THE HOUSE

Debt Ceiling Increase

The House voted 221 to 205 to raise the federal debt limit by $332 billion, from $3.122 trillion to $3.444 trillion. The new ceiling (HR 5355) is expected to give the government borrowing authority to pay its bills through the end of fiscal 1991 on Sept. 30, 1991.

Supporter Robert H. Michel (R-Ill.) said Congress “could cause a governmental disaster” by rejecting the bill.

A yes vote was to increase federal borrowing.

How They Voted Yea Nay No vote Rep. Beilenson (D) x Rep. Berman (D) x Rep. Gallegly (R) x Rep. Lewis (R) x Rep. Moorhead (R) x Rep. Thomas (R) x Rep. Waxman (D) x

Dealing With Iraq

By a vote of 208 to 191, during debate on a farm bill (HR 3950), the House approved the softer of two approaches for using U.S. farm policy to penalize Iraq for its militarism abroad and mistreatment of citizens at home.

This occurred six days before Iraq invaded Kuwait. After the invasion, the House voted 416 to 0 to endorse President Bush’s economic sanctions against Iraq.

The vote empowered the secretary of agriculture to continue U.S. credit guarantees that help Iraq buy U.S. farm exports. Its effect was to gut tougher language, approved earlier the same day, that denied loan guarantees to Iraq.

A yes vote was to soften a House rebuke of Iraq.

How They Voted Yea Nay No vote Rep. Beilenson (D) x Rep. Berman (D) x Rep. Gallegly (R) x Rep. Lewis (R) x Rep. Moorhead (R) x Rep. Thomas (R) x Rep. Waxman (D) x

Civil Rights Bill

By a vote of 272 to 154, the House sent to conference with the Senate a bill (HR 4000) designed to overcome recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions that have made it more difficult for employees to prove claims of job discrimination.

The Civil Rights Act of 1990 puts on employers the burden of proving that allegedly discriminatory personnel decisions were based on business necessity, which critics said would lead to the equivalent of quotas.

A yes vote was to pass the bill.

How They Voted Yea Nay No vote Rep. Beilenson (D) x Rep. Berman (D) x Rep. Gallegly (R) x Rep. Lewis (R) x Rep. Moorhead (R) x Rep. Thomas (R) x Rep. Waxman (D) x