mikulski
(D) [hbox]* [hbox]
Sarbanes (D) [hbox]* [hbox]
VIRGINIA
Yes No NV
Allen (R) * [hbox][hbox]
Warner (R) [hbox]*
[hbox]
The Senate tabled an amendment to the
bill above concerning California's energy crisis. This killed a bid to prevent
Southern California Edison and Pacific Gas and Electric, if they were to declare
bankruptcy, from walking away from debt incurred in recent months in buying
emergency power on a spot basis.
A yes vote was to kill an amendment
aimed at two California power companies.
MARYLAND
Yes No NV
Mikulski (D) * [hbox][hbox]
Sarbanes (D) * [hbox][hbox]
VIRGINIA
Yes No NV
Allen (R) * [hbox][hbox]
Warner (R) * [hbox][hbox]
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