Copyright 1999 The Washington Post
The Washington
Post
August 18, 1999, Wednesday, Final Edition
SECTION: PG EXTRA; Pg. M12
LENGTH: 957 words
HEADLINE:
For the Record
BODY:
Here's how some major
bills fared recently in Congress and how local Congress members voted, as
provided by Thomas' Roll Call Report Syndicate. NV means Not Voting.
HOUSE VOTES
TAX CUTS
For: 221 / Against:
206
The House approved the conference report on a 10-year, $ 792 billion
tax cut. More than a third of the relief -- $ 283 billion -- would be achieved
by phased-in, 1 percent reductions in each of the five personal income tax
rates, which range from 15 percent to 39.6 percent. The bill is to be financed
by non-Social Security budget surpluses projected to reach $ 1 trillion by 2009.
But most lawmakers agreed that reserves of that magnitude will accumulate only
under certain conditions, such as the economy remaining strong and Congress
making significant cuts over 10 years in popular domestic programs. If
non-Social Security surpluses fall short of the $ 792 billion mark, the tax cuts
likely would eat into Social Security surpluses, which are projected at $ 2
billion over the next 10 years. The bill eases the "marriage penalty" by
gradually doubling the standard deduction for couples filing joint returns. It
reduces the top capital gains rate for individuals from 20 percent to 18
percent; phases gift and inheritance taxes out of existence; allows those paying
more than half of their health insurance premiums to deduct 100 percent of the
cost of that insurance; increases contribution and income-eligibility limits for
Individual Retirement Accounts, and raises from $ 500 to $ 2,000 the annual
contribution limit to Education Savings Accounts.
For businesses, the
bill extends the research and development tax credit for five years and the
welfare-to-work credit for 30 months, and provides targeted tax breaks for
industries such as nuclear power, high-technology, insurance, restaurants,
timber, oil and gas, and railroads. For distressed areas, it provides up to $ 20
billion in tax breaks to spur job creation and environmental cleanup in 20 urban
and rural "renewal communities."
A yes vote was to approve the bill.
MARYLAND
Yes No NV
Bartlett (R) *
Cardin (D) *
Ehrlich (R) *
Gilchrest (R) *
Hoyer
(D) *
Cummings (D) *
Morella (R) *
Wynn (D) *
VIRGINIA
Yes No NV
Davis (R) *
Moran (D) *
Wolf (R) *
Bateman (R) *
Bliley (R)
*
LEGAL AID
For: 242 / Against: 178
The House
voted to increase the fiscal 2000 budget for the Legal Services
Corp. from a committee-approved figure of $ 141 million to $ 250
million. The increase was taken from a variety of criminal justice programs.
Legal Services provides the poor with access to the courts. Its appropriation
this year is $ 300 million. The vote occurred as the House passed a bill
providing nearly $ 36 billion in 2000 for the departments of State, Justice and
Commerce.
A yes vote was to increase funding for Legal Services.
MARYLAND
Yes No NV
Bartlett (R) *
Cardin (D) *
Ehrlich (R) *
Gilchrest (R) *
Hoyer
(D) *
Cummings (D) *
Morella (R) *
Wynn (D) *
VIRGINIA
Yes No NV
Davis (R) *
Moran (D) *
Wolf (R) *
Bateman (R) *
Bliley (R)
*
SENATE VOTES
TAX CUTS
For: 50 /
Against: 49
The Senate gave final congressional approval to a Republican
bill that cuts taxes for individuals and businesses by $ 792 billion between
2000-2009. It includes a phase-out of inheritance and gift taxes, an extension
of a research and development tax credit important to Silicon Valley and a 1
percent reduction in each of the five marginal income tax rates for individuals.
The package also benefits married couples who file joint returns using the
standard deduction; contributors to Individual Retirement Accounts and Education
Savings Accounts; individuals including the self-employed who pay at least half
of their medical insurance premiums; investors who pay capital gains taxes and
contributors to 401(k) retirement accounts.
To pay for itself, the bill
stakes a claim on nearly 80 percent of the $ 1 trillion budget surplus that is
projected to accumulate outside of Social Security over the next 10 years. But
if the actual surplus turns out to be less than the cost of the bill, Social
Security surpluses likely would be tapped to cover the shortfall.
MARYLAND
Yes No NV
Mikulski (D) *
Sarbanes (D) *
VIRGINIA
Yes No NV
Robb (D) *
Warner (R) *
AMBASSADOR
HOLBROOKE
For: 81 / Against: 16
Senators confirmed Richard
Holbrooke as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. A veteran diplomat,
Holbrooke played a prominent role in U.S. efforts that helped end war in Bosnia
in 1995. Senate opposition to his U.N. nomination was based, in part, on
disagreement with his and the administration's Balkans policy.
A yes
vote was to confirm Holbrooke.
MARYLAND
Yes No NV
Mikulski (D) *
Sarbanes (D) *
VIRGINIA
Yes No NV
Robb (D) *
Warner (R) *
ARTS ENDOWMENT
For: 80 / Against: 16
The Senate
voted to extend the life of the National Endowment for the Arts. The vote tabled
(killed) a bid to close the NEA by eliminating its fiscal 2000 budget of $ 99
million. This occurred during debate on a 2000 appropriations bill that was
later passed. The NEA provides grants to artists within guidelines that
discourage sexually explicit projects.
A yes vote was to preserve the
NEA.
MARYLAND
Yes No NV
Mikulski (D) *
Sarbanes (D) *
VIRGINIA
Yes No NV
Robb (D) *
Warner (R) *
LOAD-DATE: August 18, 1999
