The Senate "vote-a-rama," the nonstop sequence of votes on non-binding budget amendments, began yesterday at noon and ended Friday morning at 3:19 am. During that period, the Senate took roll call votes on 42 amendments and then the final budget.
The final budget passed 52 to 46. Only two Republicans--Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Rand Paul (R-KY)--voted against it.
I've described the amendments from the vote-a-rama below, but I wanted to start with a quick note about Senate process. If an amendment is designed to "create a point of order" for something, then it needs a 60-vote threshold to be accepted, rather than the simple majority needed for other budget amendments. If I note that an amendment failed even though it had a majority, that is why.
Diane Feinstein (D-CA) and Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) left shortly after midnight. If the sum of yeas and nays is 98 or below, it is probably one of the early morning votes.
There were three amendments that received unanimous votes: Bob Casey (D-PA)'s amendment on providing reasonable accommodations for pregnant workers, Jerry Moran (R-KS)'s amendment providing health care to veterans who reside more than 40 miles driving distance from the closest medical facility of the Department of Veterans Affairs that provides the care sought, and the modified version of Mark Kirk (R-IL)'s Iran sanctions amendment. Mark Kirk and Sherrod Brown (D-OH), the ranking Democrat on the Banking Committee, came up with a consensus version of the amendment that ended up meaning whatever each party wanted it to mean.
Labor
Bernie Sanders (I-VT) offered an amendment calling for an increase in the minimum wage without specifying what that increase would be:
The Chairman of the Committee on the Budget of the Senate may revise the allocations of a committee or committees, aggregates, and other appropriate levels in this resolution for one or more bills, joint resolutions, amendments, amendments between the Houses, motions, or conference reports relating to labor reform, which may include a substantial increase in the minimum wage by the amounts provided in such legislation for those purposes, provided that such legislation would not increase the deficit over either the period of the total of fiscal years 2016 through 2020 or the period of the total of fiscal years 2016 through 2025.
The amendment failed, with a vote of
48 to 52.
Two Republicans--Susan Collins (R-ME) and Rob Portman (R-OH)--joined Democrats in voting for it.
Given that the Democrats already have legislation for a minimum wage increase (to $10.10, ultimately), I don't understand why they did not put up that number. By being vague, they enabled Collins and Portman to get a show vote for themselves out of it.
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Patty Murray offered an amendment relating to paid sick leave:
The Chairman of the Committee on the Budget of the Senate may revise the allocations of a committee or committees, aggregates, and other appropriate levels in this resolution for one or more bills, joint resolutions, amendments, amendments between the Houses, motions, or conference reports relating to efforts to improve workplace benefits and reduce health care costs, which may include measures to allow Americans to earn paid sick time to address their own health needs and the health needs of their families, and to promote equal employment opportunities, by the amounts provided in such legislation for those purposes, provided that such legislation would not increase the deficit over either the period of the total of fiscal years 2016 through 2020 or the period of the total of fiscal years 2016 through 2025.
Her amendment passed
61 to 39.
15 Republicans voted for it:
Lamar Alexander (R-TN)
Kelly Ayotte (R-NH)
Richard Burr (R-NC)
Bill Cassidy (R-LA)
Susan Collins (R-ME)
Bob Corker (R-TN)
John Hoeven (R-ND)
Johnny Isakson (R-GA)
Ron Johnson (R-WI)
Mark Kirk (R-IL)
John McCain (R-AZ)
Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)
Rob Portman (R-OH)
John Thune (R-SD)
Pat Toomey (R-PA)
11 of these 15 are up for re-election next year, many in seats that could be competitive.
As I pointed earlier, Murray, along with 20 co-sponsors, re-introduced the Healthy Families Act, a bill that would allow workers to earn paid sick leave to use when they are sick, to care for a sick family member, to obtain preventive care, or to address the impacts of domestic violence, stalking or sexual assault. But, for some reason, she chose to offer a loosely worded amendment rather than her own bill, giving Republicans an easy symbolic vote when they would never have voted for the actual legislation.
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Jeff Flake (R-AZ) offered an amendment prohibiting the awarding of construction contracts based on awardees entering or not entering into agreements with labor organizations.
It passed 51 to 49.
Three Republicans joined Democrats in voting against it:
Steve Daines (R-MT)
Mark Kirk (R-IL)
Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)
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Mark Kirk (R-IL) offered an amendment whose summary text says that it seeks "to increase wages for American workers." I would question that, and I will provide the actual text when it becomes available.
It passed 57 to 43.
Three members of the Democratic caucus joined Republicans in voting for it:
Tom Carper (D-DE)
Angus King (I-ME)
Claire McCaskill (D-MO)
Jobs
Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) offered an amendment to prevent United States companies from getting tax benefits for moving jobs overseas, to end offshore tax loopholes including inversions, and to provide incentives for United States companies to relocate overseas jobs to the United States.
It failed on a party line vote of 46 to 54.
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Dick Durbin (D-IL) offered an amendment to provide tax benefits to "patriot employers" that invest in American jobs and provide fair pay and benefits to workers and to eliminate tax benefits for corporations that ship jobs overseas.
It failed on a party line vote of 46 to 54.
Health Care
Ron Wyden (D-OR) offered an amendment to strike more than $1.2 trillion in cuts to Medicaid, preserving a critical source of comprehensive, affordable health and long-term care coverage for millions of otherwise uninsured low-income adults, parents, and seniors, including millions of nonelderly low-income adults in States that expanded Medicaid as part of health reform.
It failed, with a vote of 47 to 53.
One Republican--Susan Collins (R-ME)--joined Democrats in voting for it.
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Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) offered amendment to provide additional resources to reject the Senate Republicans' proposed $435 billion in cuts to Medicare.
It failed, with a party line vote of 46 to 54.
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Tim Scott (R-SC) offered an amendment to require health insurance monthly premium statements to disclose "any Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act."
It failed 56 to 44.
Two Democrats--Michael Bennet (D-CO) and Joe Manchin (D-WV)--joined Republicans to vote for it.
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David Vitter (R-LA) offered an amendment to end employer-provided health benefits for members of Congress.
It passed on a party line vote of 52 to 46.
Social Security
Brian Schatz (D-HI) offered an amendment to ensure that all legally married same-sex spouses have equal access to the Social Security and veterans benefits they have earned and receive equal treatment under the law pursuant to the Constitution of the United States.
It passed 57 to 43.
11 Republicans joined the Democrats here:
Kelly Ayotte (R-NH)
Richard Burr (R-NC)
Shelly Moore Capito (R-WV)
Susan Collins (R-ME)
Bob Corker (R-TN)
Dean Heller (R-NV)
Ron Johnson (R-WI)
Mark Kirk (R-IL)
Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)
Rob Portman (R-OH)
Thom Tillis (R-NC)
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Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) offered an amendment to expand Social Security.
It failed, with a vote of 42 to 56.
All Democrats present voted for it, with the notable exceptions of Tom Carper (D-DE) and Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) who joined Republicans in voting against it.
Education
Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) offered an amendment to provide additional resources to create the opportunity for more Americans to obtain a higher education and advanced job skills by supporting two free years of community college paid for by raising revenue through requiring millionaires and billionaires to pay their fair share.
It failed 45 to 55.
One Democrat--Joe Manchin (D-WV)--joined the Republicans in voting against it.
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Al Franken (D-MN) offered an amendment to provide additional resources to save student financial aid and keep college affordable for more than 8,000,000 low- and middle-income students by restoring the $89,000,000,000 in cuts to Federal Pell Grants in the Republican budget.
It failed, with a party line vote of 46 to 54.
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David Vitter (R-LA) offered an amendment requiring the Federal Government to allow states to opt out of Common Core without penalty.
It passed on a party line vote of 54 to 46.
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Patty Murray (D-WA) offered an amendment to establish and fund a new Federal-State partnership to expand access to high-quality preschool programs for children from low- and moderate-income families, offset with revenue from closing loopholes.
It failed, with a party line vote of 46 to 54.
Climate
Roy Blunt (R-MO) offered an amendment to prohibit the imposition of a tax on carbon emissions.
The Chairman of the Committee on the Budget of the Senate may revise the allocations of a committee or committees, aggregates, and other appropriate levels in this resolution for one or more bills, joint resolutions, amendments, amendments between the Houses, motions, or conference reports related to carbon emissions, which may include prohibitions on Federal taxes or fees imposed on carbon emissions from any product or entity that is a direct or indirect source of emissions, by the amounts provided in such legislation for those purposes, provided that such legislation would not increase the deficit over either the period of the total of fiscal years 2016 through 2020 or the period of the total of fiscal years 2016 through 2025.
It passed
58 to 42.
Four Democrats joined the Republicans here:
Joe Donnelly (D-IN)
Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND)
Joe Manchin (D-WV)
Claire McCaskill (D-MO)
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Michael Bennet (D-CO) offered an amendment "relating to responding to the economic and national security threats posed by human-induced climate change, as highlighted by the Secretary of Defense, the Director of National Intelligence, the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration."
It passed 53 to 47.
Seven Republicans joined the Democrats in voting for it:
Kelly Ayotte (R-NH)
Susan Collins (R-ME)
Lindsey Graham (R-SC)
Dean Heller
Mark Kirk (R-IL)
Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)
Rob Portman (R-OH)
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Mitch McConnell (R-KY) offered an amendment prohibiting the EPA from withholding highway funds from States that refuse to submit State Implementation Plans required under the Clean Power Plan of the Agency.
It passed 57 to 43.
Three Democrats joined the Republicans in voting for it:
Joe Donnelly (D-IN)
Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND)
Joe Manchin (D-WV)
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Bill Nelson (D-FL) offered an amendment to create a point of order against legislation that would use tax dollars to censor publicly-funded climate science.
It failed, with a vote of 51 to 49.
Five Republicans joined Democrats in voting for it:
Kelly Ayotte (R-NH)
Susan Collins (R-ME)
Bob Corker (R-TN)
Rob Portman (R-OH)
Marco Rubio (R-FL)
Water, Wildlife, & Public Land
Cory Gardner (R-CO) offered an amendment "relating to protecting communities, businesses, recreationists, farmers, ranchers, or other groups that rely on privately held water rights and permits from Federal takings."
It passed 59 to 41.
Five Democrats joined Republicans here:
Michael Bennet (D-CO)
Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND)
Joe Manchin (D-WV)
Claire McCaskill (D-MO)
Jon Tester (D-MT)
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Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) offered an amendment to support and fund state efforts to seize and sell public lands.
It passed 51 to 49.
Three Republicans joined Democrats in voting against it:
Lamar Alexander (R-TN)
Kelly Ayotte (R-NH)
Cory Gardner (R-CO)
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Mike Lee (R-UT) offered an amendment "reauthorizing funding for payments to counties and other units of local government to include the option of payment at levels roughly equivalent to property tax revenues lost due to the presence of Federal land."
It passed 56 to 43.
Two Democrats--Joe Donnelly (D-IN) and Joe Manchin (D-WV)--joined Republicans in voting for it.
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Tom Cotton (R-AR) offered an amendment to require that the United States Fish and Wildlife Service examine the cumulative economic effects of the designation of critical habitats, e.g., on land or property uses or values, regional employment, or revenue impacts on States and units of local government.
It passed 52 to 46.
Two Democrats--Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) and Joe Manchin (D-WV)--joined Republicans in voting for it.
One Republican--Susan Collins (R-ME)--joined Democrats in voting against it.
Elections & Democracy
Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) offered an amendment to "make it more difficult for corporations and billionaires to secretly influence elections by making unlimited undisclosed campaign expenditures, and to prevent such entities from evading campaign finance law, including through making false statements to government agencies."
It failed, with a vote of 47 to 52.
Susan Collins (R-ME) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) joined the Democrats in voting for it.
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Ben Cardin (D-MD) offered an amendment providing a funding stream for a voter reinfranchisement initiative.
It failed, with a vote of 47 to 51.
One Democrat--Joe Manchin (D-WV)--voted against it.
Four Republicans voted for it:
Lamar Alexander (R-TN)
Bob Corker (R-TN)
Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)
Rand Paul (R-KY)
Consumer Protection
Jeff Merkley (D-OR) offered an amendment to ensure that the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection has authority and autonomy to continue to protect consumers from predatory lending, misleading or abusive behavior in the financial marketplace, or other unscrupulous practices.
It failed, with a party line vote of 46 to 54.
Taxation
John Thune (R-SD) offered an amendment to allow for the permanent elimination of the Federal estate tax.
It passed 54 to 46.
Susan Collins (R-ME) voted against it with the Democrats, and Joe Manchin (D-WV) voted for it with the Republicans.
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Ron Wyden (D-OR) offered an amendment to extend and expand refundable tax credits, such as tax provisions and policies included in legislation like the Working Families Tax Relief Act, American Opportunity Tax Credit Permanence and Consolidation Act, Helping Working Families Afford Child Care Act, or the 21st Century Worker Tax Cut Act.
It passed 73 to 27.
Republicans split 27 in favor and 27 against. Given the large size of both blocs, I will just refer you to the link above.
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Jack Reed (D-RI) offered an amendment to to eliminate deductions for corporate compensation in excess of $1,000,000.
It failed, with a party line vote of 44 to 54.
War, Security, & Foreign Affairs
Marco Rubio (R-FL) offered an amendment to boost the Pentagon budget to levels recommended by the National Defense Panel and begin to roll back sequestration.
It failed 32 to 68.
Republicans split: 32 in favor, 22 against. Given the large size of both blocs, I will just refer you to the link above.
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Rand Paul (R-KY) offered an amendment to increase the Pentagon budget by nearly $190 billion over the next two years (a 16% increase) and offset it with cuts in funding for aid to foreign governments, climate change research, and the budgets of the Environmental Protection Agency and the departments of Housing and Urban Development, Commerce, and Education.
It failed 4 to 96.
Only 3 Republicans other than Paul voted for it: Mike Enzi (R-WY), Mitch McConnell (R-KY), and David Vitter (R-LA)
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Jim Inhofe (R-OK) offered an amendment prohibiting funding of international organizations during the implementation of the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty prior to Senate ratification and adoption of implementing legislation.
It passed 59 to 41.
Five Democrats joined the Republicans here:
Joe Donnelly (D-IN)
Martin Heinrich (D-NM)
Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND)
Joe Manchin (D-WV)
Jon Tester (D-MT)
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Chris Coons (D-DE) offered an amendment to offset the costs of operations against ISIS.
It failed, with a party line vote of 46 to 54.
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Tom Cotton (R-AR) offered an amendment for construction of new facilities and improvements to existing facilities at the detention facilities at United States Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
The amendment failed, with a vote of 49 to 48.
Angus King (I-ME) voted for it with the Democrats.
Five Republicans voted against it with the Democrats:
Mike Enzi (R-WY)
Jeff Flake (R-AZ)
Mike Rounds (R-SD)
Dan Sullivan (R-AK)
Thom Tillis (R-NC)
These Republicans, I would presume, voted against it because it would boost total spending in the budget and not be offset. Note that Rand Paul (R-KY) voted for it.
Immigration
John McCain (R-AZ) offered an amendment relating to deterring the migration of unaccompanied children from El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras and expediting their deportation.
It passed 58 to 42.
Angus King (I-ME) and Joe Manchin (D-WV) joined the Republicans here.
Miscellaneous Budgetary Issues
Rob Portman (R-OH) offered an amendment related to dynamic scoring, or budgetary magic.
It passed 59 to 41.
Five members of the Democratic caucus voted for it:
Tim Kaine (D-VA)
Angus King (I-ME)
Joe Manchin (D-WV)
Claire McCaskill (D-MO)
Brian Schatz (D-HI)
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Mike Lee (R-UT) offered an amendment to prohibit increasing the public debt limit under reconciliation.
It passed 54 to 44.
Two Republicans--Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Susan Collins (R-ME)--voted against it with the Democrats.
Two Democrats--Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Jon Tester (D-MT)--voted against it with the Republicans.
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Tim Kaine (D-VA) offered an amendment to provide for sequestration replacement.
It passed 50 to 48.
Six Republicans joined Democrats in voting for it:
Lamar Alexander (R-TN)
Kelly Ayotte (R-NH)
Susan Collins (R-ME)
Bob Corker (R-TN)
Lindsey Graham (R-SC)
John McCain (R-AZ)