- And this blank page where my fingers move
- Pennsylvania Hunger Games Diet: Cash for Corporations, Cuts for Kids
- The Incredible Shrinking Mayor
- Multi-tasking with the 1% … killing the schools AND making the poor pay for their funeral.
- Council Can Give the SRC the Money to NOT Privatize the System
- Predatory Payday Lending Bill Flies Out of Cramped PA House Committee
- Let the Games Begin: PA Senate Announces Details of Budget Proposal
- Good News on PA Revenue But Don’t Count Your Blessings Just Yet
- Defeat Corbett
- Set off without a Paddle: Unpacking the School District’s Disaster Capitalism
Vote By Vote: Calling BS on Specter's "Sestak Missed Votes" Argument
Submitted by benPA on Thu, 02/11/2010 - 8:25pm.
(Cross-posted at Daily Kos) It's become clear that one of Sen. Specter's main arguments against his primary challenger, Congressman Joe Sestak, will be "Sestak missed a bunch of votes in the House." His campaign has even put up a "No Show Joe" website, and Specter recently "compared Rep. Joe Sestak’s missed votes in Congress to going AWOL while serving in the Navy." (Seriously, he said that.)
I fully expect that Specter will spend a big portion of his nearly $8.7 million* trying to define Sestak as a congressman who missed a bunch of votes. So I was curious to find out just what these missed Sestak votes were about, and if any of them were even close. I went through a handy Washington Post database that shows all of Congressman Sestak's missed votes. Many of them were things like commemorative resolutions or renaming post offices. I found a total of 68 *potentially* significant votes on things such as appropriations (spending) bills, other bills, amendments, and procedural votes.
* (Sestak has $5.1 million, probably enough to be competitive, and as an unknown to a lot of Pennsylvanians, his poll numbers still have a lot of room to grow -- not surprisingly, most Pennsylvanians already have a set opinion of their 30-year senator.)
Back to those 68 missed votes. Procedural votes can seem boring, but they maintain control of the House by allowing the House majority to get things done and keeping the House minority from causing endless delays. So if Dems had lost a truly key vote because Sestak was absent, that would be tough to excuse. Or if he had given House Dem leadership a nail-biter by being absent for something like the cap-and-trade energy vote (219-212) http://www.marketwatch.com/... or the health-care reform vote (220-215) http://www.huffingtonpost.com/... , that would also be tough to excuse. (Sestak was there for both of those votes and voted Yes.)
Of the 68 potentially significant votes Sestak did miss over his 3 years in the House, NONE were close enough to give legitimate reason to criticize him for being absent. The closest of these 68 votes was in September 2009 "suspension" vote that would have required 2/3 votes to suspend the rules and pass the bill right then) -- 206-191, a 15-vote margin. You may be relieved to know that the Leadville (Colorado) Mine Drainage Tunnel Remediation Act of 2009 passed three weeks later on a voice vote. http://www.leadvilleherald.com/...
The next closest Sestak missed vote I could find was also in September 2009, on a Republican motion to instruct House members of a conference committee on what the House wanted in a final bill. The Republicans were shot down 191-213 -- a 22-vote difference between the winning and losing sides.
It goes on like that. Bottom line: "Sestak missed a bunch of votes" is a pretty weak argument. I'd rather see the two Democrats debating something serious like their very real policy difference over Afghanistan.
But don't take my word for it -- check out the full list below. Or if you're truly a glutton for punishment, check out the entire list of Sestak's missed votes at the Washington Post database and see for yourself that most of them were votes on things like National Pi Day.
It seems like the person who is going to have the tough time explaining his voting record will be Senator Specter. The Sestak campaign has posted "The Real Specter’s Top Ten Worst Votes" http://therealspecter2010.com/...
CQ reported in October 2008 that Specter had voted with George W. Bush 79 percent of the time, just shy of 4 of every 5 votes.
http://www.cqpolitics.com/...
As I mentioned, when compiling the full list of POSSIBLY significant Sestak missed votes, I left out all the votes on commemorative resolutions and renaming post offices, that type of thing, including anything where both parties' position was Yes. Here's the list of 68 votes:
5/23/07 Vote 408: H R 1100: Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site Boundary Revision Act
(These motions are usually filed by the Republican minority.) Motion to recommit.
Result: (Motion) Failed, 192-228.
The bill then passed the same day.
6/7/07 Vote 441: H RES 464: Providing for Consideration of S. 5, to Amend the Public Health Service Act to Provide for Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research
Result: Passed, 224-191.
7/17/07 Vote 633: H R 980: Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act
Result: Passed, 314-97.
8/1/07 Vote 781: On (Republican) Motion to Adjourn
Result: Failed, 154-236.
#5
8/3/07 Vote 822: H RES 612: Motion to table Republican resolution that claimed Congressman Murtha had misused his power as chair of the House. http://thomas.loc.gov/...
Result: Passed, 211-178, with 12 voting Present and 31 not voting.
8/3/07 Vote 823: On Motion to Adjourn
Result: Passed, 270-121.
10/31/07 Vote 1026: Republican motion to instruct conferees on H R 3043: Making Appropriations for the Department of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies for Fiscal Year Ending September 30, 2008
Result: Failed, 191-222.
11/14/07 Vote 1086: H RES 813: Providing for Consideration of the Conference Report to Accompany H.R. 1429, to Reauthorize the Head Start Act
Result: Passed, 224-190.
1/29/08 Vote 28: H R 1528: New England National Scenic Trail Designation Act
Result: Passed, 261-122.
#10
3/6/08 Vote 107: H R 2857: Table Appeal of the Ruling of the Chair, Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education “Give” Act
Result: Passed, 221-191.
3/6/08 Vote 106: Democratic amendment to H R 2857
Result: Agreed to, 252-161.
3/6/08 Vote 105: Republican amendment to H R 2857
Result: Failed, 153-260.
4/16/08 Vote 201: Sustaining the Ruling of the Chair, H R 2537: Beach Protection Act
Result: Passed, 216-193.
5/6/08 Vote 260: On Republican Motion to Adjourn
Result: Failed, 149-251.
#15
5/7/08 Vote 279: On Republican Motion to Adjourn
Result: Failed, 137-260.
9/18/08 Vote 607: H R 6604: Republican Motion to Recommit With Instructions, Commodity Markets Transparency and Accountability Act
Result: Failed, 196-221.
9/18/08 Vote 608: H R 6604: Commodity Markets Transparency and Accountability Act
Result: Passed, 283-133.
9/18/08 Vote 609: H RES 1460 - Motion to table Republican resolution attacking Congressman Rangel's ethics
Result: Passed, 226-176.
9/18/08 Vote 610: H RES 1441: Ordering the previous question (means cutting off stalling tactics and just vote already) Providing for Consideration of H.R. 3036, to Amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 Regarding Environmental Education
Result: Passed, 227-188.
#20
9/18/08 Vote 611: H RES 1441
Result: Passed, 221-182.
9/18/08 Vote 613: H R 3036: Republican Motion to Recommit With Instructions, No Child Left Inside Act of 2008
Result: Failed, 172-230.
9/18/08 Vote 614: H R 3036: No Child Left Inside Act of 2008
Result: Passed, 293-109.
22 of the Potentially Significant Votes were in the 2007-08 session.
1/15/09 Vote 19: H R 384 Democratic amendment to TARP (Troubled Assets Relief Program) Reform and Accountability Act
Result: Agreed to, 275-152.
1/15/09 Vote 20: H R 384 Republican amendment to TARP (Troubled Assets Relief Program) Reform and Accountability Act
Result: Failed, 151-274.
#25
1/15/09 Vote 21: H R 384 Republican amendment to TARP (Troubled Assets Relief Program) Reform and Accountability Act
Result: Failed, 142-282.
2/25/09 Vote 83: H RES 184: Providing for Consideration of H.R. 1105, the Omnibus Appropriations for 2009
Result: Passed, 234-177.
3/12/09 Vote 122: Republican amendment to H.R. 1262, a bill to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to authorize appropriations for State water pollution control revolving funds
Result: Failed, 140-284.
3/12/09 Vote 123: H R 1262
Result: Passed, 317-101.
(April 2009: Sen. Specter switches parties.)
6/4/09 Vote 301: H RES 474: Providing for Consideration of H.R. 2200, Transportation Security Administration Authorization Act
Result: Passed, 243-179.
#30
6/18/09 Vote 389: H R 2847: Republican motion to reconsider, Making Appropriations for the Departments of Commerce and Justice, and Science, and Related Agencies for the Fiscal Year Ending September 30, 2010.
Result: Failed, 172-239.
6/18/09 Vote 391: H R 2847: Republican motion to reconsider
Result: Failed, 170-248.
6/18/09 Vote 393: H R 2847: Republican motion to reconsider
Result: Failed, 125-295.
6/18/09 Vote 395: H R 2847: Republican motion to reconsider
Result: Failed, 163-246.
6/18/09 Vote 397: H R 2847: Republican motion to reconsider
Result: Failed, 166-250.
#35
6/18/09 Vote 399: H R 2847: Republican motion to reconsider
Result: Failed, 165-245.
6/18/09 Vote 401: H R 2847: Republican motion to reconsider
Result: Failed, 165-247.
6/18/09 Vote 402: H R 2847: Table Appeal of the Ruling of the Chair
Result: Passed, 246-171.
6/18/09 Vote 403: H R 2847: Republican motion to reconsider
Result: Failed, 168-243.
6/18/09 Vote 405: H R 2847: Republican motion to reconsider
Result: Failed, 139-266.
#40
6/18/09 Vote 407: H R 2847: Republican motion to reconsider
Result: Failed, 149-267.
6/18/09 Vote 408: H R 2847: Passage
Result: Passed, 259-157.
6/19/09 Vote 409: Ordering the Previous Question, H RES 559: Providing for Consideration of H.R. 2918, Making Appropriations for the Legislative Branch Fy 2010
Result: Passed, 230-177.
6/19/09 Vote 410: H RES 559:
Result: Passed, 226-179.
6/19/09 Vote 413: H R 2918: Making Appropriations for the Legislative Branch Fy 2010
Result: Passed, 232-178.
#45
7/8/09 Vote 480: H RES 610: Providing for the Consideration of H.R. 2965 (bill to amend the Small Business Act with respect to the Small Business Innovation Research Program and the Small Business Technology Transfer Program)
Result: Passed, 236-187.
7/8/09 Vote 485: Table Appeal of the Ruling of the Chair on H R 2965: Enhancing Small Business Research and Innovation Act
Result: Passed, 246-181.
7/8/09 Vote 487: On Approving the Journal
Result: Passed, 237-184.
7/8/09 Vote 489: H RES 609: Question of Consideration of the Resolution, Providing for Consideration of the Bill (H.R. 2997) Making Appropriations for Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Programs for the Fy Ending September 30, 2010
Result: Passed, 244-185.
7/8/09 Vote 491: H RES 609: Ordering the Previous Question
Result: Passed, 239-183.
#50
7/8/09 Vote 492: H RES 609: Republican Motion to Reconsider
Result: Failed, 175-251.
7/8/09 Vote 493: H RES 609: Agreeing to the Resolution
Result: Passed, 238-186.
7/8/09 Vote 494: H RES 609: Republican Motion to Reconsider
Result: Failed, 170-254.
7/13/09 Vote 530: On Motion to Adjourn
Result: Passed, 208-172.
7/15/09 Vote 538: Ordering the Previous Question, H RES 645: Providing for Consideration of the Bill (H.R. 3183) Making Appropriations for Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies for the Fiscal Year Ending September 30, 2010
Result: Passed, 237-177.
#55
7/15/09 Vote 539: H RES 645: Agreeing to the Resolution
Result: Passed, 238-185.
7/15/09 Vote 543: Democratic amendment to H R 3183
Result: Agreed to, 261-172.
7/20/09 Vote 593: On Approving the Journal
Result: Passed, 233-159.
7/21/09 Vote 597: Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended, H R 2729: To Authorize the Designation of National Environmental Research Parks by the Secretary of Energy
Result: Passed 330-96.
9/8/09 Vote 687: Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass (a "suspension" vote requires 2/3 votes) H R 324: Santa Cruz Valley National Heritage Area Act
Result: Failed, 249-145.
#60
9/8/09 Vote 689: H R 3123: Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, As Amended, Leadville Mine Drainage Tunnel Remediation Act of 2009
Result: Failed, 206-191.
9/15/09 Vote 699: H RES 744: Raising a Question of the Privileges of the House (Disapproving of Joe Wilson's "You lie!" outburst during President Obama's speech to Congress on Sept. 9)
Result: Passed, 240-179.
9/16/09 Vote 703: H RES 746: Providing for Consideration of the Bill (H.R. 3221) to Amend the Higher Education Act of 1965
Result: Passed, 241-179.
9/16/09 Vote 705: Republican amendment to H R 3246: Advanced Vehicle Technology Act
Result: Failed, 179-253.
9/16/09 Vote 708: Republican Motion to Recommit With Instructions, H R 3246
Result: Failed, 180-245.
#65
9/16/09 Vote 709: passage, H R 3246
Result: Passed, 312-114.
9/23/09 Vote 733: Ordering the Previous Question, H R 2918: Making Appropriations for the Legislative Branch Fy 2010
Result: Passed, 240-171.
9/23/09 Vote 734: Republican Motion to Instruct Conferees, H R 2918
Result: Failed, 191-213.
#68
9/29/09 Vote 740: Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, As Amended, H R 905: Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary and Underwater Preserve Boundary Modification Act
Result: Passed, 286-107.
Specter needs accusations
Specter needs accusations like this to distract people from the fact that he has built his 30 year career in the Senate on support for the Reagan and Bush agendas. And now he comes crawling to the Democrats asking us to aid in his political survival. An opportunistic party switch is not enough to convince me to give my vote to Mr. Specter. It's not enough to make me forget his 30 years of support for Republican economics, Clarence Thomas, Sam Alito, the Iraq War, etc. My vote is going to the only true Democrat in this race, Joe Sestak.
Motion to Instruct Conferees
I noticed you wrote that one of the "close" votes cited by Senator Specter was on the "Motion to Instruct Conferees" in September 2009.
Those motions are the prerogative of the minority party and are non-binding. They have literally no force or effect. The conferees are free to ignore the "instructions" from the House and most often do. It's often a "free" vote for members of the majority party or designed to put the majority in a tough spot by voting for one instruction and then, if the conference report arrives at the opposite idea, still voting for the conference report.
Just a quick parliamentary note that even that "close" vote wouldn't have mattered in any way.
This is really a silly attack by Specter; most of the "absentee" charges in political campaigns are. But, frankly, Specter doesn't have that much to attack Joe on so....what else is he going to do?
specter already moving right
anyon else noticed that specter's moving right again, as he thinks he's got the primary clinched?
two examples i can thnk of right offhand are his support for a flat tax and his recent decalration that the underpants bomber shouldn't have been read his rights.
dude almost had me fooled. well, not really.
Oh yeah, I've noticed -Is it due to State Committee endorsement?
Been tweeting about it too :-) http://twitter.com/BenHbgPa
The flat tax thing really floored me. Never mind how bad it is as policy -- it's terrible politics, especially in a Democrats-only primary election. It's so easy for voters who aren't obsessed with this stuff to grasp what's bad about it -- as the Sestak campaign put it, "raise taxes on the middle class to cut them for the very rich."
In the run-up to the 1996 presidential race, Bob Dole stayed as far away as he could from the flat tax, seeing Bill Clinton's question to him about whether Dole would support it as "Drink the poison, Bob." (according to Woodward's book The Choice)
Maybe this is happening now because it's JUST after Specter got the Dem State Committee endorsement -- perhaps the senator or his campaign inner circle have confused getting that endorsement with sewing up the primary. If so, bad call. Rendell lost the endorsement for governor to Casey in 2002. And Sestak has enough money to get the word out both about who Sestak is and why rank-and-file Democrats should pick him over Specter.
Dying Father
Sestak missed votes because he was coming home to be with father who was dying over that June -August. Personally, I am voting for Toomey (not because I think progressives overreached), but The fact that Specter could sink so low makes me sick...If my dad was sick and dying I would want to be with him as much as I could. This will backfire on Specter.
Motion to Adjourn
Thank you Toomey voter. Good night and Godspeed.
Meanwhile back on earth, Senator Specter's Missed Votes for Democratic leaders (and thus more humane Democratic policies) include:
2008: Missed vote for Barack Obama (supported John McCain).
2006: Missed vote for Bob Casey (supported Rick Santorum).
2004: Missed vote for John Kerry (supported George W. Bush).
2000: Missed vote for Al Gore (supported George W. Bush).
The list goes back through votes missed in favor of Reagan and Nixon, and that's not including good legislation missed in favor of bad.
Now, like one of the those critical, critical votes Joe Sestak missed, motion to adjourn.
Voting for Toomey? That's ripping off not just your nose
but that round thing that it's attached to that you might be trying to spite. No one can call oneself anywhere near the center of the political universe, much less progressive, and talk seriously about voting for Toomey.
Speaking of other political universes
Here's a voice, a vote and an endorsement from Specter's last election, when George W. Bush was president.
He didn't miss this one.