FOR THE RECORD
The following is a report of how some major bills fared recently in Congress and a record of how local members of Congress voted. NV means Not Voting.</br></br>CONGRESSIONAL PAY For-79/Against-342 The House rejected a pay raise for members of Congress. The vote occurred during debate on a Treasury Department spending bill for fiscal 1999. The bill prohibits a cost-of-living adjustment for members. Without the ban, a cost-of-living adjustment linked to 1998 inflation would take effect automatically early next year. The amendment rejected by this vote sought to remove the ban. Rank-and-file House members and senators are paid $136,700 annually, with leaders receiving more. A yes vote supported a pay raise for members of Congress.</br></br>CAMPAIGN ADS For-201/Against-219 The House refused to weaken the leading campaign finance bill before the House, a measure sponsored by Reps. Christopher Shays (R-Conn.) and Martin T. Meehan (D-Mass.). At issue was Shays-Meehan language that would begin federal regulation of political advertising, including TV and radio "attack ads," that interest groups sponsor to help or hurt a specific candidate. Shays-Meehan would bring these "issue advocacy ads" under the spending and disclosure requirements that govern the candidates' own ads. With this vote, the House defeated an amendment that sought to soften the proposed new curbs on independently financed issue ads.</br></br>ABORTION For-276/Against-150 The House passed a bill making it a federal crime to transport a minor to another state for an abortion, in order to avoid parental consent or notification laws in the girl's home state. The bill does not apply when the abortion is necessary to save the girl's life, and it exempts parents from prosecution. A yes vote was to pass the bill.</br></br>GUN DEALERS For-122/Against-301 The House rejected an amendment to prevent $2 million from being paid to gun importers as compensation for inventory they lost when President Clinton recently banned the importation of certain assault weapons. The weapons were "in transit" to the U.S. dealers at the time of the April 6, 1998, ban. This vote occurred during debate on the Treasury Department's fiscal 1999 spending bill. The amendment sought to transfer the $2 million to the hiring of more agents at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF), a Treasury agency that enforces gun laws. A yes vote was to spend $2 million on ATF agents rather than to compensate certain gun importers for loss of property.