115 th CONGRESS 2017 NTF voting scores during this session: FISCHER: 100 % 1st Session SASSE: 96 %

Transcription

1 NEBRASKA TAXPAYERS FOR FREEDOM: CONGRESS WATCH BULLETIN. THE VOTING RECORD OF YOUR SENATORS: North 168 Cir. #213 Omaha, NE Phone: Miracle Hills Dr. #205 Omaha, NE Phone: Fax: Sen. Ben Sasse Sen. Deb Fischer 115 th CONGRESS 2017 NTF voting scores during this session: FISCHER: 100 % 1st Session SASSE: 96 % Taxes. PN26: To confirm Peter Mnuchin as Sec. of Treasury. GOOD RESOLUTION/ HR 1: To cut taxes and produce jobs. This $1.5 trillion law lowered tax rates for individuals and corporations, eliminated the individual mandate that required most Americans to buy health insurance or pay a penalty under Obama Care, and opened the Arctic Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling. GOOD BILL/ S.Amend.1717: To waive the restrictive budget process. BAD AMENDMENT/ FAILED Fischer: NO Sasse NO S.Amend.1846: To waive the restrictive budget process. BAD AMENDMENT/ FAILED Fischer: NO Sasse: NO S.Amend.1850: To increase the refundability of the child tax credit. GOOD AMENDMENT/ FAILED Fischer: S.Amend.1854: Liberal amendment to increase the Child Tax Credit. BAD AMENDMENT/ FAILED Fischer: NO Sasse: NO H.Con.Res.71: To make the tax code fairer and simplify the filing process. GOOD BILL/ PASSED Fischer: S. Amend. 1120: To ensure no tax cuts for top 1% of American taxpayers. BAD AMENDMENT/ FAILED S. Amend. 1138: To eliminate Senate exception for tax cut reconciliation legislation and exception to rules preventing legislation from increasing the deficit short-term. BAD S. Amend. 1141: The vote against legislation to raise taxes on middle class by double-taxing income already taxed at state or local level. GOOD AMENDMENT/ S. Amend.1146: To provide tax relief to families with kids. GOOD AMENDMENT/ PASSED Fischer: S. Amend. 1178: To make the American tax system simpler and fairer. GOOD AMENDMENT/ PASSED Fischer: S. Amend. 1228: Legislation to increase taxes on those with annual income under $250,000. BAD S.Amend.1249: Liberal modification to the reinstatement and strengthening of prohibition on voting on fiscal legislation without a Congressional Budget Office score. BAD NO S.Amend.1375: Legislation that includes deficit-financed tax cuts. BAD AMENDMENT/ FAILED Sasse: NO S.Amend.1378: To offer tax benefits to employers who provide inflated "fair pay and benefits for workers." Fischer: BAD S.Amend.1393: To provide tax relief to middle-income Americans by changing federal deductions that disproportionately favor high-income taxpayers. GOOD AMENDMENT/ S.Amend.1428: To modify a deficit-neutral reserve fund relating to public lands and environment to address payments under payment in lieu of taxes program because of state or local governments, if state or local governments own the land. GOOD AMENDMENT/ FAILED Fischer: S.Amend.1553: To establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund to provide full, permanent, and mandatory funding for payment in lieu of taxes program. BAD AMENDMENT/ PASSED

2 Spending. PN54: To confirm Mick Mulvaney as director of Office of Management & Budget. GOOD RESOLUTION/ PASSED Fischer: S. Con. Res. 3 Amend. 8: To stop the budget legislation originated by President Trump. BAD AMENDMENT/ FAILED H.Con.Res.71 S. Amend. 1139: Legislation to increase the deficit or reduce the surplus. BAD AMENDMENT/ FAILED HR 72: To ensure that Government Accounting Office has sufficient access to needed information. GOOD BILL/ Government Regulation. PN31: To confirm Ryan Zinke as Sec. of Interior. GOOD RESOLUTION/ PN44: To confirm Scott Pruitt as EPA administrator. GOOD RESOLUTION/ PN89: To confirm nomination of Ajit Pai as member of the Federal Communications Commission. GOOD RESOLUTION/ PN90: To confirm Sonny Perdue as Sec. of Agriculture. GOOD RESOLUTION/ PN681: To confirm nomination of Marvin Kaplan as member of the National Labor Relations Board. GOOD RESOLUTION/ PN725: To confirm nomination of William Emanuel as member of the National Labor Relations Board. GOOD RESOLUTION/ S.89: To exempt old ships that operate within inland waterways from fire-retardant materials requirement, if owners make yearly structural changes to at least 10% of areas not constructed of fire-retardant materials. GOOD BILL/ HJ Res. 37: This resolution of disapproval under the Congressional Review Act nullifies Obama Defense Dept., General Services Administration, and National Aeronautics and Space Administration rules regarding the Federal Acquisition Regulation. This regulation requires federal contractors to disclose decisions on the reporting of violations of federal labor laws. The rules would have cost employers $458.3 million in the first year, $413.7 million in the second year, and between $398.5 million and $400 million annually thereafter. GOOD RESOLUTION/ PASSED Fischer: Sasse: HJ Res. 38: This resolution of disapproval under the Congressional Review Act nullifies the Obama Department of the Interior Stream Protection Rule. With an annual estimated cost of $81 million, according to the department Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, this rule would have crippled the coal industry, a favorite target of the Obama Regime. The National Mining Association estimates the rule would lead to billions of dollars in lost revenues to state and local governments and the loss of between 113,000 and 280,000 jobs. GOOD RESOLUTION/ PASSED Fischer: HJ Res. 44: To nullify rule submitted by Obama Interior Dept. regarding Bureau of Land Management regulations. GOOD RESOLUTION/ HJ Res. 66: To nullify Obama Labor Dept. rule that hampers employee savings arrangements and payroll deduction savings programs established by states for private employers. GOOD RESOLUTION/ PASSED Fischer: Sasse: HJ Res. 67: To nullify Obama Dept. of Labor rule that expanded regulations that mandated how states design and operate payroll deduction savings programs for private sector employees. GOOD RESOLUTION/ PASSED Fischer: H.Con.Res.71 S. Amend. 1429: To establish a spending-neutral reserve fund related to prohibiting federal regulation of interstate species under the Endangered Species Act of GOOD AMENDMENT/ FAILED Fischer: Sasse: HJ Res.111: To nullify an Obama Consumer Financial Protection Bureau rule about arbitration agreements in consumer financial products and services. GOOD RESOLUTION/ Education. PN37: To confirm Betsy De Vos as Sec. of Education. GOOD RESOLUTION/ HR 1 S.Amend.1852: To allow 529 college savings account funds to be used for elementary and secondary education, including home schools. GOOD AMENDMENT/ HJ Res. 57: To nullify rule submitted by Obama Education Dept. regarding accountability and state plans under Elementary & Secondary Education Act of This nullification under the Congressional Review Act gives Congress authority to effectively nullify regulations submitted for review by federal agencies within 60 legislative days and cancel

3 the department Accountability and State Plans Rule. The rule implements part of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) and opened a loophole that federal bureaucrats could exploit to force Common Core on states that refuse these standards. Education officials from several states and local jurisdictions strongly opposed the rule when originated. GOOD RESOLUTION/ HJ Res. 58: To nullify rule submitted by Obama Education Dept. relating to teacher preparation. GOOD RESOLUTION/ Health. S.Con.Res.3 Amend. 20: An amendment by Sen. Bernie Sanders to prevent privatization of Medicare or limit federal funding of Medicaid. BAD Amend. 52: To strengthen Social Security and Medicare without raiding their funds to pay for new government programs like Obama Care that have failed Americans by increasing premiums and reducing affordable health care options, to reform Medicaid without prioritizing healthy adults over disabled, and return regulation of insurance to state governments. GOOD AMENDMENT/ Amend. 13: To stop legislation that would repeal Obama Care legislation that eliminated a drug coverage gap under Medicare. BAD Amend. 19: To prevent Senate from breaking the Trump promise to not cut Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. BAD Amend. 60: To stop legislation that would repeal Obama Care legislation that reduced health insurance access and affordability for individuals based on their occupation. BAD Amend. 61: To stop Republican legislation regarding individuals with disabilities and chronic health conditions. BAD Amend. 64: To stop GOP legislation regarding rural hospitals and health care providers. BAD AMENDMENT/ FAILED Amend. 81: Liberal amendment against free market Obama Care alternatives. BAD AMENDMENT/ FAILED Amend. 82: Liberal amendment to stop GOP legislation regulating female health care. BAD AMENDMENT/ FAILED Amend. 83: To stop legislation that would reduce or eliminate federal funding to states under Medicaid expansion. BAD Amend. 86: Liberal amendment to stop legislation that would reform coverage in U.S. of children's health care. BAD Amend. 167: To establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund relating to strengthening SS and repealing Obama Care, which has increased health care costs, raised middle-class taxes, reduced access to high quality care, and created disincentives to work, and replace it with patient-centered care that provides affordable private health care for all by increasing competition, state flexibility, and individual choice. GOOD AMENDMENT/ PASSED Fischer: Sasse: Amend. 173: To establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund relating to rural health and repeal and replace Obama Care. GOOD AMENDMENT/ Amend. 174: To ensure that importation of prescription medicines does not increase risk to public health according to the HHS Secretary. GOOD AMENDMENT/ Amend. 176: To establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund relating to enhanced health care and housing for veterans and their dependents by repealing Obama Care and prohibit Sec. of Veterans Affairs from hiring anyone convicted of a felony or medical personnel whose medical licenses or credentials revoked or suspended. GOOD AMENDMENT/ Amend. 179: To establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund related to reforming housing and Medicaid without prioritizing healthy adults over disabled or raid Medicare Trust Funds to pay for new government programs like Obama Care. GOOD AMENDMENT/ Amend. 180: To establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund to strengthen SS, repeal and replace Obama Care, and substitute reforms that strengthen Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program. GOOD AMENDMENT/ PASSED Fischer: Amend. 184: To establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund to strengthen SS and health care for women and repeal and replace Obama Care. GOOD AMENDMENT/ Amend. 188: To stop legislation that does not lower prescription drug prices but would allow importation of questionable drugs. BAD AMENDMENT/ PASSED

4 HR 1 S.Amend.1720: To vote against legislation that cuts SS, Medicare, and Medicaid benefits. BAD AMENDMENT/ FAILED HR 1628 S. Amend. 288: That Medicaid expansion is a priority and that Obama Care should be improved. BAD S. Amend. 271: The Obama Care Repeal Reconciliation Act would repeal much of Obama Care, including tax and cost sharing subsidies, Medicaid expansion, and new taxes enacted by the law, with a 2-year allowance to pass a replacement. This delay provides more than ample time to reach an agreement on replacement legislation. GOOD AMENDMENT/ S. Amend. 340: To provide comprehensive government health insurance coverage for all U.S. residents, including illegal aliens. BAD S. Amend. 389: To give Obama health care premium subsidies to the poor. BAD RESOLUTION/ FAILED Amend. 502: To eliminate sunset for repeal of tax on employee health insurance premiums and health plan benefits. GOOD AMENDMENT/ PASSED Fischer: Sasse: NO H Con Res. 71 S.Amend.1144: To establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund to protect Medicare and Medicaid. GOOD AMENDMENT/ S. Amend. 1119: To provide additional appropriations to restore $1 trillion in cuts to Medicaid by reducing tax breaks for upper income people. BAD S. Amend. 1150: To provide additional funding to restore $473 billion in cuts to Medicare. BAD S. Amend. 1430: To increase funding to repeal provisions of Obama Care. BAD AMENDMENT/ FAILED Fischer: NO HR 2430: To eliminate user fees for supplemental new drug applications and drug manufacturing facilities. Generic drug applications and supplements submitted to government entities for non-commercial drugs not subject to user fees. Except when a drug shortage, prescription drugs manufactured outside U.S. imported only if authorized by manufacturer and appropriately labeled. GOOD BILL/ Welfare. PN33: To confirm Tom Price as Sec. of Health & Human Services. GOOD RESOLUTION/ PASSED Fischer: PN34: To confirm Dr. Ben Carson as Sec. of Housing & Urban Development. GOOD RESOLUTION/ PASSED Fischer: HJ Res. 42: To nullify an Obama Labor Dept. rule that nullified previous rule that allowed state unemployment compensation programs to require and conduct drug testing. GOOD RESOLUTION/ PASSED Fischer: Sasse: HJ Res. 83: To nullify Obama Dept. of Labor rule regarding employer obligation to compile and maintain burdensome records of work-related injuries and illnesses. GOOD RESOLUTION/ Energy. PN36: To confirm Rick Perry as Sec. of Energy. GOOD RESOLUTION/ HJ Res. 36: To nullify Obama Bureau of Land Management (BLM) rule that required oil and gas producers to expensively handle generated waste. With annual compliance costs between $114 million and $279 million, the venting and flaring rule supposedly reduces waste from natural gas from mineral leases administered by the BLM. Actually, the purpose of the rule meant to discourage oil and gas production on land overseen by the agency. GOOD RESOLUTION/ FAILED? Fischer: HJ Res 41: To disapprove a rule submitted by the Obama SEC regarding bureaucratic disclosure of payments by energy companies. This resolution nullifies the Securities and Exchange Commission Disclosure of Payments by Resource Extraction Issuers rule. Promulgated under the authority of the Democrat Dodd-Frank Act, this rule requires resource extraction issuers to include in annual reports the payment to any foreign government or U.S. business for the purpose of the commercial development of oil, natural gas, or minerals. The SEC projected initial compliance costs between $239 million and $700 million and annual compliance costs between $96 million and $591 million. GOOD RESOLUTION/ H.Con.Res.71 S.Amend.1301: To prevent oil and gas development within the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. BAD

5 Law and Order. PN30: To confirm Jeff Sessions as Att.-General. GOOD RESOLUTION/ PN40: To confirm John Kelly as Sec. of Homeland Security. GOOD RESOLUTION/ PASSED Fischer: Sasse: PN55: To confirm nomination of Neil Gorsuch as associate justice on U.S. Supreme Court. GOOD RESOLUTION/ PN370: To confirm conservative Kenneth Bush as a U.S. Circuit Judge for 6th Circuit. GOOD RESOLUTION/ PN373: To confirm conservative David Nye as a U.S. district judge. GOOD RESOLUTION/ PASSED Fischer: PN696: To confirm nomination of Christopher Wray as FBI director. GOOD RESOLUTION/ PASSED Fischer: PN878: To confirm Steve Grasz as U.S. Circuit Judge for the 8th Circuit. GOOD RESOLUTION/ PASSED Fischer: PN1095: To confirm the nomination of Kirstjen Nielsen as Sec. of Homeland Security. GOOD RESOLUTION/ HR 1370: To authorize at Homeland Security an anti-human trafficking campaign and investigate trafficking connections to terrorist activities. Use techniques to identify suspected trafficking victims along U.S. border and at airports. GOOD BILL/ Firearms Rights. HJ Res. 69: To nullify rule finalized by Obama Interior Dept. relating to hunting wildlife and hunting closure procedures in Alaska National Wildlife Refuge. GOOD RESOLUTION/ Military. S.Con.Res.3 Amend. 104: To stop legislation that would limit veteran ability to choose VA health care options. BAD SJ Res. 42: To prohibit export to Saudi Arabia of specific military data and hardware for their defense aircraft and missiles. BAD RESOLUTION/ FAILED S.84: To allow exception to a rule that prohibits appointment of individual as Sec. of Defense within 7 years following active duty as a regular commissioned officer, so that President Trump can appoint his nominee as Sec. of Defense. GOOD BILL/ S. 722: To impose sanctions against anyone who contributes to Iranian missile system or who sells them specific military equipment or offers related technical or financial assistance. Sanctions against Iran Revolutionary Guard. The legislation placed new sanctions on Iranians who support terrorism, commit human rights violations, or contribute to the development of Iranian ballistic missile program. Sanctions placed on individuals responsible for human rights abuses and individuals who supply weapons to Syrian President Bashar al-assad, also on Russian energy sector. The bill targeted individuals who engage in malicious cyber attacks on behalf of the Russian government. It would require the President to obtain congressional approval before easing or eliminating sanctions on Russia. GOOD BILL/ PASSED S. Amend. 232: To impose sanctions on Russia and to combat terrorism and its illegal financing. GOOD Fischer: AMENDMENT/ HR 244: To encourage voluntary investments to recruit, employ, and retain military veterans with annual federal awards to employers, recognizing such efforts. GOOD BILL/ PASSED Fischer: Sasse: did not vote HR 2810: To authorize FY 2018 appropriations for military activities of Defense Dept., military construction, and Dept. of Energy defense activities. A 2.4% pay raise for service members, an increase of 20,000 active duty and reserve troops, a $4.4 billion increase for missile defense programs, and an increase in the numbers of ships, planes, and other military equipment. GOOD BILL/ S. Amend. 871: To continue authorization for use of military force against Iraq as permitted by 2002 resolution. GOOD AMENDMENT/ PN29: To confirm James Mattis as Sec. of Defense. GOOD RESOLUTION/ PN39: To confirm David Shulkin as Veterans Administration Secretary. GOOD RESOLUTION/ PASSED Fischer:

6 Foreign Affairs. S. Res. 176: To commemorate 50th anniversary of reunification of Jerusalem. GOOD RESOLUTION/ PASSED Fischer: PN 25: To confirm Rex Tillerson as Sec. of State. GOOD RESOLUTION/ PN25(2): To table the motion to reconsider vote to confirm Rex Tillerson. GOOD RESOLUTION/ PASSED Fischer: PN41: To confirm Dan Coats as director of National Intelligence Agency. GOOD RESOLUTION/ PASSED Fischer: PN 43: To confirm Mike Pompeo as CIA director. GOOD RESOLUTION/ PN 51: To confirm Nikki Haley as U.S. ambassador to the UN. GOOD RESOLUTION/ PASSED Fischer: PN523: To confirm the nomination of Callista Gingrich as U.S. ambassador to the Vatican. GOOD RESOLUTION/ Treaty Doc : Vote to allow Montenegro to join NATO. GOOD RESOLUTION/ PASSED Fischer: HR 601 S. Amend. 743: To add provisions to promote American values in foreign aid. GOOD AMENDMENT/ S. Amend. 808: Liberal amendment to accelerate foreign aid and promote education in developing countries. BAD AMENDMENT/ PASSED HR 3364: To counter aggression by Iran, Russia, and North Korea. To impose sanctions against Iran ballistic missiles and weapons of mass destruction, sale or transfer to Iran of military equipment, or provision of technical or financial assistance. Sanctions against Russia will remain in effect to increase Ukrainian energy security. Treasury Dept. must develop strategy for combating financing of terrorism. U.S. financial institutions may not establish or maintain accounts used by foreign financial institutions to provide financial services to North Korea. Sanctions against North Korea cargo and shipping goods produced by North Korean forced labor and foreigners who employ North Korean forced labor. Foreign government that provides or receives from North Korea a defense article or service prohibited from receiving U.S. foreign aid. GOOD BILL/ Traditional Values. HJ Res. 43: To nullify Obama HHS rule that denied family planning grant awards for entities that refused to provide abortion services. GOOD RESOLUTION/ HR 1628 Amend. 167: For one year, specific federal funds not available to states for payments to specific family planning providers (e.g., Planned Parenthood Federation of America). GOOD AMENDMENT/ PASSED Fischer: Source: U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes. Cong109.doc