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Voterama in Congress, legislative week ending Dec. 23
Updated: January 10, 2012 11:27AM
Social Security Tax-Cuts: House Republicans defeated, 229-193, a Senate bill to extend for 60 days Social Security payroll-tax cuts, long-term jobless benefits and current Medicare pay levels for doctors. A yes vote backed a House-passed GOP plan for a one-year extension, among several other major differences. (HR 3630)
Senate vs. House Tax Plans: Members defeated, 183-238, a non-binding Democratic bid to instruct House-Senate negotiators to favor the bipartisan Senate version of HR 3630 (above) over the GOP-drafted House version. A yes vote backed the Senate’s 60-day renewal of Social Security tax cuts to give Congress time to agree on a one-year renewal.
Rep. West, Democrats, Joseph Goebbels: Members blocked, 231-188, a bid by Democrats for the House to disapprove of Rep. Alan West’s comparison of their party’s political messaging to the propaganda of Nazi minister Joseph Goebbels, who helped conduct the Holocaust. West is a Florida Republican. A yes vote opposed the Democratic motion.
Key votes ahead
Congress has adjourned for the year, with the 2012 session scheduled to begin Jan. 17 in the House and Jan. 23 in the Senate.
