Here is how members of Maryland's delegation on Capitol Hill were recorded on important roll-call votes last week. The House did not vote:
Y: YES N: NO X: NOT VOTING
SENATE: APPLYING LAWS TO CONGRESS
The Senate passed, 98-1, a bill (S 2) that ends Congress' exemption from workplace laws it has enacted for the private sector.
0$ A yes vote was to pass the bill.
N X Member
Y * * Mikulski, Barbara A., D
Y * * Sarbanes, Paul S., D
SENATE: LAWMAKERS' PAY
The Senate killed, 61-38, a proposal to include House members' and senators' pay in across-the-board cuts affecting other spending programs. This kept intact the protection of lawmakers' salaries against governmentwide cuts that can be triggered when spending exceeds legal limits.
A yes vote was to protect lawmakers' salaries against any across-the-board cuts mandated by the Budget Act.
Y N X Member
* N * Mikulski, Barbara A., D
* N * Sarbanes, Paul S., D
SENATE: FREQUENT-FLIER MILES
By a vote of 55-44, the Senate supported the House policy of permitting its members to make personal use of any frequent-flier bonus miles they receive as a result of taxpayer-funded travel. By contrast, the Senate and executive branch prohibit the conversion of bonus miles to personal advantage.
A yes vote was to leave untouched a House policy permitting personal use of frequent-flier bonus miles.
Y N X Member
* N * Mikulski, Barbara A., D
* N * Sarbanes, Paul S., D
SENATE: PERSONAL SPENDING
By a 64-35 vote, the Senate tabled (killed) an amendment to S 2 (above) concerning the conversion of Congressional campaign contributions to personal benefit. The Federal Election Commission allows campaign funds to be spent for a variety of seemingly personal items, from auto leasing to food and entertainment. This amendment sought to impose a strict definition of personal vs. official expenditures and make it illegal HTC for a candidate to spend campaign receipts improperly.
A yes vote was to kill the amendment.
N X Member
* N * Mikulski, Barbara A., D
* N * Sarbanes, Paul S., D
SENATE: LOBBYISTS
By a vote of 74-17, the Senate tabled (killed) an attempt to limit contact between members of Congress and lobbyists from whom they receive campaign money.
5) A yes vote was to kill the amendment.
N X Member
Y * * Mikulski, Barbara A., D
Y * * Sarbanes, Paul S., D
SENATE: LABOR ISSUE
By a vote of 56-23, the Senate (tabled) killed a measure concerning a labor dispute between the United Rubber Workers and Bridgestone-Firestone.
4( A yes vote was to table the measure.
N X Member
* N * Mikulski, Barbara A., D
* N * Sarbanes, Paul S., D