The Missouri Delegation: How They Voted February 5-9, 2007

The House of Representatives took up three issues for roll call votes last week, and the Senate held two.

House Votes

Alternative Fuel Infrastructure (HR 574): Voting 400-3, the House passed a bill to enable the transport of clean alternative fuels through a U.S. pipeline and storage system now designed for petroleum. For example, the bill would fund research and development to speed the development of low-sulfur diesel fuels, and would authorize funding to help service stations convert tanks and pumps to handle alternative fuels. A Yes vote sent the bill to the Senate.

Liquefied Coal (HR 574): Voting 200-207, the House defeated a Republican motion to broaden the definition of alternative fuels to include natural gas and Hydrogen, as well as liquefied coal technologies that yield low-sulfur diesel and aviation fuels. A Yes vote backed the measure.

Speaker’s Aircraft (HR 547): Voting 385-23, the House added language to the alternative fuels measure to require production of such fuels for large aircraft. Republicans introduced the measure to criticize Democratic Speaker Nancy Pelosi over the assignment of a large military jet for her trips. The Republicans are criticizing the speaker because a larger jet is required to get from Washington to San Francisco non-stop than the smaller jet that carried Speaker Hastert from Washington to Chicago non-stop after the Speakers security was increased by legislative fiat in the wake of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. A Yes vote backed the amendment.

In the House the votes from the Missouri delegation were:
Clay: 1-Yes, 2-No, 3-Yes
Akin: 1-Yes, 2-Yes, 3-Yes
Carnahan: 1-Yes, 2-No, 3-Yes
Skelton: 1-Yes, 2-No, 3-Yes
Cleaver: 1-Yes, 2-No, 3-Yes
Graves: 1-Yes, 2-Yes, 3-Yes
Blunt: 1-Yes, 2-Yes, 3-Yes
Emerson: 1-Yes, 2-Yes, 3-Yes
Hulsoff: 1-Yes, 2-Yes, 3-Yes

Senate Votes

Iraq Debate Dispute (S 470): Voting 49-47, the Senate fell short of the 60 votes needed to end a GOP delay and begin debate on a bipartisan, non-binding measure opposing president Bush’s plan to add 21,500 additional troops to Iraq. Republicans said they would allow such a debate only if it included their non-binding measure in opposition to any Iraq war cuts. A Yes vote was to begin debating the bipartisan measure.

General George W. Casey: Voting 83-14, the Senate confirmed General George W. Casey as Army Chief of Staff. Debate centered on the extent to which he should be held accountable for U.S. military failures while he was the top commander in Iraq. A Yes vote was to confirm.

(Bond voted No on both, and McCaskill voted Yes on both).