Senate Votes
Economy
1. Senate Rejects Effort to Include Extended UI Benefits in Economic Stimulus Package
In response to the economic downturn, Congress moved quickly to take up legislation designed to provide a stimulus to the economy. With the strong support of the UAW and a coalition of progressive groups, Senate Democratic leaders offered an amendment that included extended unemployment insurance (UI) benefits for the long-term unemployed. But the Bush administration opposed these provisions, and Senate Republicans filibustered against them. An effort to invoke cloture to cut off this filibuster failed by a vote of 58-41 (R 8-40; D 48-1; I 2-0). Feb. 6. It takes 60 votes to stop a filibuster. Senate Votes As a result of this vote, the Democrats were forced to drop the extended UI benefits from the economic stimulus package.
2. Senate Includes Extended UI Benefits in Supplemental Appropriations Bill
As the economy continued to worsen, public pressure for extending UI benefits grew. As a result, Senate Democratic leaders decided to try to add extended UI benefits to a supplemental appropriations bill. With our strong support, the Senate approved an amendment containing the extended UI benefits by a vote of 75-22 (R 25-22; D 48-0; I 2-0). May 22.
3. Senate Rejects Effort to Allow Bankruptcy Courts to Provide Mortgage Relief
When the Senate took up legislation to respond to the mortgage foreclosure crisis, the UAW and other progressive groups supported an amendment by Senator Durbin to allow bankruptcy courts to modify the terms of sub-prime and non-traditional mortgages to provide relief to individuals to help them avoid foreclosure and keep their homes. But the banking industry strongly opposed this proposal. As a result, the Senate voted 58-36 (R 47-0; D 10-35; I 1-1) to table (i.e. kill) this amendment. April 3.
4. Senate Fails to Approve Economic Stimulus Package
In response to the continuing deterioration in the economy, Senate Democratic leaders put forward a package of proposals to create jobs and stimulate the economy. This package included extended unemployment insurance benefits for laid-off workers. It also contained assistance for hard-pressed states and localities, funding for job-creating infrastructure, school construction and mass transit projects, food assistance for seniors and poor families, heating assistance for low-income households, job training for dislocated workers, and investments to promote energy security. The UAW strongly supported this economic stimulus package. But an effort to take up this legislation failed by a vote of 52-42 (R 6-40; D 44-2; I 2-0), well short of the 60 votes required to proceed to this measure. Sept. 26.
Worker Rights
5. Senate Votes to Take Up Legislation Guaranteeing Collective Bargaining Rights for Public Safety Officers
The UAW and the rest of the labor movement supported legislation that would establish minimum standards that all states would have to meet regarding collective bargaining rights for firefighters, police officers and emergency medical personnel. GOP opponents tried to block the Senate from taking up this modest measure. But the Senate voted 69-29 (R 18-29; D 49-0; I 2-0) to invoke cloture to cut off any filibuster against proceeding to this legislation. May 13. It takes 60 votes to stop a filibuster.
Budget/Taxes
6. Senate Approves Democratic Budget Plan
The UAW and our progressive allies supported the budget plan crafted by Democratic leaders for FY 2009. It rejected the deep cuts in Medicare and Medicaid proposed by the Bush administration, along with their proposals to extend the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts that largely benefited wealthy individuals. Instead, it significantly increased spending on health care, education, infrastructure, veterans and other vital domestic programs. It also included funding for green-collar jobs initiatives, such as the program backed by the UAW to provide low-interest loans to encourage auto manufacturers to retool facilities in this country to produce advanced technology vehicles and their key components. In addition, this budget plan extended various tax provisions that benefited middle and low income families. With our support, the Senate approved the conference report on this budget plan by a vote of 48-45 (R 2-44; D 44-1; I 2-0). June 4.
7. Senate Defeats Effort to Extend Bush’s Tax Cuts for the Rich
During consideration of the budget plan for FY 2009, Senator Graham (R-S.C.) offered an amendment to allow for the extension of the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts that largely benefited wealthy individuals. The UAW and other progressive groups opposed this misguided amendment, and it was rejected by a vote of 47-52 (R 47-0; D 0-48; I 0-2). March 13.
Civil and Human Rights
8. Senate Fails to Take Up Legislation Restoring Protections Against Pay Discrimination
The UAW and our allies in the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights strongly supported the Fair Pay Restoration Act, which would restore longstanding protections against pay discrimination established by Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. This legislation would overturn the terrible Supreme Court decision in Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber that drastically curtailed the ability of workers to assert pay discrimination claims. It would make it clear that pay discrimination claims are timely if they are filed within 180 days of when a pay decision is made, when an employee is subject to that decision or any time they are injured by it. Unfortunately, Republicans used a filibuster to block the Senate from taking up this legislation. An effort to invoke cloture to cut off this filibuster failed by a vote of 56-42 (R 6-41; D 48-1; I 2-0). April 23. It takes 60 votes to stop a filibuster
