THE HOUSE

Here is how area members of the House of Representatives voted on major issues at the close of the 102nd Congress:

Override of Cable Veto

By a vote of 308 to 114, the House overrode President Bush’s veto of a bill (S 12) empowering federal and local authorities to regulate cable television rates and service standards. This followed a similar Senate vote of 74 to 25, and marked Congress’ first override of a Bush veto. The bill will subject the nation’s 11,000 cable TV franchises to regulation by the Federal Communications Commission and local governments.

“This is not a vote to embarrass the President,” override supporter Steve Gunderson (R-Wis.) said. “This is a vote to support our constituents.”

Veto backer Michael G. Oxley (R-Ohio) called the bill “a pre-election scam that is going to fool the consumer” when cable rates are driven higher by regulation.

A yes vote was to regulate cable television.

How They Voted Yea Nay No vote Rep. Dreier (R) x Rep. Martinez (D) x Rep. Moorhead (R) x Rep. Roybal (D) x Rep. Torres (D) x

Abortion Counseling

By a vote of 266 to 148, the House failed to achieve the two-thirds majority needed to enact, over President Bush’s veto, a bill (S 323) permitting professional staff members at federally funded clinics to provide abortion counseling and referrals to pregnant women as a family planning option. The Senate had voted earlier, 73 to 26, to override the veto. In his veto message, the President objected that “the Congress has seen fit to entangle this family planning program in the politics of abortion.”

Override supporter Henry A. Waxman (D-Los Angeles) said the veto was “callous to the needs of poor women around the nation.”

A yes vote supported federally funded abortion counseling.

How They Voted Yea Nay No vote Rep. Dreier (R) x Rep. Martinez (D) x Rep. Moorhead (R) x Rep. Roybal (D) x Rep. Torres (D) x

Tax Breaks as a Fiscal Stimulus

By a vote of 208 to 202, the House approved the conference report on legislation (HR 11) providing $27 billion in tax breaks over five years to provide a fiscal stimulus and spur personal savings and business growth. The bill includes $11.6 billion in incentives to attract capital investment to 50 urban and rural enterprise zones. The bill remains essentially deficit-neutral; revenue lost through the tax cuts would be regained by raising an approximately equal amount through hundreds of tax code changes primarily affecting corporations and high-income individuals.

Supporter Charles B. Rangel (D-N.Y.) said, “Members have said that we are raising taxes. Why do they not talk about the taxes that we are cutting?”

Opponent Bill Archer (R-Tex.) said, “This country at this time does not need dozens of tax increases.”

A yes vote was to pass the bill.

How They Voted Yea Nay No vote Rep. Dreier (R) x Rep. Martinez (D) x Rep. Moorhead (R) x Rep. Roybal (D) x Rep. Torres (D) x

Source: Roll Call Report Syndicate