Here is how members of Maryland's delegation on Capitol Hill were recorded on important roll-call votes last week:
YES N: NO X: NOT VOTING
HOUSE: COMMITTEE SPENDING
The House voted 224 for and 196 against to approve the 1993 committee funding resolution (H Res 107). The $52.3 million budget is down 5 percent from last year, but it covers four fewer committees because special panels on narcotics, hunger, aging and children were abolished on April 1. The measure pays for about half the cost of staff salaries and other expenses for 22 panels. Remaining committee costs are covered by the legislative branch appropriations bill.
A yes vote was to approve the resolution.
N X Member
* N * Bentley, Helen Delich, R-2nd
* N * Bartlett, Roscoe G., R-6th
Y * * Cardin, Benjamin L., D-3rd
* N * Gilchrest, Wayne T., R-1st
Y * * Hoyer, Steny H. D-5th
Y * * Wynn, Albert R., D-4th
Y * * Mfume, Kweisi, D-7th
* N * Morella, Constance A., R-8th
HOUSE: TO REJECT COMMITTEE CUTS
The House rejected, 171 for and 246 against, a Republican bid to cut the $52.3 million committee budget (above) by 25 percent across the board and give Republicans a higher proportion of committee staff slots.
A yes vote was to reduce House committee funding by 25 percent.
Y N X Member
Y * * Bentley, Helen Delich, R-2nd
Y * * Bartlett, Roscoe G., R-6th
* N * Cardin, Benjamin L., D-3rd
Y * * Gilchrest, Wayne T., R-1st
* N * Hoyer, Steny H. D-5th
* N * Wynn, Albert R., D-4th
* N * Mfume, Kweisi, D-7th
Y * * Morella, Constance A., R-8th
HOUSE: TO APPROVE BUDGET
By a vote of 240 for and 184 against, the House gave its final approval of President Clinton's five-year program (H Con Res 64) to retool the U.S. economy. All but 12 Democrats supported the president; Republicans unanimously opposed him.
The plan is for Congress to enact spending slowdowns, entitlement curbs and tax increases to slow the growth of red ink by nearly $500 billion over five years. Still, the national debt would swell by 25 percent to over $5 trillion in fiscal 1998. In annual terms, Mr. Clinton would reduce the $302 billion 1993 deficit he inherited to $193 billion in his fourth year as president.
A yes vote supported the Clinton economic plan.
Y N X Member
* N * Bentley, Helen Delich, R-2nd
* N * Bartlett, Roscoe G., R-6th
Y * * Cardin, Benjamin L., D-3rd
* N * Gilchrest, Wayne T., R-1st
Y * * Hoyer, Steny H. D-5th
Y * * Wynn, Albert R., D-4th
Y * * Mfume, Kweisi, D-7th
* N * Morella, Constance A., R-8th
HOUSE: DEBT INCREASE
The House passed, 237 for and 177 against, a bill (HR 1430) raising the government's borrowing authority from $4.145 trillion to $4.37 trillion. The $225 billion increase will carry the Treasury until Oct. 1, when it will give way to a higher debt ceiling included in President Clinton's economic program (H Con Res 64).
A yes vote was for a $225 billion increase in the national debt ceiling.
Y N X Member Y N X Member
N * Bentley, Helen Delich, R-2nd
* N * Bartlett, Roscoe G., R-6th
Y * * Cardin, Benjamin L., D-3rd
* N * Gilchrest, Wayne T., R-1st
Y * * Hoyer, Steny H. D-5th
Y * * Wynn, Albert R., D-4th
Y * * Mfume, Kweisi, D-7th
Y * * Morella, Constance A., R-8th
HOUSE: VOTER REGISTRATION
By a vote of 192 for and 222 against, the House refused to accept Senate changes in a bill (HR 2) that spurs voter turn-out by enabling people to register when applying for a driver's license and other public certificates. In part, the vote reaffirmed a House requirement that states allow registration at social agencies such as welfare offices.
A yes vote was to strip a requirement for voter registration asocial agencies from the "motor voter" bill.
Y N X Member Y N X Member
* * Bentley, Helen Delich, R-2nd
Y * * Bartlett, Roscoe G., R-6th
* N * Cardin, Benjamin L., D-3rd
Y * * Gilchrest, Wayne T., R-1st
* N * Hoyer, Steny H. D-5th
* N * Wynn, Albert R., D-4th
* N * Mfume, Kweisi, D-7th
Y * * Morella, Constance A., R-8th
SENATE: TO PASS BUDGET
By a vote of 55 for and 45 against, the Senate sent President Clinton's economic program (see preceding vote) to the White House for his signature. All Democrats except Richard C. Shelby of Alabama and Bob Krueger of Texas voted yes and all Republicans voted no. For fiscal 1994, the first year of the five-year plan, the blueprint is for spending about $1.5 trillion and annual deficit of nearly $250 billion.
A yes vote was to implement the president's economic plan.
Y N X Member .. .. .. .. .. .. .. Y N X Member
Y * * Mikulski, Barbara A., D .. .Y * * Sarbanes, Paul S., D
SENATE: SPENDING ISSUE
By a vote of 56 for and 44 against, the Senate preserved the authority of mayors to spend $196 million on projects seen by some senators as unworthy of emergency federal funding. The vote occurred during debate on a $16.3 billion spending measure (HR 1335) requested by President Clinton. The GOP amendment targeted projects such as playgrounds and swimming pools that many cities would build with the federal money.
A yes vote was to authorize the challenged projects.
Y N X Member .. .. .. .. .. .. .. Y N X Member
Y * * Mikulski, Barbara A., D.. . Y * * Sarbanes, Paul S., D
SENATE: PAY RAISES
By a vote of 51 for and 49 against, the Senate tabled (killed) an attempt to shave President Clinton's pending $16.3 billion-plus jobs bill (HR 1335) by about $3 billion to free up money for federal civilian and military cost-of-living increases scheduled for next year. The increases are to be withheld in 1994 as part of the president's economic recovery program.
A yes vote was to kill the amendment.
Y N X Member .. .. .. .. .. .. ... Y N X Member
* N * Mikulski, Barbara A., D .. ..Y * * Sarbanes, Paul S., D
SENATE: HIGHWAY FUNDING
By a vote of 68 for and 32 against, the Senate preserved the formula for distributing highway funds against changes that would have favored so-called "donor" states. Those are generally fast-growing, high density states such as Florida and California that contribute more to the highway trust fund through gasoline taxes than they get back in project grants. The vote occurred during debate on HR 1335 (above).
A yes vote was to keep the highway funds formula intact.
Y N X Member .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ... Y N X Member
Y * * Mikulski, Barbara A., D .. .. . Y * * Sarbanes, Paul S., D
SENATE: AMTRAK
By a vote of 61 for and 38 against, the Senate tabled an amendment to strip HR 1335 (above) of $188 million for capital improvements and rehirings by Amtrak, the federally subsidized rail-passenger agency.
A no vote opposed emergency funding for Amtrak.
N X Member .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. Y N X Member
Y * * Mikulski, Barbara A., D . . .. Y * * Sarbanes, Paul S., D