WASHINGTON - Here's how area members of Congress voted on major roll calls in the week ending April 18:
House
PRIVATIZED TAX COLLECTION: The House on April 15 repealed,238 for and 179 against, a 2004 law used by the Internal Revenue Service to hire private firms to collect delinquent taxes. A yes vote was to pass the bill.
Voting yes: Reps. Wayne Gilchrest, R-Kent, C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger, D-Baltimore, John Sarbanes, D-Baltimore, Albert Wynn, D-Prince George's, Steny Hoyer, D-St. Mary's, Elijah Cummings, D-Baltimore, Chris Van Hollen, D-Montgomery. Voting no: Rep. Roscoe Bartlett, R-Frederick.
GLOBAL DEBT RELIEF: The House on April 16 voted, 285 for and 132 against, to nearly double the number of poor nations eligible to receive international debt forgiveness. A yes vote was to pass the bill.
Voting yes: Mr. Gilchrest, Ruppersberger, Mr. Sarbanes, Mr. Wynn, Mr. Hoyer, Mr. Cummings, Mr. Van Hollen. Voting no: Mr. Bartlett.
STUDENT LOAN EXPANSION: Voting 383 for and 27 against, the House on April 16 passed a bill (HR 5713) increasing by $2,000 per year the ceiling on so-called Stafford student loans. A yes vote was to pass the bill.
Voting yes: Mr. Gilchrest, Mr. Ruppersberger, Mr. Sarbanes, Mr. Hoyer, Mr. Bartlett, Mr. Cummings, Mr. Van Hollen. Not voting: Mr. Wynn.
Senate
HIGHWAY, TRANSIT SPENDING: Voting 88-2, the Senate on April 17 passed a bill (HR 1195) that would speed the release of billions of dollars of previously authorized funds for highway and transit projects. A yes vote was to pass the bill.
Voting yes: Sen. Benjamin Cardin, D-Md. Sen. Barbara Mikulski, D-Md.
CRIMINAL EARMARK PROBE: Voting 64 for and 28 against, the Senate on April 17 requested a Department of Justice criminal probe into the handling of a $10 million earmark sponsored in 2005 by Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska, for building an interchange on I-75 near Naples, Fla. A yes vote backed a Department of Justice probe.
Voting yes: Mr. Cardin, Ms. Mikulski.
SEPARATION OF POWERS: Voting 49 for and 43 against, the Senate on April 17 failed to get 60 votes needed to endorse a congressional rather than Department of Justice probe into the earmark involving Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska. A yes vote backed a joint House-Senate inquiry.
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