The 2005 Congressional Scorecard - Senate

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Senate Vote 9: S 5 -- Class Action Fairness Act
Vote on passage of a bill to reform interstate class action lawsuits. The pro-growth vote was "yea" because abusive class action lawsuits harm entrepreneurship. Passed 72-26, February 10, 2005.

Senate Vote 52: S Con Res 18 -- ANWR
Vote on the Cantwell (D-WA) amendment no. 168 to strike provisions related to oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) in Alaska. The pro-growth vote was "nay" because economic growth depends in part on a safe energy sources and royalties from new natural resource development may cause less economic distortions than income taxes. Defeated 49-51, March 16, 2005.

Senate Vote 53: S Con Res 18 -- Tax Cut Obstacle
Vote on the Feingold (D-WI) amendment no. 186 to pass a Senate rule that would normally require 60 votes in order to pass a tax cut. The pro-growth vote was "nay" because such a rule would allow a minority to block pro-growth tax cuts. Defeated 50-50, March 16, 2005.

Senate Vote 58: S Con Res 18 -- 2006 Congressional Budget Resolution, Medicaid
Vote on the Smith (R-OR) amendment no. 204 to strike instructions to the Finance Committee to reduce the growth of spending by $15 billion on Medicaid. The pro-growth vote was "nay" because Medicaid spending is out of control, threatening federal and state budgets with debt and tax increases. Approved 52-48, March 17, 2005.

Senate Vote 59: S Con Res 18 -- Strike Tax Cuts
Vote on the Carper (D-DE) amendment no. 207 to strike provisions in the legislation to allow a Senate majority to approve tax cuts as part of the budget process. The pro-growth vote was "yea" because these provisions were needed to permit passage of bill to extend pro-growth tax cuts. Defeated 49-51, March 17, 2005.

Senate Vote 86: S 600 -- Trade Tax Increase
Vote to table, or kill, the Schumer (D-NY) amendment no. 309 to the Foreign Affairs Authorization Act to impose a 27.5 percent tax on Chinese imports unless China devalues its currency. The pro-growth vote was "yea" because higher taxes on trade could lead to a trade war, with a devastating impact on economic growth. The Senate failed to kill the amendment, 33-67, April 06, 2005.

Senate Vote 118: HR 3 -- Add Money to the Transportation Bill
Vote on waiving the Budget Act limits on the Inhofe (R-OK) amendment no. 605 to add $11.5 billion to the transportation bill. The pro-growth vote was "nay" because the amendment would have added billions of dollars to an already bloated transportation bill that was loaded with pork-barrel spending. The Senate voted to waive the Budget Act and allow the spending, 76-22, May 11, 2005.

Senate Vote 138: HR 6 -- Gasoline Mandate
Vote to table, or kill, the Schumer (D-NY) amendment no. 782 to remove the mandate to use billions of gallons of renewable fuels. The pro-growth vote was "nay" because mandates distort energy markets, lead to spot shortages that cause high gasoline prices, and encourage inefficient investments that harm economic growth. The Senate killed the amendment to remove the mandate, 69-28, June 15, 2005.

Senate Vote 141: HR 6 -- Electricity Renewables Mandate Amendment
Vote on the Bingaman (D-NM) amendment no. 791 to mandate the use of renewables to produce electricity. The pro-growth vote was "nay" because mandates distort energy markets and lead to inefficient investments that harm economic growth. Adopted 52-48, June 16, 2005.

Senate Vote 170: S 1307 -- Central American Free Trade Agreement
Vote on passage of the bill to approve the Central American Free Trade Agreement. The pro-growth vote was "yea" because free trade is crucial to economic prosperity. CAFTA will sharply reduce taxes and other barriers on American exports, thus opening up foreign markets to our products. Passed 54-45, June 30, 2005.

Senate Vote 220: HR 3 -- Transportation Bill
Vote on final passage of the transportation bill, one of the worst examples of pork-barrel spending. With a final price tag of $286 billion, it was $30 billion higher than President Bush's initial proposal of $256 billion, itself a substantial 20% increase over the previous transportation bill. The pro-growth vote was "nay" because the bill contain billions of dollars in wasteful spending. Passed 91-4, July 29, 2005.

Senate Vote 257: HR 3058 -- Minimum Wage
The Senate took a procedural vote on the Kennedy (D-MA) amendment to raise the minimum wage to $6.25 per hour. The pro-growth vote was "nay" because such price controls lead to distortions in the labor markets and fewer jobs. It also denies many new or lower skilled workers the first step on the economic ladder. By a vote of 47-51, the Senate failed to waive its procedures to consider the amendment. October 19, 2005.

Senate Vote 262: HR 3058 -- Bridge to Nowhere
Vote on the Coburn (R-OK) amendment to the Transportation-Treasury-Housing Appropriations bill to transfer funding from the wasteful pork project, the "Bridge to Nowhere" in Alaska, to the repair and reconstruction of the "Twin Spans" bridge in Louisiana. The pro-growth vote was "yea" because wasteful spending increases federal taxes and debt. Defeated 15-82, October 20, 2005.

Senate Vote 284: S 1932 -- School Choice
The Senate took a procedural vote on the Ensign (R-NV) amendment no. 2404 to allow federal funds to be used to assist Katrina evacuees for non-public schools. The pro-growth vote was "yea" because school choice will lead to competition that will improve public schools and education. By a vote of 31-68, the Senate failed to waive its procedures to consider the amendment. November 03, 2005.

Senate Vote 286: S 1932 -- Discretionary Spending Cap
The Senate took a procedural vote on the Inhofe (R-OK) amendment no. 2355 to require a three-fifths vote, beginning with Fiscal Year 2007, to approve increases in non-defense, non-trust-fund, discretionary spending beyond the previous year's levels. The pro-growth vote was "yea" because there is a pro-spending bias that is inherent in the legislative process, where costs are spread out among all taxpayers (now and in the future) and benefits are concentrated immediately and usually sustained. This budget cap would help counteract that bias. By a vote of 32-67, the Senate failed to waive its procedures to consider the amendment. November 03, 2005.

Senate Vote 302: S 1932 -- Drug Prices
The Senate took a procedural vote on the Snowe (R-ME) amendment no. 2371 to the budget reconciliation bill that would effectively allow the government to set prices for prescription drugs purchased by the Medicare program. The pro-growth vote was "nay" because it would effectively give the government a monopsony power to buy drugs. This would lead to backdoor price controls that would stifle pharmaceutical innovations that create well-paying jobs and save and enhance lives. By a vote of 51-48 (60 votes were required), the Senate failed to waive its budget procedures to consider the amendment. November 03, 2005.

Senate Vote 331: S 2020 -- Windfall Profits Tax
The Senate took a procedural vote on the Dorgan (D-ND) amendment no. 2587 to the tax cut bill. His amendment would have imposed a 50 percent tax on oil company profits. The pro-growth vote was "nay" because such a tax would single out and punish the oil industry for making profits deemed by lawmakers to be too high, leading to less investment in finding and developing new sources of oil. This would cause job-killing higher energy prices and greater dependence on foreign oil. By a vote of 35-64 (60 votes were required), the Senate failed to waive its budget procedures to consider the amendment. November 17, 2005.

Senate Vote 333: S 2020 -- Higher Top Tax Bracket
The Senate took a procedural vote on the Feinstein (D-CA) amendment no. 2610 to the tax cut bill to raise the top income tax rate to 39.6%. Her amendment would have also raised other income tax rates and increased dividend and capital gains tax rates. The pro-growth vote was "nay" because an increase in the double taxation of dividends and capital gains paired with the higher marginal income tax rates would greatly harm economic growth. By a vote of 40-59 (60 votes were required), the Senate failed to waive its budget procedures to consider the amendment. November 17, 2005.

Senate Vote 334: S 2020 -- Price Controls
The Senate took a procedural vote on the Cantwell (D-WA) amendment no. 2612 to the tax cut bill that would make so-called price-gouging on energy products a federal crime. The pro-growth vote was "nay" because such a law effectively would impose vague price controls during market disruptions, suppressing investment in energy exploration and production. It would also cause shortages during emergencies and increase panic buying, which would stall economic recovery after an emergency. By a vote of 57-42 (60 votes were required), the Senate failed to waive its budget procedures to consider the amendment. November 17, 2005.

Senate Vote 346: S 2020 -- Higher Marginal Tax Rates
The Senate took a procedural vote on the Harkin (D-IA) amendment no. 2665 to the tax cut bill to increase marginal income tax rates. The pro-growth vote was "nay" because such tax increases are among the most damaging to economic growth because decisions to work, save and invest are made at the margin. By a vote of 42-56 (60 votes were required), the Senate failed to waive its budget procedures to consider the amendment. November 17, 2005.

Senate Vote 363: S 1932 -- Budget Reconciliation
The Senate voted on accepting the House version of the "budget reconciliation" bill that would adjust federal spending programs so they would grow at a slightly slower rate. The pro-growth vote was "yea" because Federal spending has been growing at an unsustainable pace, and measures such as this budget reconciliation bill are needed to slow the growth to a level the economy can sustain in the long run. Passed 50-50, with Vice President Cheney casting the tie-breaking vote. December 21, 2005.

Available Printouts (Vote Weightings Included - PDF files)
By Rank By State By Last Name Senate Vote Descriptions