Thread: Analysis of the Cloture Vote

by David Losey
Analysis of the Cloture Vote
June 14, 2007 01:51 PM EST



I make absolutely no apology for constantly bringing to the attention of voters how their members of Congress are voting. The most recent and extremely important vote was on the Motion to invoke Cloture and proceed to a vote on the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act. The recorded vote was as follows:

Yea: 45 Members

Blanche Lincoln (D-AR)

John McCain (R-AZ)

Dianne Feinstein (D-CA)

Ken Salazar (D-CO)

Christopher Dodd (D-CT)

Joseph Lieberman (I-CT)

Joseph Biden (D-DE)

Thomas Carper (D-DE)

Mel Martinez (R-FL)

Bill Nelson (D-FL)

Daniel Akaka (D-HI)

Daniel Inouye (D-HI)

Tom Harkin (D-IA)

Richard Durbin (D-IL)

Barack Obama (D-IL)

Evan Bayh (D-IN)

Richard Lugar (R-IN)

Edward Kennedy (D-MA)

John Kerry (D-MA)

Benjamin Cardin (D-MD)

Barbara Mikulski (D-MD)

Carl Levin (D-MI)

Debbie Stabenow (D-MI)

Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)

Kent Conrad (D-ND)

Chuck Hagel (R-NE)

Ben Nelson (D-NE)

Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ)

Robert Menendez (D-NJ)

Harry Reid (D-NV)

Hillary Clinton (D-NY)

Charles Schumer (D-NY)

Sherrod Brown (D-OH)

George Voinovich (R-OH)

Ron Wyden (D-OR)

Robert Casey (D-PA)

Arlen Specter (R-PA)

Jack Reed (D-RI)

Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI)

Lindsey Graham (R-SC)

Patrick Leahy (D-VT)

Maria Cantwell (D-WA)

Patty Murray (D-WA)

Russ Feingold (D-WI)

Herbert Kohl (D-WI)

Nay: 50 members

Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)

Ted Stevens (R-AK)

Jeff Sessions (R-AL)

Richard Shelby (R-AL)

Mark Pryor (D-AR)

Jon Kyl (R-AZ)

Barbara Boxer (D-CA)

Wayne Allard (R-CO)

Saxby Chambliss (R-GA)

Johnny Isakson (R-GA)

Charles Grassley (R-IA)

Larry Craig (R-ID)

Mike Crapo (R-ID)

Pat Roberts (R-KS)

Jim Bunning (R-KY)

Mitch McConnell (R-KY)

Mary Landrieu (D-LA)

David Vitter (R-LA)

Susan Collins (R-ME)

Olympia Snowe (R-ME)

Norm Coleman (R-MN)

Christopher Bond (R-MO)

Claire McCaskill (D-MO)

Thad Cochran (R-MS)

Trent Lott (R-MS)

Max Baucus (D-MT)

Jon Tester (D-MT)

Richard Burr (R-NC)

Elizabeth Dole (R-NC)

Byron Dorgan (D-ND)

Judd Gregg (R-NH)

John Sununu (R-NH)

Jeff Bingaman (D-NM)

Pete Domenici (R-NM)

John Ensign (R-NV)

James Inhofe (R-OK)

Gordon Smith (R-OR)

Jim DeMint (R-SC)

John Thune (R-SD)

Lamar Alexander (R-TN)

Bob Corker (R-TN)

John Cornyn (R-TX)

Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX)

Robert Bennett (R-UT)

Orrin Hatch (R-UT)

John Warner (R-VA)

James Webb (D-VA)

Bernard Sanders (I-VT)

Robert Byrd (D-WV)

John Rockefeller (D-WV)

Not Voting : 4 Members

Sam Brownback (R-KS)

Tom Coburn (R-OK)

Tim Johnson (D-SD)

Michael Enzi (R-WY)

Analysis of this vote shows seven Republicans supported the bill and voted for Cloture. Presidential candidate Senator John McCain was the most prominent. The other six are often considered part of the GOP leadership and/or ranking members of various committees. They are Senators Mel Martinez (FL), Richard Lugar (IN), Chuck Hagel (NE), George Voinovich (OH), Arlen Specter (PA), and Lindsey Graham (SC). I strongly urge all registered voters in the States represented by these Senators to call, write, or e-mail asking them to explain their vote. If you are not satisfied with their explanation let them know that you disagree. Forcefully but politely let them know that they do not represent your views and as their constituent you will no longer support their campaign efforts via financial donations or volunteer efforts on their behalf.

There are more than likely voters who are registered Democrats who are also against this bill. I strongly urge you to let your Senators know how you feel. Tell them that if they are really listening to their constituents they should not push to have this bill reconsidered.

This bill reveals once again that it is what is hidden from the public that is most important. According to Lou Dobbs of CNN most of us did NOT know that this bill provides for:

Taxpayers to pay the legal fees for illegal aliens applying for Z-visas.

The "temporary" Z-visas can be renewed indefinitely.

Amnesty is given to gang members.

Taxpayers will foot the bill for incentives offered by the Mexican government to keep its citizens in Mexico.

Illegal aliens will not be required to pay back taxes but will be eligible for earned income tax credits.

They will be eligible for in-state tuition rates at state universities.

They will not be required to learn English for nine years.

They will cut in line ahead of all legal applicants who have waited years to enter the U.S. legally.

It is my educated guess that most of these provisions are NOT acceptable to the voting public and yet many of our senators believe they were crucial to a very important piece of legislation. Why, then, did they choose to be deceitful and dishonest with the American people about what was really in this bill?

Kudos to the eleven Democrat Senators who voted against Cloture. They have most certainly incurred the wrath of the party leadership for voting independently. Let them know that you appreciate them putting what is best for the country ahead of partisan politics.

Remember, this is all about holding them accountable. Our government is of the people, for the people and by the people! If your elected representatives are not doing what you think they should be doing, it is your fault! Work to change their views! YOU have the power of the vote! Replace them if necessary!

http://www.theconservativevoice.com/article/25885.html#

Oh please lord don't let this pass. Bush has done enough destuction to America and this will only add to the passing of a once great country.