By Voterama In Congres
Here’s how Arizona members of Congress voted on major issues in the week ending Feb. 16.
SENATE
Bipartisan Immigration Plan: The Senate failed, 54-45, to reach 60 votes needed to approve a bipartisan plan that would provide a path to citizenship to 1.8 million undocumented aliens known as Dreamers and $25 billion for a wall on the southern border. A yes vote was to approve the most popular of three pending immigration plans. (HR 2579)
Yes: Jeff Flake, R
Not voting: John McCain, R
Trump Immigration Plan: The Senate defeated, 39-60, a measure embodying a plan by President Trump that would eventually grant legality to Dreamers while funding a border wall and prohibiting most family-based immigration. A yes vote backed the least-popular immigration plan before the Senate. (HR 2579)
No: Flake
Not voting: McCain
McCain-Coons Immigration Plan: Voting 52-47, the Senate failed to reach 60 votes needed approve an immigration proposal that laid out a citizenship path for up to 1.8 million Dreamers but did not fund President Trump’s signature border wall. A yes vote supported a plan sponsored by Sens. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Chris Coons, D-Del. (HR 2579)
Yes: Flake
Not voting: McCain
Sanctuary Cities, Immigration Enforcement: Voting 54-45, the Senate on Feb. 15 failed to reach 60 votes needed to adopt a GOP-sponsored proposal to deny federal non-security grants to so-called “sanctuary cities” that refuse to act as an arm of federal immigration enforcement. There are more than 400 sanctuary cities nationwide. They say that allowing local police to double as federal agents would destroy rapport they need with immigrant communities to do their work. A yes vote was to adopt this amendment to HR 2579 (above).
Yes: Flake
Not voting: McCain
HOUSE
Americans With Disabilities Act Lawsuits: The House on Feb. 15 passed, 225-192, a bill (HR 620) that would delay by at least four months the opportunity to file civil actions that allege public facilities are in violation of the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA). At present, when parties seek to redress violations such as architectural barriers to wheelchair access, they can immediately register a complaint with the Department of Justice or file a civil suit in federal court. The bill adds a preliminary “notice and cure” step in which those with complaints must provide written notice to the property owner, who then has up to 120 days to show “substantial progress” toward fixing the deficiency. A yes vote was to send the bill to the Senate.
Voting yes: Martha McSally, R-2, Paul Gosar, R-4, Andy Biggs, R-5, David Schweikert, R-6
Voting no: Tom O’Halleran, D-1, Raul Grijalva, D-3, Ruben Gallego, D-7, Kyrsten Sinema, D-9
Scaling Back Disability Bill: Voting 188-226, the House on Feb. 15 refused to strip HR 620 (above) of a requirement that those filing complaints under the Americans With Disabilities Act must give written notice of their objection to property owners and allow them time to fix the problem, a process that could take at least 120 days. Backers said the “notice and cure” provision would deter drive-by lawsuits, while critics said it would deprive handicapped persons of their civil rights. A yes vote was to remove the requirement from the bill.
Yes: O’Halleran, Grijalva, Gallego
No: McSally, Gosar, Biggs, Schweikert, Sinema
Payday Loans, Usury Laws: Voting 245-171, the House on Feb. 14 passed a bill (HR 3299) that would allow the interest on payday loans to bust state-set usury limits when the loan originates with a federally chartered bank in another state having higher or non-existent interest caps. Numerous states and the District of Columbia have usury laws that limit interest rates charged on short-term loans by financial institutions including so-called payday lenders. A yes vote was to send the bill to the Senate.
Yes: McSally, Gosar, Biggs, Schweikert, Sinema
No: O’Halleran, Grijalva, Gallego
