How your U.S. lawmaker voted

WASHINGTON — Here's how the state's members of Congress were recorded on major roll-call votes in the week ending Saturday, the final week of the 109th Congress. The 110th Congress will convene Jan. 3.

HOUSE

Indian nuclear deal: By a vote of 330-59, the House on Friday approved the conference report on an administration plan to sell U.S. nuclear technology, fuel and reactors to India for civilian purposes, even though India has refused to sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. On a nonrecord vote, the Senate sent the bill to President Bush for his signature.

A yes vote was to approve the conference report.

Voting yes: Jay Inslee, D-1; Rick Larsen, D-2; Brian Baird, D-3; Norm Dicks, D-6; Dave Reichert, R-8; Adam Smith, D-9.

Voting no: Jim McDermott, D-7.

Not voting: Doc Hastings, R-4; Cathy McMorris, R-5.

Taxes, Medicare, drilling: By a vote of 367-45, the House on Friday sent the Senate a bill (HR 6111) to renew an array of targeted tax breaks for businesses and individuals at a projected cost of $40 billion over five years. The bill would open 8.3 million acres in the eastern Gulf of Mexico to oil and gas extraction, with Gulf Coast states getting a share of the new royalties, and would cancel a 5 percent cut in Medicare payments to doctors set for Jan. 1. Among the bill's tax breaks are deductions for state and local sales taxes paid in states without state income taxes, such as Washington.

A yes vote was to pass the bill.

Voting yes: Inslee, Larsen, Baird, Hastings, McMorris, Dicks, McDermott, Reichert, Smith.

Congressional pay, stopgap budget: By a vote of 370-20, the House on Friday sent the Senate a measure (HJ Res 102) to fund most agencies on a stopgap basis until Feb. 15 and delay until then a 2 percent congressional pay raise set for Jan. 1. Under the bill, rank-and-file congressional salaries will remain at $165,200 until at least Feb. 15.

A yes vote approved the measure.

Voting yes: Inslee, Larsen, Baird, Hastings, McMorris, Dicks, McDermott, Reichert, Smith.

Vietnam trade: By a vote of 212-184, the House on Friday sent the Senate a bill (HR 6406) establishing permanent, normal U.S. trade with Vietnam. The bill would qualify it for the World Trade Organization. The bill also granted increased access to U.S. markets to Haiti, Ecuador, Peru, Colombia, Bolivia and nations in sub-Saharan Africa.

A yes vote was to pass the bill.

Voting yes: Inslee, Larsen, Baird, Dicks, McDermott, Reichert, Smith.

Voting no: Hastings.

Not voting: McMorris.

Fetus pain: By a vote of 250-162, the House on Wednesday failed to reach a two-thirds majority needed to pass a bill (HR 6099) concerning the numbing of any pain to the fetus during an abortion. The bill applies to "pain-capable" fetuses, which it defines as those "20 weeks or more after fertilization."

A yes vote was to pass the bill.

Voting yes: Hastings, McMorris, Reichert.

Voting no: Inslee, Larsen, Baird, Dicks, McDermott, Smith.

Sports organizations' immunity: By a vote of 219-187, the House on Tuesday failed to reach a two-thirds majority needed to pass a bill (HR 1176) immunizing nonprofit athletic organizations against negligence claims based on rules they have set or failed to set for sports competition. The bill is designed to benefit organizations such as the National Collegiate Athletic Association and National Federation of State High School Associations.

A yes vote was to pass the bill.

Voting yes: Hastings, McMorris, Reichert.

Voting no: Inslee, Larsen, Baird, Dicks, Smith.

Not voting: McDermott.

SENATE

Trade, taxes, drilling: By a vote of 79-9, the Senate on Saturday sent President Bush a bill (HR 6111, above) to renew nearly 24 business and personal tax breaks, avert a planned 5 percent cut in Medicare payments to doctors and open 8.3 million acres in the eastern Gulf of Mexico to oil and gas extraction. The bill includes a House-passed measure (HR 6406, above) establishing permanent, normal U.S. trade with Vietnam.

A yes vote was to pass the bill.

Voting yes: Maria Cantwell, D; Patty Murray, D.

Defense-secretary confirmation: By a vote of 95-2, the Senate on Wednesday confirmed Robert Gates to replace Donald Rumsfeld as secretary of defense. Gates is to be sworn into office Dec. 18.

Voting yes: Cantwell, Murray.

FDA-commissioner confirmation: By a vote of 80-11, the Senate on Thursday confirmed Andrew von Eschenbach as commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). He had been acting FDA commissioner since September 2005.

Voting yes: Cantwell, Murray.

Emergency farm aid: By a vote 57-37, the Senate on Tuesday failed to reach the 60 votes needed to add $4.5 billion in emergency farm aid to the fiscal 2007 agriculture-appropriations bill (HR 5384), on top of $4 billion in the bill for that purpose. A yes vote was to provide emergency farm aid.

Voting yes: Cantwell, Murray.

Copyright 2006, Roll Call Report Syndicate