How They Voted on the Cap-and-Trade Bill
June 27, 2009 - by Donny Shaw
As we reported last night, just before heading home for Independence Day recess and after a particularly tough floor debate, the House of Representatives passed the Waxman-Markey climate change bill (H.R. 2454) by a nail-biter vote of 219-212. Two-hundred and eighteen votes were needed to pass the bill.
Though they have tried in the past, this is the first time either chamber of Congress has been successful in passing a bill designed to address climate change. The bill’s central provision is a cap-and-trade mechanism, which would establish a gradually-tightening economy-wide cap on how much carbon can be produced and allocate carbon credits that energy companies and other polluters can buy and sell on an open market.
“This legislation will finally make clean energy the profitable kind of energy,” President Obama said after the vote. “That will lead to the creation of new businesses and entire new industries. And that will lead to American jobs that pay well and cannot be outsourced.” The President said that he is looking forward to the debate over the legislation in the Senate and seeing it reach his desk “so that we can say, at long last, that this was the moment when we decided to confront America’s energy challenge and reclaim America’s future.”
We’ll be covering the bill’s prospects as it moves into the Senate and highlighting key issues and critical senators as they develop. But for now, I want to take a closer look at the House’s vote on the bill yesterday. Below are complete lists of all the Representatives that voted against their party leadership on passing the bill and on the Republican substitute amendment. If they are not in the lists below, they voted with their party leadership (Democrats for the bill, Republicans against it) on both votes.
On Passage
You can view the full vote breakdown details at this link. Below are the 44 Democrats who voted against their party leadership and President Obama by voting “nay” on the bill, and the 8 Republicans that vote against their party but with Obama to help pass it. A full 29 of the Democrats who voted against the bill are members of the conservative Blue Dog Democrats. Because of how tight the vote was and the number of Democratic defections, the handful of Republicans who voted in favor of the bill basically gave the bill the final boost it needed to passed.
- Rep. Jason Altmire [D, PA-4]
- Rep. Michael Arcuri [D, NY-24]
- Rep. John Barrow [D, GA-12]
- Rep. Robert Berry [D, AR-1]
- Rep. Dan Boren [D, OK-2]
- Rep. Bobby Bright [D, AL-2]
- Rep. Christopher Carney [D, PA-10]
- Rep. Travis Childers [D, MS-1]
- Rep. Jim Costa [D, CA-20]
- Rep. Jerry Costello [D, IL-12]
- Rep. Kathleen Dahlkemper [D, PA-3]
- Rep. Lincoln Davis [D, TN-4]
- Rep. Peter DeFazio [D, OR-4]
- Rep. Joe Donnelly [D, IN-2]
- Rep. Thomas Edwards [D, TX-17]
- Rep. Brad Ellsworth [D, IN-8]
- Rep. Bill Foster [D, IL-14]
- Rep. Parker Griffith [D, AL-5]
- Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin [D, SD-0]
- Rep. Tim Holden [D, PA-17]
- Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick [D, AZ-1]
- Rep. Larry Kissell [D, NC-8]
- Rep. Dennis Kucinich [D, OH-10]
- Rep. James Marshall [D, GA-8]
- Rep. Eric Massa [D, NY-29]
- Rep. Jim Matheson [D, UT-2]
- Rep. Mike McIntyre [D, NC-7]
- Rep. Charles Melancon [D, LA-3]
- Rep. Walter Minnick [D, ID-1]
- Rep. Harry Mitchell [D, AZ-5]
- Rep. Alan Mollohan [D, WV-1]
- Rep. Glenn Nye [D, VA-2]
- Rep. Earl Pomeroy [D, ND-0]
- Rep. Nick Rahall [D, WV-3]
- Rep. Ciro Rodriguez [D, TX-23]
- Rep. Mike Ross [D, AR-4]
- Rep. John Salazar [D, CO-3]
- Rep. Fortney Stark [D, CA-13]
- Rep. John Tanner [D, TN-8]
- Rep. Gene Taylor [D, MS-4]
- Rep. Peter Visclosky [D, IN-1]
- Rep. Charles Wilson [D, OH-6]
Democrats That Voted ‘Nay’
- Rep. Mary Bono Mack [R, CA-45]
- Rep. Michael Castle [R, DE-0]
- Rep. Mark Kirk [R, IL-10]
- Rep. Leonard Lance [R, NJ-7]
- Rep. Frank LoBiondo [R, NJ-2]
- Rep. John McHugh [R, NY-23]
- Rep. Dave Reichert [R, WA-8]
- Rep. Christopher Smith [R, NJ-4]
Republicans That Voted ‘Aye’
On the Republican Substitute Amendment
Besides the vote on passage, the only other substantial vote the House placed on the climate change bill was on a Republican amendment that would have replaced the entirety of the bill with the text of H.R. 513, entitled the “New Manhattan Project for Energy Independence.” The amendment would have set non-binding energy independence goals and awarded cash prizes to companies that develop new technologies for improving automobile fuel efficiency, solar power, biofuels, carbon capture and nuclear-derived electricity. The full roll call details can be seen at this link. Below are the 7 Democrats who voted for replacing the Waxman-Markely bill with the Republicans alternative and the 11 Democrats who voted to keep the Waxman-Markley bill text the way it is.
The most noteworthy vote here is probably Rep. Waters’. Unlike the other Democrats who supported the Republican amendment, she is generally progressive on most issues.
- Rep. Jason Altmire [D, PA-4]
- Rep. John Barrow [D, GA-12]
- Rep. Dan Boren [D, OK-2]
- Rep. Christopher Carney [D, PA-10]
- Rep. Tim Holden [D, PA-17]
- Rep. James Marshall [D, GA-8]
- Rep. Maxine Waters [D, CA-35]
Democrats That Voted ‘Aye’
- Rep. Paul Broun [R, GA-10]
- Rep. Virginia Foxx [R, NC-5]
- Rep. Scott Garrett [R, NJ-5]
- Rep. Dean Heller [R, NV-2]
- Rep. Jim Jordan [R, OH-4]
- Rep. Frank LoBiondo [R, NJ-2]
- Rep. Tim Murphy [R, PA-18]
- Rep. Tom Price [R, GA-6]
- Rep. Paul Ryan [R, WI-1]
- Rep. Christopher Smith [R, NJ-4]
- Rep. Lynn Westmoreland [R, GA-3]
Republicans That Voted ‘Nay’
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Morons...
Moderated Comment
I only wish the Michian "representatives" were not lemmings and had the intestinal fortitude of the representatives that voted against this travisty. I wish we had representation that was interested in representing us rather then special interest or being a pelosi lemming. You see what has happened to California, why are our "representatives so ignorant after the way she has helped put California in the toilet. idiots.
Work to boot them out. They all need to go.
Great... Did higher gas prices cause us to be greener? Will higher energy prices cause us to be greener? Let the people demand this stuff, not the government. Allow small business to create a green economy, don't legislate it. America is BROKE.
How can people vote for bills they don't read first?
Why at this time when poverty is at it's highest, wages are at the point of being cut by private business, the "real" people are struggling
Why are these 8 wannabe Republican voting to doom all states to the same financial doom and gloom of their respective states?
Democratic Led States every one of them are in financial crisis. Why are listening to these genius who know how to ruin a state.
What the 8 Republicans and 211 Democrats have done is doomed the people of this great nation. Will you allow them to continue down this path? God I hope not. They have done enough damage.
Anyone who voted to triple, quadruple, or raise our taxes through the roof needs to be fired . It is time for term limits need to be enacted.
Actually, it's the Republican states that take our federal money and pay nothing back. You could say that Republican states are on welfare.
Avery are you kidding me? The states that have the problems are the Liberal States of America! California, New York who wants to tax soda pop. Wake up gain knowledge and dont share bad knowledge.
The Republican States paid the money "in" in the first place. Why should you expect a payback for a payback ??
It is the Federal Government that is on welfare, they're spending your money and mine. They have no "other money".
Global Warming is the biggest hoax played on the gullible public.
One born every minute.
Pretty soon we're not going to be a democracy anymore.
Thats because we are not a democracy we are a Republic Silly!!!
It is clear that Congress does not represent the will of the people. With that in mind, please insure to vote out every incumbent in 2010.
Our heating bill for the winter months is roughly 25 percent of our income per month. We live in a rural area so transportation is costly. We cannot afford any cost of living or tax increase.
It's time for a revolution people!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Moderated Comment
How long does it take for the people of the United States realize that the government has not been for the people almost since it started up. They don't care about us, all they care about is their tax payers vacations, the money they get from the lobbyest and all the other goodies they get from being in power. WAKE UP AMERICA THEY DON'T GIVE A CRAP ABOUT US - NEVER HAVE = NEVER WILL!!!
Moderated Comment
We do not have a democracy any longer. We have a bunch of elected elitists who believe they know better than the people who elected them how they should live. they listen to a few other elitists like themselves and say they are listening to the people. How many of them actually talk to the man on the street. 0 thats how many they might catch something from a regular citizen (such as a brain). They are more interested in a global economy than in what is happening in the USA. Al Gore and his friends are set up to become multi-billionaires with the passage of cap and trade based on faulty information about global warming.
So dont vote for them get organized and get a candidate who will do your bidding, and we are not a democracy, we are a Republic. Remember the pledge." and to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all" maybe we should change it to some but the point is you can make a differance if you want. Start a web site and get like minded people and donate to represetatives and senators who think like you and I. The people still have the power we just need to show them.
Write to your SENATOR...stop this insanity...or at least go out fighting for your republican form of government. We area Republic because governmental power is spelled out in our CONSTITUTION which provides for a congress who have ENUMERATED POWERS. There power is NOT UNLIMITED!!!!
Write to your SENATOR...stop this insanity...or at least go out fighting for your republican form of government. We area Republic because governmental power is spelled out in our CONSTITUTION which provides for a congress who have ENUMERATED POWERS. There power is NOT UNLIMITED!!!!
This is insane. Strike three as far as I'm concerned, they didn't read the stimulus bill, the budget and now this. Fire each and every one of them and start off with a clean slate.
God Bless these 42 Democrats who remain true to their conservative values. And woe to the 8 Republicans come election time! I'd like to contact these 8 traitors but they only take mail/calls from their constituents. Hopefully, those in their districts are letting them feel the HEAT. Not from Global Warming, of course, as we all know that's a farce anyway!
I feel that if you are still denying that global warming exists then it is rather difficult for clear thinking citizens to take your opinions seriously. We should not forget which administration got us to this place of financial desperation. Until we create a new political party of the people and for the people we will not change things. There are good ideas on both sides of the aisle but the party system won't allow them to surface. The party system is destroying America and its time to eliminate such a system and allow majority voting to decide what the country wants. It would stop special interest groups from controlling congress as they wouldn't be able to control the outcome of votes by simply targeting the key players of each party. Remove the aisle and you will in return give back the country to its people. Roadcrack on Twitter.
I feel that if you are still denying that global warming exists then it is rather difficult for clear thinking citizens to take your opinions seriously. We should not forget which administration got us to this place of financial desperation. Until we create a new political party of the people and for the people we will not change things. There are good ideas on both sides of the aisle but the party system won't allow them to surface. The party system is destroying America and its time to eliminate such a system and allow majority voting to decide what the country wants. It would stop special interest groups from controlling congress as they wouldn't be able to control the outcome of votes by simply targeting the key players of each party. Remove the aisle and you will in return give back the country to its people. Roadcrack on Twitter.
I can't believe we have 3 1/3 more years of this insanity. Since January I've felt like suddenly everything that used to be right is wrong and everything that used to be wrong is right! I hear the news and think it couldn't get any worse - then it gets worse! How can we stop this evaporation of our freedoms? Waiting for 2010 will be too late! We'll be slaves to China by then!!!