Voterama in Congress for the week ending Feb. 17

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How Illinois lawmakers voted in Congress Week ending February 17

Updated: February 20, 2012 8:32AM

Payroll-Tax Cut: Members extended, 293-132, until Dec. 31 a law allowing workers to contribute 4.2 percent of their pay to Social Security, down from the standard 6.2 percent. A yes vote was to send the Senate a bill that also funds long-term jobless benefits and protects from Medicare cuts. The $100 billion cost of financing the tax cut is to be deficit spending, and the bill’s remaining $50 billion in outlays will be offset by revenue measures. (HR 3630)

Expanded Oil, Gas Drilling: Members voted, 237-187, to nearly triple America’s offshore energy production by 2027, build the Canada-to-Texas Keystone XL oil pipeline, open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to drilling and start oil-shale extraction on federal land in Colorado, Wyoming and Utah. A yes vote was to pass HR 3408.

Keystone XL Pipeline: Members refused, 173-254, to require energy products from oil shipped through the Keystone XL pipeline to be sold in the U.S. The amendment was offered to a GOP bill (HR 3408, above) that “deems” the pipeline to have federal approval. A yes vote backed the sell-in-America requirement.

Everglades, Great Lakes: Members defeated, 176-241, a bid by Democrats to bar energy drilling authorized by HR 3408 (above) within five miles of the Florida Everglades or the Great Lakes, which are five freshwater lakes bordering eight states in the Northeast and Midwest. A yes vote backed the drilling prohibition over arguments it was only a political gesture.

California Oil Drilling: Members defeated, 160-267, a bid to strip HR 3408 (above) of its mandate that energy drilling begin on idle platforms offshore from Santa Barbara and Ventura counties in California, areas where drilling has been banned since a 1969 oil spill in Santa Barbara Channel. A yes vote opposed the drilling mandate.

Oil-Spill Economic Harm: Members defeated, 188-236, a bid to require applications for oil and gas drilling leases under HR 3408 (above) to include worst-case projections of economic harm in the event of spills. This would be in addition to forecasts of environmental harm now required by federal regulations. A yes vote was to require economic-impact statements.

Payroll-Tax Cut: Senators voted, 60-36, to send President Obama a bill renewing until Dec. 31 a law allowing workers to contribute 4.2 percent of their pay to Social Security, down from the usual 6.2 percent. A yes vote backed a bill that also funds extended jobless benefits and sustains current Medicare payments to doctors. (HR 3630)

Judge Adalberto Jose Jordan: Voting 94-5, senators confirmed Adalberto Jose Jordan, a federal judge in Florida, to sit on the 11th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals, which serves Florida, Georgia and Alabama. A yes vote was to confirm Jordan to become the first Cuban-born jurist on the Atlanta-based appellate panel.

Key votes ahead

Congress will be in Presidents Day recess the week of Feb. 20.