112th CONGRESS, Votes 31-40

The Freedom Index

A Congressional Scorecard Based on the U.S. Constitution
contrary to the expressed will of the Congress violates the Constitution. The House adopted Kings amendment on June 7, 2012 by a vote of 238 to 175 (Roll Call 363). We have assigned pluses to the yeas because the Obama administrations use of prosecutorial discretion to provide amnesty to illegal immigrants violates the constitutional principle of sepaOur fourth (and final) look at the 112th Congress shows how every member of the House and Senate voted on issues such as extending tax cuts, repealing ObamaCare (House), and auditing the Fed (House).

House Vote Descriptions

31 Immigration Enforcement.

ration of powers. According to Article I, Section 1, all legislative powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States. In particular, Congress is granted the power to establish a uniform rule of naturalization in Article I, Section 8. In contrast, Article II, Section 3 states that the president shall take care that the laws be faithfully executed.

During consideration of the fiscal 2013 Homeland Security appropriations bill (H.R. 5855), Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) introduced an amendment to prohibit the use of funds to be used to finalize, implement, administer, or enforce Immigration and Customs Enforcement memos (known as the Morton memos) regarding prosecutorial discretion to prioritize the removal of certain illegal immigrants. A few weeks after the vote on this amendment, Rep. Lou Barletta (R-Pa.) sent U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder a letter demanding answers regarding the administrations use of prosecutorial discretion, often referred to as administrative amnesty, to certain illegal aliens up to the age of 30. Barletta wrote: When similar measures that would implement these same policies were presented to Congress, Congress rejected them. The implementation of the new immigration policy that is

Impunity: The Obama administration has implemented a new policy of prosecutorial discretion, also known as administrative amnesty, for illegal immigrants that amounts to an unconstitutional failure to take care that the laws be faithfully executed.

About This Index

he Freedom Index: A Congressional Scorecard Based on the U.S. Constitution rates congressmen based on their adherence to constitutional principles of limited government, fiscal responsibility, national sovereignty, and a traditional foreign policy of avoiding foreign entanglements. To learn how any representative or senator voted on the key measures described herein, look him or her up in the vote charts. The scores are derived by dividing a congressmans constitutional votes (pluses) by the total number he cast (pluses and minuses) and multiplying by 100. The average House score for this index (votes 31-40) is 47 per-

cent. Three representatives earned 100 percent. The average Senate score is 40 percent, with 10 senators earning perfect scores. This is our final index for the 112th Congress. Our first index (votes 1-10) appeared in our August 8, 2011 issue, our second index (votes 11-20) in our January 9, 2012 issue, and our third index (votes 21-30) in our July 9, 2012 issue. These indexes are available online (click on Voting Index at TheNewAmerican.com). We encourage readers to examine how their own congressmen voted on each of the 10 key measures, as well as overall. We also encourage readers to commend legislators for their constitutional votes and to urge improvement where needed. n

This copyrighted article originally appeared in the October 22, 2012 issue of The Ne w Am e ricAN. Call 1-800-727-TRUE to order copies of this reprint!

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112th CONGRESS, Votes 31-40

wars to the United Nations. Whereas the Constitution grants the power to declare war exclusively to Congress in Article I, Section 8, the UN Charter grants this power to the UNs Security Council. The House passed H.R. 6018 on July 17, 2012 by a vote of 333 to 61 (Roll Call 469). We have assigned pluses to the nays because U.S. participation in the United Nations involves an unconstitutional delegation of our national sovereignty to the UN.

fense Appropriations Reduc35 Afghanistan Withdrawal (Detion).

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Above the law? Obamas attorney general, Eric Holder, has denied knowing about Operation Fast and Furious, in which the government allowed Mexican drug cartels access to American weapons, despite being on tape talking about it. And he has refused to cooperate with investigations.

tion. 32 Eric Holder Contempt Resolu-

After Attorney General Eric Holder refused to comply with a subpoena issued by the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform to provide documents regarding the Operation Fast and Furious gun-walking scandal, Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) introduced a resolution (H. Res. 711) to hold him in contempt of Congress. The House passed Rep. Issas resolution on June 28, 2012 by a vote of 255 to 67 (Roll Call 441). We have assigned pluses to the yeas because Holders refusal to comply with a subpoena issued by Congress is a clear violation of the constitutional principle of separation of powers, and as a member of the executive branch he essentially thumbed his nose at the legislative branch. The Repeal of Obamacare Act (H.R. 6079) would repeal both the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Public Law 111148) and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act (Public Law 111-152), known collectively as ObamaCare, and the provisions of law amended or repealed by these two acts would be restored or revived as if such acts had not been enacted. Despite the Supreme Courts June 28 decision upholding the constitutionality of the

individual mandate of ObamaCare, a careful reading of the legislative powers granted to Congress in Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution does not reveal any legislative power to fund or regulate healthcare. The House passed H.R. 6079 on July 11, 2012 by a vote of 244 to 185 (Roll Call 460). We have assigned pluses to the yeas because ObamaCare is an unconstitutional government takeover of nearly 20 percent of our nations economy.

During consideration of the Defense appropriations bill for fiscal 2013 (H.R. 5856), Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) proposed an amendment to cut overseas military spending by almost $21 billion. The intent behind the amendment was to allow enough funding for an orderly withdrawal from the unpopular war in Afghanistan but not enough to continue the conflict. According to Rep. Lee, the original bill includes over $85 billion for the war in Afghanistan. The House rejected Lees amendment on July 18, 2012 by a vote of 107 to 312 (Roll Call 485). We have assigned pluses to the yeas because the massive expenditure on undeclared foreign wars and nation building is unconstitutional and unaffordable.

tion. 34 Foreign Relations Authoriza-

33 ObamaCare Repeal.

The Foreign Relations Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 (H.R. 6018) authorizes $9 billion for the State Departments diplomatic and consular programs, $1.6 billion for dues to international organizations (about $0.6 billion for UN regular budget dues and about $1 billion in contributions to 43 other UN-system, regional, and non-UN organizations), and $1.8 billion for contributions for UN peacekeeping activities. The United States is the largest contributor to UN dues and peacekeeping, paying 22 percent of total UN regular dues and 27 percent of UN peacekeeping operations. When the U.S. Senate approved U.S. participation in the United Nations by a vote of 65 to 7 on December 4, 1945, it violated the Constitution by ceding our national sovereignty regarding engaging in

Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) introduced an amendment to the Department of Defense Appropriations Act (H.R. 5856) to prohibit the use of funds used in contravention of section 7 of title 1, United States Code. Section 7 of title 1 of the U.S. Code is better known as the Defense of Marriage Act. When Rep. King offered his amendment on the floor of the House on July 19, he explained: What weve seen since the passage of the Defense of Marriage Act is an effort on the part of the executive branch to undermine, I believe, marriage between one man and one woman within our military ranks.... Congress directs and acts within the authority of article I of the Constitution, our legislative authority, and the President of the United States, or his executives who are empowered by him, seek to undermine the law of the United States, instead of coming here to this Congress and asking for the law to be changed, or simply accepting the idea that theyve
THE NEW AMERICAN

36 Defense of Marriage Act.

Freedom Index

House Vote Scores

Votes: 31-40 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 1-40 Votes: 31-40 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 1-40

alabama 1 Bonner (R ) 2 Roby (R ) 3 Rogers, Mike D. (R ) 4 Aderholt (R ) 5 Brooks (R ) 6 Bachus, S. (R ) 7 Sewell (D ) alaska AL Young, D. (R ) arizona 1 Gosar (R ) 2 Franks, T. (R ) 3 Quayle (R ) 4 Pastor (D ) 5 Schweikert (R ) 6 Flake (R ) 7 Grijalva (D ) 8 Barber (D ) arkansas 1 Crawford (R ) 2 Griffin (R ) 3 Womack (R ) 4 Ross, M. (D ) CaliFornia 1 Thompson, M. (D ) 2 Herger (R ) 3 Lungren (R ) 4 McClintock (R ) 5 Matsui (D ) 6 Woolsey (D ) 7 Miller, George (D ) 8 Pelosi (D ) 9 Lee (D ) 10 Garamendi (D ) 11 McNerney (D ) 12 Speier (D ) 13 Stark (D ) 14 Eshoo (D ) 15 Honda (D ) 16 Lofgren (D ) 17 Farr (D ) 18 Cardoza (D ) 19 Denham (R ) 20 Costa (D ) 21 Nunes (R ) 22 McCarthy, K. (R ) 23 Capps (D ) 24 Gallegly (R ) 25 McKeon (R ) 26 Dreier (R ) 27 Sherman (D ) 28 Berman (D ) 29 Schiff (D ) 30 Waxman (D ) 31 Becerra (D ) 32 Chu (D )

56% 60% 60% 60% 80% 60% 0% 67% 78% 80% 80% 20% 80% 78% 33% 11% 60% 60% 60% 56% 20% 75% 60% 90% 22% 33% 22% 0% 33% 0% 20% 30% 38% 20% 33% 30% 30% 0% 60% 22% 60% 60% 20% 60% 70% 60% 10% 10% 11% 10% 22% 22%

+ + + + + + + + + + + + -

+ + + + + + ? + + + + + + ? + + + + + + + ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? + ? + + + + + ? ? ?

? + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + -

+ ? ? + + + ? + -

? + + + + + + + + + + + + ? + + +

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + ? + + + + + + -

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + ? + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + -

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + ? + + + + + + + -

? + + ? + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

+ + + + + + ? ? + + ? + + + -

64% 65% 67% 68% 83% 63% 16% 69% 76% 77% 77% 28% 85% 82% 33% 11% 63% 65% 63% 44% 15% 73% 60% 93% 18% 33% 17% 8% 34% 11% 23% 23% 34% 13% 26% 26% 26% 23% 65% 18% 65% 63% 15% 63% 64% 55% 15% 10% 13% 21% 18% 21%

+ + + + + + + + + + + + -

33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53

Bass, K. (D ) Roybal-Allard (D ) Waters (D ) Hahn (D ) Richardson (D ) Napolitano (D ) Snchez, Linda (D ) Royce (R ) Lewis, Jerry (R ) Miller, Gary (R ) Baca (D ) Calvert (R ) Bono Mack (R ) Rohrabacher (R ) Sanchez, Loretta (D ) Campbell (R ) Issa (R ) Bilbray (R ) Filner (D ) Hunter (R ) Davis, S. (D )

25% 22% 33% 29% 33% 25% 22% 60% 50% 70% 11% 60% 70% 70% 30% 78% 60% 60% 40% 60% 11% 22% 33% 70% 80% 80% 60% 10% 22% 20% 20% 10% 33% 11% 70% 60% 0% 70% 60% 80% 60% 60% 56% 60% 0% 80% 67% 78% 80% 70% 22% 40% 0%

? + ? + + + + + + + ? + + + + + + + + + + + + ? + + + + + + -

? ? ? ? ? ? ? + ? + ? + + + + + + ? + ? ? ? + + + + ? ? + + ? + + + + + + + ? + + + + + ? + -

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + -

? ? ? ? ? + + + ? + + ? ? + + -

+ + + ? + + + + + + ? + ? + + + + + -

+ + + + + + + + + ? + ? + + + + + + ? + + + + + + + + + + + + ?

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + -

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + -

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + ? + -

+ + + + + + + + + + -

16% 23% 34% 32% 33% 29% 21% 73% 62% 68% 22% 65% 59% 75% 22% 74% 63% 50% 19% 73% 13% 18% 20% 80% 77% 78% 70% 20% 23% 21% 20% 15% 23% 8% 72% 75% 15% 65% 68% 80% 65% 67% 59% 63% 9% 83% 66% 84% 85% 73% 14% 52% 11%

Colorado 1 DeGette (D ) 2 Polis (D ) 3 Tipton (R ) 4 Gardner (R ) 5 Lamborn (R ) 6 Coffman (R ) 7 Perlmutter (D ) ConneCtiCut 1 Larson, J. (D ) 2 Courtney (D ) 3 DeLauro (D ) 4 Himes (D ) 5 Murphy, C. (D ) delaware AL Carney (D ) Florida 1 Miller, J. (R ) 2 Southerland (R ) 3 Brown, C. (D ) 4 Crenshaw (R ) 5 Nugent (R ) 6 Stearns (R ) 7 Mica (R ) 8 Webster (R ) 9 Bilirakis (R ) 10 Young, C.W. (R ) 11 Castor (D ) 12 Ross, D. (R ) 13 Buchanan (R ) 14 Mack (R ) 15 Posey (R ) 16 Rooney (R ) 17 Wilson, F. (D ) 18 Ros-Lehtinen (R ) 19 Deutch (D )

The scores are derived by dividing the constitutionally correct votes (pluses) by the total number of pluses and minuses and multiplying by 100. (A ? means a Rep. did not vote; a P means he voted present. If a Rep. cast fewer than five votes in this index, a score is not assigned.) Match numbers at the top of the chart to House vote descriptions on pages 1, 2, and 4.

www.TheNewAmerican.com

112th CONGRESS, Votes 31-40

taken an oath to uphold the Constitution of the United States and the rule of law, and to take care, under article II, section 3, that the laws be faithfully executed. The House adopted Kings amendment on July 19, 2012 by a vote of 247 to 166 (Roll Call 487). We have assigned pluses to the yeas because the Constitution grants all legislative powers exclusively to Congress in Article I, Section 1 and requires the president to take care that the laws be faithfully executed in Article II, Section 3.

37 Federal Reserve Audit.

Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) introduced a bill (H.R. 459) to require a full audit of the board of governors of the Federal Reserve System and the Federal Reserve banks by the comptroller general of the United States. The House passed the bill on July 25, 2012 by a vote of 327 to 98 (Roll Call 513). We have assigned pluses to the yeas because the Federal Reserve System, essentially a cartel of private banks functioning as a central bank, is unconstitutional and is responsible for much of the nations current financial problems via its control of money and credit. An audit of the Fed would shed light on its otherwise secretive practices and perhaps open the door for its eventual abolishment.

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The U.S. Federal Reserve, a cartel of private bankers who control the money supply, dramatically affects the U.S. economy, so Rep. Ron Paul has been pursuing legislation to have it audited. The bankers involved have fought transparency at every turn, meaning they are hiding something.

39 FISA

In view of the looming fiscal cliff of expiring tax cuts, tax increases, and automatic spending cuts set to take place January 1, 2013, Rep. Dave Camp (R-Mich.) offered a bill (H.R. 8) to extend all of the expiring Bush-era tax rates for one year. The bill would effectively tie alternative minimum tax exemption amounts to inflation in 2012 and 2013; extend the so-called marriage penalty-tax relief, the $1,000 child tax credit, and the 15-percent top tax rate on dividends and capital gains; and keep the estate tax at its current levels. The House passed the bill on August 1, 2012, by a vote of 256 to 171 (Roll Call 545). We have assigned pluses to the yeas because extending the tax cuts keeps more money in the hands of citizens, where it can be invested into the economy, thus spurring economic growth. Of course, the deficits need to be eliminated, but the way to accomplish this is to cut spending, not increase taxes.
4

38 Tax Cut Extension.

. The proposed FISA Amendments Act Reauthorization Act of 2012 (H.R. 5949) would reauthorize for five years, through 2017, the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), which governs electronic surveillance of foreign terrorism suspects. The law allows warrantless surveillance of foreign targets who may be communicating with people in the United States, provided that the secret FISA court approves surveillance procedures. The Senate passed H.R. 5949 on September 12, 2012 by a vote of 301 to 118 (Roll Call 569). We have assigned pluses to the nays because warrantless surveillance is unconstitutional and violates privacy and individual liberty. While ostensibly carried out only on foreign suspects communicating with U.S. citizens, it is difficult to imagine this surveillance not extending to U.S. citizens. House Joint Resolution 117 would provide continuing appropriations for the federal government from October 1, 2012 through March 27, 2013. This would amount to an annualized rate of $1.047 trillion in discretionary spending for regular appropriations, and would in-

40 Continuing Resolution.

clude a 0.6 percent increase in funding for most federal programs and agencies. This continuing resolution would also provide nearly $100 billion in war funding and $6.4 billion in advance disaster relief funds. To put this appropriations bill into perspective, consider what the Congressional Budget Office reported on August 22, 2012: For fiscal year 2012 (which ends on September 30), the federal budget deficit will total $1.1 trillion, CBO estimates, marking the fourth year in a row with a deficit of more than $1 trillion. This deficit is based on the CBOs estimates of $2.435 trillion in federal revenue and $3.563 trillion in federal outlays for fiscal 2012. Therefore, 32 percent of every federal dollar spent in 2012 had to be borrowed. For 2011, 2010, and 2009 the shortfall has been 36, 37, and 40 percent respectively. The House passed H. J. Res. 117 on September 13, 2012 by a vote of 329 to 91 (Roll Call 579). We have assigned pluses to the nays because passage of this mammoth continuing resolution provided a way for Congress to perpetuate its fiscally irresponsible, unconstitutional spending habits with a minimum of accountability to its constituents. n
THE NEW AMERICAN

Freedom Index
Votes: 31-40 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 1-40 Votes: 31-40 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 1-40

20 21 22 23 24 25

Wasserman Schultz (D )11% Diaz-Balart (R ) 40% West, A. (R ) 70% Hastings, A. (D ) 11% Adams (R ) 80% Rivera (R ) 50%

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

+ + ? + + + ? + ? ? + + + + + + + ? ? + + ? ? ? ? + ? + ? + + + + + + + + + + + + + + ? + + + + +

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + ? + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

+ + ? + + + + + + ? ? ? ? + ? + -

+ + ? + ? + + + + + + + + + + -

? + + + + + + + + + + + + + ? + + ? + + ? + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + ? + + ? + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + ? + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

+ + + + ? ? + ? + + + + + + + -

+ ? + + + + ? + + + + + + + -

11% 53% 73% 23% 78% 60% 74% 32% 80% 15% 30% 75% 69% 80% 83% 92% 75% 40% 16% 15% 15% 89% 69% 26% 25% 21% 22% 20% 64% 25% 84% 26% 50% 64% 44% 49% 73% 85% 74% 70% 62% 64% 28% 32% 83% 73% 78% 66% 21% 69% 65% 33% 25% 30% 65% 74%

kansas 1 Huelskamp (R ) 2 Jenkins (R ) 3 Yoder (R ) 4 Pompeo (R ) kentuCky 1 Whitfield (R ) 2 Guthrie (R ) 3 Yarmuth (D ) 4 Davis, G. (R ) 5 Rogers, H. (R ) 6 Chandler (D ) louisiana 1 Scalise (R ) 2 Richmond (D ) 3 Landry, J. (R ) 4 Fleming (R ) 5 Alexander, R. (R ) 6 Cassidy (R ) 7 Boustany (R ) maine 1 Pingree (D ) 2 Michaud (D ) maryland 1 Harris (R ) 2 Ruppersberger (D ) 3 Sarbanes (D ) 4 Edwards (D ) 5 Hoyer (D ) 6 Bartlett (R ) 7 Cummings (D ) 8 Van Hollen (D ) massaCHusetts 1 Olver (D ) 2 Neal (D ) 3 McGovern (D ) 4 Frank, B. (D ) 5 Tsongas (D ) 6 Tierney (D ) 7 Markey (D ) 8 Capuano (D ) 9 Lynch (D ) 10 Keating (D ) miCHiGan 1 Benishek (R ) 2 Huizenga (R ) 3 Amash (R ) 4 Camp (R ) 5 Kildee (D ) 6 Upton (R ) 7 Walberg (R ) 8 Rogers, Mike (R ) 9 Peters (D ) 10 Miller, C. (R ) 11 Vacant 12 Levin, S. (D ) 13 Clarke (D ) 14 Conyers (D ) 15 Dingell (D ) minnesota 1 Walz (D ) 2 Kline, J. (R )

70% 60% 70% 60% 60% 60% 22% 71% 60% 50% 60% 14% 78% 80% 60% 60% 70% 33% 30% 70% 11% 11% 22% 0% 60% 22% 11% 33% 25% 33% 33% 40% 30% 22% 33% 10% 22% 70% 70% 90% 60% 22% 60% 70% 60% 0% 60% 0% 33% 38% 10% 50% 60%

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + ? + + + + + + + ? + +

+ + + + + + ? + + + + ? + + + + + ? + ? ? ? ? + ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? + + + + ? + + + ? + ? ? ? + +

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

? ? + + + + + -

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + -

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

+ + + + + + + + + + + ? + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + -

+ + + + + + + + + + + -

82% 70% 70% 69% 67% 66% 24% 74% 64% 25% 67% 17% 87% 83% 63% 68% 74% 33% 23% 83% 8% 18% 21% 8% 74% 21% 10% 22% 19% 28% 28% 18% 28% 26% 32% 18% 23% 70% 78% 92% 67% 18% 70% 78% 63% 13% 70% 5% 31% 30% 13% 30% 63%

GeorGia 1 Kingston (R ) 67% 2 Bishop, S. (D ) 33% 3 Westmoreland, L. (R ) 70% 4 Johnson, H. (D ) 11% 5 Lewis, John (D ) 22% 6 Price, T. (R ) 70% 7 Woodall (R ) 60% 8 Scott, A. (R ) 70% 9 Graves, T. (R ) 70% 10 Broun (R ) 88% 11 Gingrey (R ) 80% 12 Barrow (D ) 50% 13 Scott, D. (D ) 11% Hawaii 1 Hanabusa (D ) 2 Hirono (D ) idaHo 1 Labrador (R ) 2 Simpson (R ) 11% 0% 78% 70%

illinois 1 Rush (D ) 33% 2 Jackson, J. (D ) 3 Lipinski (D ) 33% 4 Gutierrez (D ) 13% 5 Quigley (D ) 20% 6 Roskam (R ) 60% 7 Davis, D. (D ) 38% 8 Walsh (R ) 80% 9 Schakowsky (D ) 22% 10 Dold (R ) 60% 11 Kinzinger (R ) 60% 12 Costello (D ) 40% 13 Biggert (R ) 50% 14 Hultgren (R ) 60% 15 Johnson, Timothy (R ) 89% 16 Manzullo (R ) 60% 17 Schilling (R ) 70% 18 Schock (R ) 60% 19 Shimkus (R ) 60% indiana 1 Visclosky (D ) 2 Donnelly (D ) 3 Stutzman (R ) 4 Rokita (R ) 5 Burton (R ) 6 Pence (R ) 7 Carson (D ) 8 Bucshon (R ) 9 Young, T. (R ) iowa 1 Braley (D ) 2 Loebsack (D ) 3 Boswell (D ) 4 Latham (R ) 5 King, S. (R ) 30% 40% 80% 60% 70% 60% 22% 60% 60% 30% 30% 40% 60% 60%

The scores are derived by dividing the constitutionally correct votes (pluses) by the total number of pluses and minuses and multiplying by 100. (A ? means a Rep. did not vote; a P means he voted present. If a Rep. cast fewer than five votes in this index, a score is not assigned.) Match numbers at the top of the chart to House vote descriptions on pages 1, 2, and 4. Call 1-800-727-TRUE to subscribe today! 5

112th CONGRESS, Votes 31-40

Votes: 31-40 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 1-40 Votes: 31-40 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 1-40

3 4 5 6 7 8

Paulsen (R ) McCollum (D ) Ellison (D ) Bachmann (R ) Peterson (D ) Cravaack (R )

60% 22% 22% 80% 60% 70% 60% 22% 60% 70% 33% 11% 70% 22% 70% 60% 80% 60% 70% 60% 60% 60% 10% 60% 60% 60% 60% 11% 60% 56% 60% 70% 22% 60% 22% 0% 60% 20% 0% 10% 60% 10% 11% 13% 67% 11% 0% 22% 22% 30%

+ + + + + + + ? + + + + + + + + + + + + + + ? + + + + + + -

+ ? ? + + + + ? + + ? + ? + ? + + + + + + + + + + + + ? + + + + ? + ? + ? + ? + ? ? ? ? -

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + -

+ + + ? + + ? ? -

+ + + + ? + + + + + +

+ + + + + + + ? + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + ? + -

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

+ + + + + + + ? + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + -

+ + + + ? + + + + + + + + +

+ + ? + + + + ? -

68% 21% 23% 77% 52% 70% 67% 29% 63% 70% 24% 91% 15% 68% 29% 67% 66% 75% 63% 75% 62% 70% 63% 18% 68% 65% 73% 54% 14% 63% 59% 60% 75% 21% 60% 13% 8% 53% 23% 11% 15% 75% 23% 15% 11% 62% 5% 14% 19% 18% 31%

mississippi 1 Nunnelee (R ) 2 Thompson, B. (D ) 3 Harper (R ) 4 Palazzo (R ) missouri 1 Clay (D ) 2 Akin (R ) 3 Carnahan (D ) 4 Hartzler (R ) 5 Cleaver (D ) 6 Graves, S. (R ) 7 Long (R ) 8 Emerson (R ) 9 Luetkemeyer (R ) montana AL Rehberg (R ) nebraska 1 Fortenberry (R ) 2 Terry (R ) 3 Smith, Adrian (R ) nevada 1 Berkley (D ) 2 Amodei (R ) 3 Heck (R ) new HampsHire 1 Guinta (R ) 2 Bass, C. (R ) new Jersey 1 Andrews (D ) 2 LoBiondo (R ) 3 Runyan (R ) 4 Smith, C. (R ) 5 Garrett (R ) 6 Pallone (D ) 7 Lance (R ) 8 Pascrell (D ) 9 Rothman (D ) 10 Vacant 11 Frelinghuysen (R ) 12 Holt (D ) 13 Sires (D ) new mexiCo 1 Heinrich (D ) 2 Pearce (R ) 3 Lujn (D ) new york 1 Bishop, T. (D ) 2 Israel (D ) 3 King, P. (R ) 4 McCarthy, C. (D ) 5 Ackerman (D ) 6 Meeks, G. (D ) 7 Crowley (D ) 8 Nadler (D )

9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29

Turner, B. (R ) Towns (D ) Clarke (D ) Velzquez (D ) Grimm (R ) Maloney (D ) Rangel (D ) Serrano (D ) Engel (D ) Lowey (D ) Hayworth (R ) Gibson, C. (R ) Tonko (D ) Hinchey (D ) Owens (D ) Hanna (R ) Buerkle (R ) Hochul (D ) Higgins (D ) Slaughter (D ) Reed, T. (R )

50% 17% 33% 22% 60% 22% 22% 22% 11% 0% 50% 80% 44% 22% 40% 50% 56% 20% 20% 22% 60% 0% 60% 100% 22% 80% 56% 70% 70% 56% 60% 22% 22% 0% 70% 70% 80% 70% 80% 60% 60% 60% 0% 50% 22% 60% 20% 44% 67% 60% 0% 70% 60% 71% 60% 60% 60%

+ ? + + + + + ? + + + + ? + + ? + ? + + + + + + + + ? ? + ? + + + + + + + +

+ ? ? ? + ? ? ? ? ? + + ? ? + + + + + ? + + ? + + + + + + ? + + + + + + + + ? ? ? ? + + + + + + + + +

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + ? + + + + + + + + + +

+ + ? + + + + ? ? + ? -

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + ? + + ? ? -

+ + + ? + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + ? + + ? + + + ? + + +

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + ? + + + + ? + + + + + + +

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + ? + + + + + + + + + +

? + + + + + + + + + + + ? + + + ? + + + -

? + + + + + + + + + + ? + -

54% 26% 33% 33% 56% 21% 22% 26% 21% 8% 50% 70% 28% 24% 23% 54% 69% 26% 15% 21% 68% 14% 68% 97% 21% 78% 70% 61% 40% 69% 79% 28% 21% 13% 70% 75% 79% 68% 79% 65% 65% 66% 18% 39% 27% 60% 21% 54% 61% 60% 23% 68% 72% 59% 63% 65% 70%

nortH Carolina 1 Butterfield (D ) 2 Ellmers (R ) 3 Jones (R ) 4 Price, D. (D ) 5 Foxx (R ) 6 Coble (R ) 7 McIntyre (D ) 8 Kissell (D ) 9 Myrick (R ) 10 McHenry (R ) 11 Shuler (D ) 12 Watt (D ) 13 Miller, B. (D ) nortH dakota AL Berg (R ) oHio 1 Chabot (R ) 2 Schmidt (R ) 3 Turner (R ) 4 Jordan (R ) 5 Latta (R ) 6 Johnson, B. (R ) 7 Austria (R ) 8 Boehner (R ) 9 Kaptur (D ) 10 Kucinich (D ) 11 Fudge (D ) 12 Tiberi (R ) 13 Sutton (D ) 14 LaTourette (R ) 15 Stivers (R ) 16 Renacci (R ) 17 Ryan, T. (D ) 18 Gibbs, B. (R ) oklaHoma 1 Sullivan (R ) 2 Boren (D ) 3 Lucas (R ) 4 Cole (R ) 5 Lankford (R )

The scores are derived by dividing the constitutionally correct votes (pluses) by the total number of pluses and minuses and multiplying by 100. (A ? means a Rep. did not vote; a P means he voted present. If a Rep. cast fewer than five votes in this index, a score is not assigned.) Match numbers at the top of the chart to House vote descriptions on pages 1, 2, and 4. 6 THE NEW AMERICAN

Freedom Index
Votes: 31-40 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 1-40 Votes: 31-40 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 1-40

oreGon 1 Bonamici (D ) 2 Walden (R ) 3 Blumenauer (D ) 4 DeFazio (D ) 5 Schrader (D ) pennsylvania 1 Brady, R. (D ) 2 Fattah (D ) 3 Kelly (R ) 4 Altmire (D ) 5 Thompson, G. (R ) 6 Gerlach (R ) 7 Meehan (R ) 8 Fitzpatrick (R ) 9 Shuster (R ) 10 Marino (R ) 11 Barletta (R ) 12 Critz (D ) 13 Schwartz (D ) 14 Doyle (D ) 15 Dent (R ) 16 Pitts (R ) 17 Holden (D ) 18 Murphy, T. (R ) 19 Platts (R ) rHode island 1 Cicilline (D ) 2 Langevin (D ) soutH Carolina 1 Scott, T. (R ) 2 Wilson, J. (R ) 3 Duncan (R ) 4 Gowdy (R ) 5 Mulvaney (R ) 6 Clyburn (D ) soutH dakota AL Noem (R )

20% 60% 22% 33% 44% 11% 11% 60% 40% 60% 60% 60% 60% 60% 56% 60% 40% 0% 33% 60% 60% 20% 70% 67% 22% 10% 80% 70% 70% 80% 60% 11% 70%

+ + + + + + + + ? + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

+ ? ? + + + + + + + + + + ? + + + + ? + + + + + ? + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + ? + + + +

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

? ? + ? + + + + + + + + + + ? ? + -

+ + + + + + + + + + -

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + ? + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

+ + + + + + + + -

? + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + -

24% 60% 14% 31% 28% 15% 15% 63% 40% 65% 63% 58% 60% 65% 59% 61% 43% 5% 28% 58% 68% 36% 70% 64% 23% 10% 78% 78% 88% 83% 80% 10% 74% 73% 90% 72% 78% 15% 68% 70% 78% 26% 83% 79% 69% 78% 65% 73% 67% 63% 29% 60% 68% 64% 63%

14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32

Paul, Ron (R ) Hinojosa (D ) Reyes (D ) Flores (R ) Jackson Lee (D ) Neugebauer (R ) Gonzalez (D ) Smith, Lamar (R ) Olson (R ) Canseco (R ) Marchant (R ) Doggett (D ) Burgess (R ) Farenthold (R ) Cuellar (D ) Green, G. (D ) Johnson, E. (D ) Carter (R ) Sessions, P. (R )

100% 22% 0% 80% 20% 80% 0% 60% 60% 70% 80% 22% 70% 60% 30% 20% 22% 60% 60% 70% 60% 60% 30% 70% 70% 38% 70% 70% 70% 56% 30% 80% 70% 20%

? + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + -

+ ? ? + ? + ? + + + + + + ? + + + + + + ? + + + + + + -

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + -

? ? + ? + ? + ? + + + ? + + + -

+ + ? ? + + + + -

+ ? + ? + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + ? + + -

+ + + ? + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

+ + + + + + + -

+ + + + + + + + + + + -

100% 26% 24% 70% 24% 80% 17% 63% 63% 72% 77% 15% 74% 73% 28% 29% 16% 65% 65% 81% 50% 79% 26% 65% 73% 24% 70% 73% 67% 59% 18% 80% 68% 15%

utaH 1 Bishop, R. (R ) 2 Matheson (D ) 3 Chaffetz (R ) vermont AL Welch (D ) virGinia 1 Wittman (R ) 2 Rigell (R ) 3 Scott, R. (D ) 4 Forbes (R ) 5 Hurt (R ) 6 Goodlatte (R ) 7 Cantor (R ) 8 Moran, James (D ) 9 Griffith (R ) 10 Wolf (R ) 11 Connolly (D )

tennessee 1 Roe (R ) 70% 2 Duncan (R ) 100% 3 Fleischmann (R ) 67% 4 DesJarlais (R ) 80% 5 Cooper (D ) 10% 6 Black, D. (R ) 70% 7 Blackburn, M. (R ) 70% 8 Fincher (R ) 80% 9 Cohen (D ) 30% texas 1 Gohmert (R ) 2 Poe (R ) 3 Johnson, S. (R ) 4 Hall, R. (R ) 5 Hensarling (R ) 6 Barton (R ) 7 Culberson (R ) 8 Brady, K. (R ) 9 Green, A. (D ) 10 McCaul (R ) 11 Conaway (R ) 12 Granger (R ) 13 Thornberry (R ) 80% 78% 60% 70% 60% 70% 60% 60% 13% 60% 70% 60% 60%

wasHinGton 1 Vacant 2 Larsen, R. (D ) 20% 3 Herrera Beutler (R ) 60% 4 Hastings, D. (R ) 60% 5 McMorris Rodgers (R )60% 6 Dicks (D ) 0% 7 McDermott (D ) 30% 8 Reichert (R ) 60% 9 Smith, Adam (D ) 10% west virGinia 1 McKinley (R ) 2 Capito (R ) 3 Rahall (D ) wisConsin 1 Ryan, P. (R ) 2 Baldwin (D ) 3 Kind (D ) 4 Moore (D ) 5 Sensenbrenner (R ) 6 Petri (R ) 7 Duffy (R ) 8 Ribble (R ) wyominG AL Lummis (R ) 60% 60% 40% 67% 33% 20% 22% 70% 70% 60% 70% 70%

+ + + + + + + + ? + + + + +

+ + + + + + + + + ? + + + + +

+ + + + + + + + + + + +

? + -

+ + + + -

+ + + + + + + + + + + + +

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

+ + + + + + + + + + + +

+ + ? + + + -

+ + + +

13% 70% 63% 63% 5% 20% 49% 10% 68% 65% 38% 67% 28% 15% 19% 82% 78% 64% 77% 75%

The scores are derived by dividing the constitutionally correct votes (pluses) by the total number of pluses and minuses and multiplying by 100. (A ? means a Rep. did not vote; a P means he voted present. If a Rep. cast fewer than five votes in this index, a score is not assigned.) Match numbers at the top of the chart to House vote descriptions on pages 1, 2, and 4. www.TheNewAmerican.com 7

Were more

than you think!

Visit JBS.org or call 800-527-8721

Freedom Index

Senate Vote Descriptions

31 EPA Regulations.
After the Environmental Protection Agency established the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards that cap toxin emissions from coal-fired power plants, Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) sponsored a joint resolution (S. J. Res. 37) to nullify the regulations. Sen. Inhofe said the EPAs Utility MACT (Maximum Achievable Control Technology) is designed to destroy jobs by killing off the coal industry. EPA admits itself that the Utility MACT rule would cost an unprecedented $11 billion to implement. Of course these costs will come in the form of higher electricity rates for every American.... The Utility MACT would destroy over 1 million jobs and cost the American economy billions of dollars. A motion to proceed to consideration of the measure was defeated on June 20, 2012 by a vote of 46 to 53 (Roll Call 139). We have assigned pluses to the yeas because the EPA is an unconstitutional agency created by executive order, and while the Commerce Clause allows Congress to regulate trade between states, federal agencies do not have constitutional authority to impose environmental regulations on industry. Moreover, the regulations will lead to the premature closure of many power plants, leading to more expensive, less reliable electricity for consumers.

Blackhearted: The fact that the U.S. EPA has been singling out the coal industry for extinction is hardly even hidden from public view. It has both passed hugely expensive air-quality regulations on coal-fired power plants and interfered with the issuing of permits for coal mines.

AP Images

32

Aid to North Korea. During

consideration of the Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2012 (S. 3240), Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) offered an amendment to prohibit federal food assistance to North Korea. The Senate rejected Kyls amendment on June 20, 2012 by a vote of 43 to 56 (Roll Call 145). We have assigned pluses to the yeas not only because North Korea is a totalitarian regime, but also because foreign aid is unconstitutional.

33Forest Legacy Program.

During consideration of the Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2012 (S. 3240), Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) offered an amendment to repeal the Forest Services Forest Legacy Program.

Regarding the need for his amendment, Sen. Lee stated: The Federal Government owns about two-thirds of the land in my own State. It owns nearly 30 percent of the land mass within the territorial boundaries of the United States. We do a lot to conserve that land. But when we use this money money estimated to amount to about $200 million a year in authorization, about $1 billion over a 5-year period we are using that money to take land out of use. We are using that money to pay people not to use their land for anything. Whenever we look for areas in which we can save money, one area is to not pay people not to use their land. According to the Forest Services website: The Forest Legacy Program (FLP), a Federal program in partnership with States, supports State efforts to protect environmentally sensitive forest lands.... To maximize the public benefits it achieves, the program focuses on the acquisition of partial interests in privately owned forest lands. FLP helps the States develop and carry out their forest conservation plans. It encourages and supports acquisition of conservation easements, legally binding agreements transferring a negotiated set of property rights from one party to another, without removing the property from private ownership. Most FLP con-

servation easements restrict development, require sustainable forestry practices, and protect other values. The Senate rejected Senator Lees amendment to S. 3240 on June 20, 2012 by a vote of 21 to 77 (Roll Call 147). We have assigned pluses to the yeas because the Constitution does not grant Congress the legislative power to acquire ownership of or conservation easement rights over large tracts of land within the states.

34Aerial Inspection.

During consideration of the Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2012 (S. 3240), Sen. Mike Johanns (R-Neb.) offered an amendment to prohibit the Environmental Protection Agency from conducting aerial surveillance to inspect and/or record images of agricultural operations. The Senate rejected Johanns amendment on June 21, 2012 by a vote of 56 to 43 (Roll Call 159; by unanimous consent, the Senate had agreed to require 60 votes for adoption of the amendment). We have assigned pluses to the yeas because the EPA is an unconstitutional agency created by executive order. It should not even exist, let alone engage in aerial surveillance for the purpose of detecting supposed violations of its regulations. Furthermore, while the surveil9

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112th CONGRESS, Votes 31-40

Senate Vote Scores

Votes: 31-40 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 1-40 Votes: 31-40 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 1-40

alabama Shelby (R ) Sessions, J. (R ) alaska Murkowski (R ) Begich (D ) arizona McCain (R ) Kyl (R ) arkansas Pryor (D ) Boozman (R ) CaliFornia Feinstein (D ) Boxer (D ) Colorado Udall, Mark (D ) Bennet (D ) ConneCtiCut Lieberman (I ) Blumenthal (D ) delaware Carper (D ) Coons (D ) Florida Nelson, Bill (D ) Rubio (R ) GeorGia Chambliss (R ) Isakson (R ) Hawaii Inouye (D ) Akaka (D ) idaHo Crapo (R ) Risch (R ) illinois Durbin (D ) Kirk (R ) indiana Lugar (R ) Coats (R ) iowa Grassley (R ) Harkin (D ) kansas Roberts (R ) Moran, Jerry (R ) kentuCky McConnell (R ) Paul, Rand (R ) louisiana Landrieu, M. (D ) Vitter (R ) 10

78% 80% 70% 10% 100% 80% 40% 78% 0% 0% 0% 0% 10% 0% 0% 0% 0% 100% 80% 80% 0% 0% 90% 90% 0%

+ + + + + + + + + + + ? + + + + + + + + +

+ + + + + + + + + + + ? + + + + + + +

+ + + + ? + + + + +

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + ? + + + + + + + + +

+ + + + + + + + + + + + ? + + + +

+ ? ? + ? + + ? + + + -

? + + + + + + + + + + ? + + + + + + + +

+ + + + + + + + + + + + ? + + + + + + + +

+ + + + + + + ? + + + + ? + + + + + +

+ + + ? ? + + + + + ? + + + + + ?

77% 74% 60% 18% 78% 73% 23% 64% 13% 13% 15% 13% 10% 14% 13% 15% 15% 81% 69% 70% 8% 13% 80% 79% 10% 52% 58% 73% 70% 15% 63% 75% 70% 95% 25% 79%

maine Snowe (R ) Collins (R ) maryland Mikulski (D ) Cardin (D ) massaCHusetts Kerry (D ) Brown, Scott (R ) miCHiGan Levin, C. (D ) Stabenow (D ) minnesota Klobuchar (D ) Franken (D ) mississippi Cochran (R ) Wicker (R ) missouri McCaskill (D ) Blunt (R ) montana Baucus, M. (D ) Tester (D ) nebraska Nelson, Ben (D ) Johanns (R ) nevada Reid, H. (D ) Heller (R ) new HampsHire Shaheen (D ) Ayotte (R ) new Jersey Lautenberg (D ) Menendez (D ) new mexiCo Bingaman (D ) Udall, T. (D ) new york Schumer (D ) Gillibrand (D ) nortH Carolina Burr (R ) Hagan (D ) nortH dakota Conrad (D ) Hoeven (R ) oHio Brown, Sherrod (D ) Portman (R ) oklaHoma Inhofe (R ) Coburn (R )

56% 40% 0% 0% 0% 20% 0% 0% 0% 0% 70% 70% 10% 60% 20% 20% 20% 70% 10% 78% 0% 80% 10% 0% 0% 0% 10% 0% 78% 10% 10% 60% 0% 90% 89% 100%

+ + + + + + + + + + +

+ + + + + + + + + + + +

? + + + +

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

+ + + + + + + + +

? + + ?

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + +

+ + + + + + + + + + + +

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + +

+ + ? + ? + ? +

56% 50% 10% 15% 13% 28% 5% 10% 8% 13% 58% 63% 23% 55% 23% 30% 33% 60% 18% 74% 15% 70% 20% 18% 15% 15% 13% 15% 72% 20% 13% 58% 15% 70% 79% 81%

40% 80% 70% 0% 70% 90% 80% 100% 30% 89%

THE NEW AMERICAN

Freedom Index
Votes: 31-40 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 1-40 Votes: 31-40 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 1-40

oreGon Wyden (D ) Merkley (D ) pennsylvania Casey (D ) Toomey (R ) rHode island Reed, J. (D ) Whitehouse (D ) soutH Carolina Graham (R ) DeMint (R ) soutH dakota Johnson, Tim (D ) Thune (R ) tennessee Alexander, L. (R ) Corker (R ) texas Hutchison (R ) Cornyn (R )

10% 10% 0% 100% 10% 10% 90% 100% 0% 70% 56% 90% 60% 100%

+ + + + + + +

+ + + + + + + +

+ + +

+ + + + + + + +

+ + + + + + +

+ + + ? + +

+ + + + + + + +

+ + + + + + + +

+ + + + + + + + + +

+ + + + + +

18% 23% 18% 85% 15% 15% 73% 85% 10% 66% 56% 69% 59% 83%

utaH Hatch (R ) Lee, M. (R ) vermont Leahy (D ) Sanders (I ) virGinia Webb (D ) Warner (D ) wasHinGton Murray (D ) Cantwell (D ) west virGinia Rockefeller (D ) Manchin (D ) wisConsin Kohl (D ) Johnson, R. (R ) wyominG Enzi (R ) Barrasso (R )

100% 100% 0% 0% 10% 10% 0% 0% 0% 20% 0% 100% 90% 90%

+ + + + + + + +

+ + + + +

+ + + + +

+ + + + +

+ + + -

+ + + + +

+ + + + +

+ + + + +

+ + + + +

+ + ? + + + +

79% 90% 15% 21% 21% 18% 13% 15% 16% 35% 15% 85% 80% 80%

The scores are derived by dividing the constitutionally correct votes (pluses) by the total number ofof pluses and minuses and multiplying by 100. ?? means a Senator did vote; a P derived by dividing the constitutionally correct votes (pluses) by the total number pluses and minuses and multiplying by 100. (A (A means a Senator did not not vote; a means he he voted present. he fewer than five votes in this index, a score is not assigned.) Match numbers at the top of of chart to to Senate vote descriptions on pages 27 P meansvoted present. If heIfcastcast fewer than five votes in this index, a score is not assigned.) Match numbers at the topthe the chartSenate vote descriptions on pages 9, 11, and 12. 29.

lance is conducted from public airspace, so to speak, the air is not the subject of the surveillance. The use of the air is not unconstitutional, but the purpose of that use is unconstitutional, since it violates the Fourth Amendment protection against search of ones person, house, papers, and effects without probable cause and a warrant particularly describing the persons or things to be seized.

35Farm Bill.

This legislation (H.R. 4348) provides federal funds for interstate highway infrastructure, highway safety programs, and transit programs through fiscal
www.TheNewAmerican.com

36Surface Transportation.

Surprisingly, about 80 percent of the spending in the socalled Farm Bill goes for food stamps. Furthermore, food stamp spending has more than doubled under the Obama administration.
11 11

Newscom

The Agriculture Reform, Food, and Jobs Act of 2012 (S. 3240) would authorize federal farm and food assistance programs for five years. The programs include crop subsidies, food stamps, and foreign food aid. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the programs authorized by the bill would cost $969 billion if implemented over the next 10 years. The Senate passed S. 3240 on June 21, 2012 by a vote of 64 to 35 (Roll Call 164). We have assigned pluses to the nays because federal agricultural subsidies and food aid are unconstitutional.

2014. The authorizations in the bill include $21.2 billion for the Highway Trust Fund, $80 billion for Federal Highway Administration contracts, and $21.3 billion for Federal Transit Administration programs. It also extends the 3.4 percent, federally subsidized student-loan interest rate through July 1, 2013, reauthorizes the National Flood Insurance Program, and distributes penalties paid by those responsible for the BP oil spill to Gulf Coast states. The Senate adopted the final version of the bill (known as a conference report) on June 29, 2012 by a vote of 74-19 (Roll Call 172). We have assigned pluses to the nays because much of the spending is unconstitutional. The Democracy Is Strengthened by Casting Light On Spending in Elections (DISCLOSE) Act of 2012 (S. 3369) would require independent and corporate donors to disclose campaignrelated disbursements totaling more than $10,000 in an election cycle.

The Senate rejected a motion to invoke cloture (and thus end a filibuster so the bill could be voted on) on July 17, 2012 by a vote of 53 to 45 (Roll Call 180; a three-fifths majority vote of the entire Senate 60 votes was needed to invoke cloture). We have assigned pluses to the nays because the legislation would have a chilling effect on political free speech by exposing donors to threats and intimidation. Free speech is protected by the First Amendment, which makes no exceptions

37 DISCLOSE

Act.

112th CONGRESS, Votes 31-40

for anonymous political donors, stating simply: Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of speech. In fact, some of the Founding Fathers engaged in anonymous free speech at times, such as when Madison, Jay, and Hamilton wrote The Federalist Papers under the pseudonym Publius. In view of the looming fiscal cliff of expiring tax cuts, tax increases, and automatic spending cuts set to take place January 1, 2013, Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.) offered a bill (S. 3412) to extend the expiring Bush-era tax rates for one year only for individuals earning less than $200,000 or families earning less than $250,000. Prior to a vote on the bill, Sen. Orrin Hatch (RUtah) offered a substitute amendment to extend the Bush-era tax cuts for all income levels for one year. Hatchs substitute would also extend the current estate tax levels, with a 35-percent tax on estates worth more than $5 million. Without congressional action, this tax will jump next year to as high as 55 percent on estates worth more than $1 million. The Senate rejected Hatchs substitute amendment on July 25, 2012 by a vote of 45 to 54 (Roll Call 183). We have assigned pluses to the yeas because extending the tax cuts keeps more money in the hands of citizens, where it can be invested into the economy, thus spurring economic growth. Of course, the deficits need to be eliminated, but the way to accomplish this is to cut spending, not increase taxes. (After the substitute amendment was rejected, the Senate passed Reids bill to raise taxes for the rich.) bill could come up for a vote on August 2, 2012 by a vote of 52 to 46 (Roll Call 187; a three-fifths majority vote of the entire Senate 60 votes was needed to invoke cloture.) We have assigned pluses to the nays because the private owners of critical infrastructure are already heavily regulated and dont need to be further burdened with additional supposedly voluntary regulations in the name of cybersecurity.

38Tax Cut Extension.

40Continuing Resolution.

39 Cybersecurity.

The Cybersecurity Act of 2012 (S. 3414) would create a National Cybersecurity Council under the chairmanship of the secretary of Homeland Security. The council would impose voluntary standards with incentives for compliance for owners of critical computer networks. The Senate rejected a motion to invoke cloture and thus end a filibuster so the

House Joint Resolution 117 would provide continuing appropriations for the federal government from October 1, 2012 through March 27, 2013. (See House vote #40 for an explanation of this legislation.) The Senate passed H. J. Res. 117 on September 22, 2012 by a vote of 62 to 30 (Roll Call 199). We have assigned pluses to the nays because passage of this mammoth continuing resolution provided a way for Congress to perpetuate its fiscally irresponsible, unconstitutional spending habits with a minimum of accountability to its constituents. n

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