THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, November 13, 1995 TAG: 9511130077
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B5 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
LENGTH: Medium: 99 lines
Oil royalties: Voting 160 for and 261 against, the House refused to require energy companies to pay royalties to the Treasury on certain Gulf of Mexico oil and gas leases that entail risky deep-water drilling. A victory for energy companies, this put the House in step with Senate action to waive these royalties. The waiver was defended as necessary to spur deep-water drilling and opposed as anti-environment ``corporate welfare.'' The vote occurred during debate on a bill (S 395), later passed, that permits Alaskan North Slope oil to be exported and authorizes the Energy Department to sell the federal Alaska Power Administration.
A yes vote opposed the royalty waivers.
Bateman No Pickett No
Scott Yes Sisisky Yes
Clayton Yes Jones No
Spending issue: By a vote of 230 for and 197 against, the House passed a ``continuing resolution'' (HJ Res 115) to keep the government running until its regular fiscal 1996 spending bills are enacted. In one disputed feature, the measure limits lobbying expenditures by groups that get federal grants and spend more than $25,000 annually of their own money on federal, state or local advocacy. Direct lobbying with federal funds already is illegal. Supporters called the proposal a wise limit on public expenditures; opponents said it squelches free speech.
A yes vote was to pass the stopgap funding bill.
Bateman Yes Pickett No
Scott No Sisisky No
Clayton No Jones Yes
Debt increase: Voting 227 for and 194 against, the House sent the Senate a bill (HR 2586) increasing the national debt ceiling from $4.9 trillion to $4.97 trillion until Dec. 12. In addition to allowing Treasury borrowing to keep the United States out of default, the bill courted support from conservatives with add-ons such as abolishing the Commerce Department, limiting death-row appeals, imposing ``Contract With America'' regulatory overhaul and requiring a balanced federal budget within seven years.
A yes vote was to pass the bill.
Bateman Yes Pickett No
Scott No Sisisky No
Clayton No Jones Yes SENATE
Abortion: By a vote of 90 for and seven against, the Senate delayed a House-passed bill (HR 1833) outlawing a late-term abortion procedure that is characterized by one side as humane to the mother and by the other as heinous to the fetus. The vote required Judiciary Committee hearings on the bill, which makes it a crime for doctors to perform so-called ``partial birth'' abortions in which the fetus is partially delivered before being terminated. Abortion rights groups say it is used infrequently to spare the life and health of the mother, while anti-abortion groups say it is a frequently performed elective operation that tortures the fetus. Doctors arrested under the bill would face up to two years in prison and civil liability unless they demonstrated, in court, ``reasonable belief'' that they were acting to save the mother's life.
A yes vote was to delay the bill.
Robb Yes Warner Yes
Helms No Faircloth No
Debt ceiling: The Senate passed, 49 for and 47 against, legislation (HR 2586) raising the Treasury borrowing limit to $4.97 trillion that was virtually identical to a House-passed debt ceiling measure (above). The main difference was that the Senate dropped House language to dismantle the Department of Commerce within six months.
A yes vote was to pass the bill.
Robb No Warner Yes
Helms Yes Faircloth Yes
Medicare: Senators voted, 52 for and 44 against, to raise monthly Part B Medicare premiums from $46.10 to $53.50 as part of stopgap legislation to keep the government running until regular appropriations bills are enacted. The overall measure (HJ Res 115) was passed and sent to conference with a House-passed version (above). The premium increases, which are for doctor and outpatient services, also are included in a Republican overhaul of Medicare that is moving through Congress on a separate track.
A yes vote was to increase Medicare premiums as part of GOP plans to balance the budget by 2002.
Robb No Warner Yes
Helms Yes Faircloth Yes MEMO: Virginia legislators only roll call appeared in the Final Edition of The
Virginian-Pilot.
ILLUSTRATION: ROLL CALL: How area members of Congress voted for the week
ending Nov. 11.
[Photos, telephone numbers and addresses of senators and
representatives from Virginia and North Carolina.]
To reach any representative or senator on any issues that concern
you, call (202) 224-3121.
by CNB