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News (Media Awareness Project) - Senators Back Fund Probe
Title:Senators Back Fund Probe
Published On:1997-03-31
Fetched On:2008-09-08 20:47:18
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WASHINGTON The following is a chart of how senators
and representatives voted on key bills, amendments, and
resolutions last week. A "Y" means the member voted for
the measure; an "N" means the member voted against the
measure.

SENATE

1. CAMPAIGN LIMITS: The Senate on Tuesday rejected
6138 a proposed constitutional amendment that would limit
contributions to federal elections and spending by
campaigns. The proposal, which would also allow states to
impose those restrictions on state and local races, fell
short of the twothirds majority required to pass a
constitutional amendment. Opponents of the proposed
amendment said it would violate First Amendment rights by
undermining political freedom and speech. Supporters of
the proposal said the threat to democracy from "big money"
in campaigns merited an attempt to impose limits. A
"yes" vote favors the amendment.

2. FUNDRAISING PROBE: The Senate on Wednesday voted
5544, along party lines, to pass a nonbinding resolution
seeking an independent counsel to investigate allegations
of illegal fund raising in the 1996 presidential
campaign. The resolution calls on Attorney General Janet
Reno to petition a federal court for an outside
prosecutor. Opponents of the resolution said an
independent investigation should include alleged
improprieties by Democrats and Republicans in presidential
and congressional campaigns.

Republicans said that an independent counsel probe of
the presidential elections was necessary to avoid a
conflict of interest within the administration. 3. MEXICO:
The Senate on Thursday voted 945 to approve a compromise
to continue Mexico's certification as an antidrug ally.

The measure, which criticizes both Mexico and the U.S.
in failing to stem the flow of illicit substances between
the two countries, calls for closer cooperation and
requires President Clinton to review the progress of
antinarcotics efforts after five months.

Supporters of the compromise said that U.S.Mexican
cooperation would enable the two nations to wage a more
effective antidrug battle, while the isolation of Mexico
would hurt economic and security relations between the two
countries. Opponents said highlevel corruption in
Mexico's antinarcotics efforts make it an unreliable
partner in the drug war. A "yes" vote favors a
certification compromise with Mexico.

VOTE : 1 2 3

INHOFE (ROK) N Y Y

NICKLES (ROK) N Y Y HOUSE

1. COMP TIME: The House on Wednesday approved 222210 a
bill giving wage earners the option of taking time off in
lieu of pay for overtime work. The primarilyRepublican
supporters of the measure said it would give workers more
time with their families, and that parents would no longer
have to make choices between work and their children.
Only 13 Democrats backed the bill. Opponents said that
the legislation could lead employers to discriminate
against employees who choose pay over time off. A similar
bill in the Senate has committee approval and is expected
to reach the Senate floor in April. A "yes" vote favors
allowing employees to choose time off in lieu of overtime
pay.

2. ABORTION: The House on Thursday voted 295136, a
vetoproof majority, to ban a certain type of lateterm
abortion except in cases where the mother's life is in
danger. Supporters of the ban called the procedure
"inhumane. " Opponents said the bill threatened to return
women to an era preceding the Supreme Court's landmark
1973 Roe vs. Wade decision, which guaranteed the right
to abortion. A "yes" vote favors a ban on the procedure.

3. PROBE FUNDS: The House on Thursday voted 213210 to
reject a resolution to provide $ 170 million in funding
for the chamber's operations. The move temporarily blocks
$ 3.8 million in funding for a probe into alleged campaign
fund raising abuses during the 1996 election cycle by the
Clinton administration and the Democratic National
Committee. If passed, the resolution would have increased
the budgets of 18 standing committees by 14 percent and
created a $ 7.9 million "reserve fund" for pressing needs.
Opponents said that the investigation was limited in
scope and unfairly singles out the Democratic Party.
Other opponents of the resolution, particularly
Republicans, criticized the budget increases, saying it
would be hypocritical to push for a balanced budget while
increasing committee budgets. Supporters of the
resolution said $ 170 million would be necessary to cover
House operations. A "yes" vote favors approval of the $
170 million resolution.

VOTE : 1 2 3

COBURN (ROK) Y Y N ISTOOK (ROK) Y Y Y

LARGENT (ROK) Y Y N

LUCAS (ROK) Y Y Y

WATKINS (ROK) Y Y Y

WATTS, J.C. (ROK) Y Y Y
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