Mike Thompson's March 2009 Votes

(March 29, 2009)

California Congressman Mike Thompson had a busy March. I did too, so I'll just report on the major votes, and put off major analysis until later. Links will help you find details on the bills. Also Mike put out a March 10, 2009 letter to constituents and held a telephone community meeting on March 25, which I am not covering since this site is devoted to covering what Mike does, not how he spins reality.

Mike voted Yes on the Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2009 [H.R. 1105]. This bill funds government programs through September 30, 2009 and passes 245 to 178, with 8 members not voting. It was signed into law by President Barack Obama on March 11, 2009. Appropriations are done separately from the original laws, and usually bundled into Acts like this one.

Yes on Helping Families Save Their Homes Act of 2009 [H.R. 1106]. This bill gives taxpayer money to the least responsible people who bought homes they could not afford, and the mortgage companies that in many cases misled them into this mistake. It passed 234 to 191, with 7 members not voting. By punishing the frugal and rewarding the profligate and greedy the Obama administration thinks it will fix the economy.

Yes on the Omnibus Public Land Mangement Act [H.R. 146]. The vote was 394 to 13 with 24 not voting, on March 3rd. On March 25 Mike Thompson again voted Yes; the vote assented to Senate amendments to the bill. Yet all the differences have not been resolved, so it will take more votes to finalize it.

Yes on the Water Quality Investment Act of 2009 [H.R. 1262]. The vote was 317 to 101 with 13 not voting, so many Republicans joined the Democrats on this one, which authorizes funding for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund for water treatment. It is now in the Senate for action.

Yes on Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Eduation Act [H.R. 1388]. Passed 321 to 105, with 6 not voting. It reauthorizes and changes the current national service programs. It has now passed both the House and the Senate, but differences between the two versions need to be resolved before final votes take place.

Yes on Taxing certain bonuses given to employees of companies that received TARP (Troubled Assets Relief Program) loans [H.R. 1586]. This passed 328 to 93, with 10 not voting. Not many politicians want to face voters over the issue of rewarding incompetence on such a grand scale. On the other hand, it still has to pass the Senate and is blatently unconstitutional, so it is a political gesture that won't become law.

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