|
RELATED STORIES: Obama: Most Liberal Senator In 2007 • How The Vote Ratings Are Calculated • Q&A: From The Editor • PAST SENATE RATINGS: (Subscribers Only) 2006 · 2005 · 2004 · 2003 · 2002 · 2001 · 2000 · 1999 · 1998 · 1997 · 1996 · 1995 • PAST HOUSE RATINGS: (Subscribers Only) 2006 · 2005 · 2004 · 2003 · 2002 · 2001 · 2000 · 1999 · 1998 · 1997 · 1996 · 1995  
|
Here are the 99 Senate votes on which National Journal's 2007 vote ratings are based. The Congressional Record roll-call number is followed by the bill number, a description of the vote, the date, the outcome, the prevailing side -- conservative (C) or liberal (L) -- and the weight given to each (from 1 for the lowest weight to 3 for the highest) based on how closely the vote fits the overall pattern. A blue letter indicates where the senator voted the liberal position; a red letter indicates where the senator voted the conservative position.
ECONOMIC ISSUES (36 VOTES) | ||||
VOTE NO. |
DESCRIPTION |
CLINTON |
OBAMA |
|
Establish a Senate Office of Public Integrity to handle ethics complaints against senators. January 18. (27-71) C-1 |
N |
Y |
||
Limit debate on a bill raising the federal minimum wage without providing offsetting tax relief for businesses. January 24. (54-43; 60 votes required to invoke cloture) C-3 |
Y |
Y |
||
Repeal the federal minimum wage by giving states the authority to set minimum wages. January 24. (28-69) L-3 |
N |
N |
||
Limit debate on a proposal to attach $8.3 billion in small-business tax breaks to the minimum-wage hike. January 30. (87-10; 60 votes required to invoke cloture) L-1 |
Y |
Y |
||
Table an amendment that would require the Homeland Security Department to screen 100 percent of cargo containers entering the country within five years. March 1. (58-38) C-2 |
N |
N |
||
Agree to final passage of a bill implementing the 9/11 commission's homeland-security recommendations, including a provision extending collective bargaining rights to federal security screeners. March 13. (60-38) L-3 |
Y |
Y |
||
Exempt extensions of the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts from budget rules for offsets. March 21. (46-52) L-3 |
N |
N |
||
Require higher-income Medicare beneficiaries to pay higher premiums for prescription drugs in Medicare Part D. March 22. (44-52) L-3 |
N |
N |
||
Raise the tax rate on income over $1 million and use the revenue to increase funding for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. March 22. (38-58) C-2 |
Y |
Y |
||
Raise the cigarette tax by 61 cents a pack and use the revenue to fund expansion of the State Children's Health Insurance Program. March 23. (59-40) L-2 |
Y |
Y |
||
Repeal the estate tax. March 23. (44-55) L-3 |
N |
N |
||
Approve the fiscal 2008 budget resolution. March 23. (52-47) L-3 |
Y |
Y |
||
Limit debate on a measure allowing government negotiation of Medicare prescription drug prices. April 18. (55-42; 60 votes required to invoke cloture. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., voted no so that he could subsequently move to reconsider the vote.) C-3 |
Y |
Y |
||
Limit debate on a measure allowing importation of drugs at prices lower than available in the United States. May 3. (63-28; 60 votes required to invoke cloture) L-3 |
Y |
Y |
||
Block individuals from serving on Food and Drug Administration drug advisory panels if they have conflicts of interest. May 9. (47-47) C-3 |
Y |
Y |
||
Require a study of global-warming effects for federal water projects. May 15. (51-42; 60 votes required because of a unanimous consent agreement) C-2 |
Y |
Y |
||
Create a national action plan for reducing oil consumption by 35 percent by 2030. June 12. (63-30) L-2 |
Y |
Did not vote |
||
Speed up the permitting process for oil-refining sites. June 13. (43-52) L-3 |
N |
N |
||
Table a proposal to require utilities to produce 20 percent of their electricity from clean- or renewable-energy sources by 2020. June 14. (56-39) L-3 |
Y |
Y |
||
Limit debate on an energy bill setting higher fuel standards for vehicles. June 21. (62-32; 60 votes required to invoke cloture) L-1 |
Y |
Y |
||
Limit debate on a measure to permit labor union organizers to bypass secret-ballot requirements if a majority of eligible workers sign a union card. June 26. (51-48; 60 votes required to invoke cloture) C-3 |
Y |
Y |
||
Waive a procedural objection to barring the Federal Communications Commission from implementing a "fairness doctrine" for broadcasters. July 19. (49-48; 60 votes required to waive the Budget Act) L-3 |
N |
Did not vote |
||
Waive a procedural objection to prevent labor bargaining with a union that has not gained secret-ballot approval from a majority of employees. July 19. (42-54; 60 votes required to waive the Budget Act) L-3 |
N |
Did not vote |
||
Increase financial aid for college students and reduce subsidies for student-loan lenders. July 20. (78-18) L-1 |
Y |
Did not vote |
||
Block most non-pregnant adults from coverage under the State Children's Health Insurance Program. August 1. (42-53) L-3 |
N |
Did not vote |
||
Expand the State Children's Health Insurance Program by increasing taxes of those earning more than $1 million. August 1. (36-60) C-2 |
Y |
Y |
||
Approve legislation reauthorizing and expanding the State Children's Health Insurance Program. August 2. (68-31) L-3 |
Y |
Y |
||
Confirm Jim Nussle as director of the Office of Management and Budget. September 4. (69-24) C-1 |
N |
Did not vote |
||
Table a proposal to bar Davis-Bacon prevailing-wage requirements for highway bridge construction or maintenance projects. September 12. (56-37) L-3 |
Did not vote |
Y |
||
Limit debate on a proposal to agree to House revisions to legislation reauthorizing and expanding the State Children's Health Insurance Program. September 27. (69-30; 60 votes required to invoke cloture) L-3 |
Y |
Y |
||
Approve fiscal 2008 appropriations for the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education departments. November 7. (56-37) L-3 |
Did not vote |
Did not vote |
||
Override the president's veto of the Water Resources Development Act. November 8. (79-14; 62 votes required to override in this case) L-1 |
Did not vote |
Did not vote |
||
Limit debate on a measure to revise the alternative minimum tax to prevent coverage of additional taxpayers, and offset that change with corporate tax increases. December 6. (46-48; 60 votes required to invoke cloture. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., voted no so that he could subsequently move to reconsider the vote.) C-3 |
Did not vote |
Did not vote |
||
Limit debate on the energy bill to increase fuel-efficiency standard to 35 miles per gallon by 2020, shift energy-tax incentives, and require electric utilities to use renewable-energy sources for 15 percent of their electricity by 2020. December 7. (53-42; 60 votes required to invoke cloture) C-3 |
Y |
Y |
||
Limit debate on the energy bill to increase fuel-efficiency standard to 35 miles per gallon by 2020 and shift energy-tax incentives. December 13. (59-40; 60 votes required to invoke cloture) C-3 | Y |
Y |
||
Limit federal, state, and local governments' eminent-domain power over private land. December 13. (37-58; 60 votes required because of a unanimous consent agreement) L-2 |
Did not vote |
Did not vote |
||
SOCIAL ISSUES (34 VOTES) | ||||
BILL |
DESCRIPTION |
CLINTON |
OBAMA |
|
Bar transportation security cards for certain convicted felons. February 28. (58-37) L-2 |
Y |
Y |
||
Support embryonic-stem-cell research. April 11. (63-34; 60 votes required because of a unanimous consent agreement) L-2 |
Y |
Y |
||
Support non-embryonic-stem-cell research. April 11. (70-28; 60 votes required because of a unanimous consent agreement) C-2 |
N |
N |
||
Eliminate an immigrant guest-worker program. May 22. (31-64) C-1 |
Y |
Did not vote |
||
Permit law enforcement officers to question individuals about their immigrant status if they have probable cause to believe that the immigrants are here illegally. May 24. (48-49) L-2 |
N |
N |
||
Eliminate a program legalizing unlawful immigrants. May 24. (29-66) L-1 |
N |
N |
||
Allow certain immigrants to stay in the United States while renewing their visas. June 6. (41-57) C-2 |
N |
Y |
||
Require the disclosure of information on visa applicants to law enforcement officers. June 6. (57-39) C-3 |
N |
N |
||
Make temporary guest workers eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit. June 6. (57-40) L-3 |
Y |
Y |
||
Waive a procedural objection to allow immigration based on family connections for an extended period. June 6. (53-44; 60 votes required to waive the Budget Act) C-3 |
Y |
Y |
||
Put more weight on job skills than family ties for visa applicants. June 6. (42-55) L-2 |
N |
N |
||
Make English the official language of the United States. June 6. (64-33) C-2 |
N |
N |
||
Limit debate on a measure expressing no confidence in Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. June 11. (53-38; 60 votes required to invoke cloture) C-3 |
Y |
Did not vote |
||
Table an amendment requiring unlawful immigrants to leave the country before applying for a visa. June 27. (53-45) L-2 |
Y |
Y |
||
Table an amendment eliminating a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants. June 27. (57-40) L-2 |
Y |
Y |
||
Table an amendment extending the right of legal immigrants' parents to obtain visas. June 27. (56-41) C-3 |
N |
N |
||
Limit debate on the immigration reform bill. June 28. (46-53; 60 votes required to invoke cloture) C-2 | Y |
Y |
||
Waive a procedural objection to providing legal immunity to people who report suspicious activities. July 19. (57-39; 60 votes required to waive the Budget Act) L-3 |
Y |
Did not vote |
||
Waive a procedural objection to denying Social Security benefits for illegal work. July 19. (53-44; 60 votes required to waive the Budget Act) C-3 |
Y |
Did not vote |
||
Waive a procedural objection to requiring photo identification for voters. July 19. (42-54; 60 votes required to waive the Budget Act) L-3 |
N |
Did not vote |
||
Table a proposal to provide $300 million to states to comply with the "Real ID" requirements for driver's licenses and other identification. July 26. (50-44) L-2 |
Y |
Did not vote |
||
Define a fetus as an "unborn child." August 2. (49-50) L-3 |
N |
N |
||
Renew for six months authority under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act to review communications of suspected terrorists without a court order. August 3. (60-28; 60 votes required because of a unanimous consent agreement) C-2 |
N |
N |
||
Amend the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act to review communications of suspected terrorists without a court order, while requiring telecommunications companies to comply with government review. August 3. (43-45; 60 votes required because of a unanimous consent agreement) C-3 |
Y |
Y |
||
Block funding for international groups engaged in coercive abortions, as designated by the U.S. government. September 6. (48-45) C-3 |
Did not vote |
Did not vote |
||
Permit funding for international organizations that perform abortions. September 6. (53-41) L-3 |
Did not vote |
Did not vote |
||
Limit debate on a proposal giving the District of Columbia a voting member of the House. September 18. (57-42; 60 votes required to invoke cloture) C-3 |
Y |
Y |
||
Limit debate on a measure funding the prosecution of hate crimes. September 27. (60-39; 60 votes required to invoke cloture) L-3 |
Y |
Y |
||
Table a proposal to bar funds for military enlistment of individuals who have been convicted of various crimes, including sexual misconduct. October 2. (53-41) C-2 |
Did not vote |
Did not vote |
||
Prohibit domestic family-planning funds to organizations that perform abortions. October 18. (41-52) L-3 |
Did not vote |
Did not vote |
||
Block an effort to change the formula for distributing funds under the Ryan White AIDS program. October 23. (65-28) C-2 |
Did not vote |
Did not vote |
||
Limit debate on the nomination of Leslie Southwick to serve on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit. October 24. (62-35; 60 votes required to invoke cloture) C-3 |
N |
N |
||
Limit debate on a measure to permit unlawful immigrants who entered the United States as children to gain legal status if they attend college or serve in the military. October 24. (52-44; 60 votes required to invoke cloture) C-2 |
Y |
Y |
||
Confirm Michael Mukasey as attorney general. November 8. (53-40) C-3 |
Did not vote |
Did not vote |
||
FOREIGN POLICY (29 VOTES) | ||||
BILL |
DESCRIPTION |
|||
Limit debate on a proposal to express the sense of Congress to disagree with the president's troop increase in Iraq. February 17. (56-34; 60 votes required to invoke cloture) C-3 |
Y |
Y |
||
Require U.S. troops to begin withdrawing from Iraq within four months. March 15. (48-50; 60 votes required because of a unanimous consent agreement) C-3 |
Y |
Y |
||
Express the sense of Congress that funds for U.S. troops in the field should not be cut off. March 15. (82-16; 60 votes required because of a unanimous consent agreement) C-1 |
Y |
Y |
||
Strike language requiring U.S. troops to begin withdrawing from Iraq. March 27. (48-50) L-3 |
N |
N |
||
Approve the fiscal 2007 emergency supplemental appropriations bill, including a goal for withdrawing most U.S. troop from Iraq by 2008. March 29. (51-47) L-3 |
Y |
Y |
||
Limit debate on the fiscal 2007 intelligence authorization bill. April 17. (50-45; 60 votes required to invoke cloture) C-3 |
Y |
Did not vote |
||
Approve the conference report on the fiscal 2007 emergency supplemental appropriations bill, including a goal of withdrawing most U.S. troops from Iraq by March 31, 2008. April 26. (51-46) L-3 |
Y |
Y |
||
Limit debate on a proposal to end combat operations in Iraq by March 2008. May 16. (29-67; 60 votes required to invoke cloture) C-2 |
Y |
Y |
||
Limit debate on a proposal to require progress reports for the Iraq government and withhold economic aid for failure to meet "benchmarks." May 16. (52-44; 60 votes required to invoke cloture) L-2 |
N |
N |
||
Limit debate on a measure requiring longer rest periods for U.S. troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. July 11. (56-41; 60 votes required to invoke cloture) C-3 |
Y |
Y |
||
Restrict deployment of most Army troops serving in Iraq to 12 consecutive months. July 11. (52-45; 60 votes required because of a unanimous consent agreement) C-3 |
Y |
Y |
||
Limit debate on a proposal to withdraw most U.S. troops from Iraq by April 2008. July 18. (52-47; 60 votes required to invoke cloture. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., voted no so that he could subsequently move to reconsider the vote.) C-3 |
Y |
Y |
||
Restrict the U.S. share of the cost of United Nations peacekeeping operations. September 6. (30-63) L-2 |
Did not vote |
Did not vote |
||
Block funding for World Bank malaria control and prevention programs. September 6. (33-60) L-2 |
Did not vote |
Did not vote |
||
Prevent Mexican trucks from operating on most U.S. roads. September 11. (75-23) L-2 |
Y |
Y |
||
Limit debate on a measure to provide more due process rights to detainees of the U.S. government. September 19. (56-43; 60 votes required to invoke cloture) C-3 |
Y |
Y |
||
Require longer rest periods for U.S. troops sent to war. September 19. (56-44; 60 votes required because of a unanimous consent agreement) C-3 |
Y |
Y |
||
Condemn personal attacks on Gen. David Petraeus, U.S. commander in Iraq. September 20. (72-25; 60 votes required because of a unanimous consent agreement) C-2 |
N |
Did not vote |
||
Require U.S. combat troops to withdraw from Iraq within 90 days. September 20. (28-70; 60 votes required because of a unanimous consent agreement) C-2 |
Y |
Y |
||
Set a timeline for most U.S. troops to withdraw from Iraq within nine months. September 21. (47-47; 60 votes required because of a unanimous consent agreement) C-3 |
Y |
Y |
||
Express the sense of Congress that Iraq should be divided into Shiite, Kurdish, and Sunni federal regions. September 26. (75-23; 60 votes required because of a unanimous consent agreement) L-1 |
Y |
Did not vote |
||
Express the sense of the Senate that the Iranian revolutionary guard should be designated a terrorist organization. September 26. (76-22; 60 votes required because of a unanimous consent agreement) C-1 |
Y |
Did not vote |
||
Require U.S. combat troops to withdraw from Iraq by June 30, 2008. October 3. (28-68; 60 votes required because of a unanimous consent agreement) C-2 |
Y |
Did not vote |
||
Limit debate on a fiscal 2008 emergency supplemental appropriations bill to provide $70 billion for the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. November 16. (45-53; 60 votes required to invoke cloture) L-3 |
N |
N |
||
Limit debate on a fiscal 2008 emergency supplemental appropriations bill to provide $50 billion for the Iraq and Afghanistan wars and require the withdrawal of most U.S. troops by December 15, 2008. November 16. (53-45; 60 votes required to invoke cloture) C-3 |
Y |
Y |
||
Implement a free-trade agreement with Peru. December 4. (77-18) C-1 |
Did not vote |
Did not vote |
||
Require the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq. December 18. (24-71; 60 votes required because of a unanimous consent agreement) C-2 |
Did not vote |
Did not vote |
||
Express the sense of Congress that by the end of 2008, the mission of U.S. troops in Iraq should be limited to counter-terrorism, training Iraqi security forces, and force protection. December 18. (50-45; 60 votes required because of a unanimous consent agreement) C-3 |
Did not vote |
Did not vote |
||
Add $70 billion to a fiscal 2008 omnibus spending package to pay for the Iraq war through the spring of 2008. December 18. (70-25; 60 votes required because of a unanimous consent agreement) C-2 |
Did not vote |
Did not vote |
||
