WASHINGTON — Here is how Arizona members of Congress voted on major issues in the week ending Dec. 1.
House
Mining lease in national forest: The House on Nov. 30 passed, 216-204, a bill (HR 3905) requiring the Bureau of Land Management to renew mineral leases in the Superior National Forest in Minnesota to clear the way for the Chilean-owned company Twin Metals Minnesota to develop an underground copper mine there. A yes vote was to pass HR 3905.
Voting yes: Martha McSally, R-2, Paul Gosar, R-4, Andy Biggs, R-5, David Schweikert, R-6, Trent Franks, R-8
Voting no: Tom O’Halleran, D-1, Raul Grijalva, D-3, Ruben Gallego, D-7, Kyrsten Sinema, D-9
President Trump’s tax returns: The House on Nov. 29 blocked, 227-189, a parliamentary move by Democrats to force floor debate on a bill (HR 305) now in committee that would require President Trump and future presidential nominees to disclose their federal tax returns for the three most recent years. A yes vote opposed floor consideration of the tax-disclosure bill.
Yes: McSally, Gosar, Biggs, Schweikert, Franks
No: O’Halleran, Grijalva, Gallego, Sinema
Job probation for civil servants: The House on Nov. 30 voted, 213-204, to double from one to two years the probationary period for new hires in the federal civil service and restrict for two years their due-process rights in disciplinary actions. A yes vote was to send the bill (HR 4182) to the Senate.
Yes: McSally, Gosar, Biggs, Schweikert, Franks
No: O’Halleran, Gallego, Sinema
Senate
Republican tax overhaul: Passed, 51-49, a Republican-drafted bill (HR 1) that would permanently reduce the corporate tax rate, temporarily reduce personal income tax rates, end deductions for state and local income taxes, scale back the federal estate tax, open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil and gas drilling, repeal the 2010 health law’s individual mandate and make numerous other changes to the tax code and domestic programs.
Yes: John McCain, R, Jeff Flake, R
Hiring linked to corporate tax savings: Voting 48-51, the Senate on Nov. 30 defeated a Democratic-sponsored measure that would have required corporations to use as much of their savings from a pending tax-overhaul bill (HR 1) to hire new workers as they spent on raising executive pay, buying back stock and increasing dividend payments to shareholders. A yes vote was to establish a link between hiring policies and corporate tax savings.
No: McCain, Flake
Tax credits linked to pro-worker policies: Voting 48-52, the Senate on Nov. 30 turned back a Democratic-sponsored measure that sought to provide tax credits of $1,500 per worker to corporations that pay wages of at least $15 an hour, provide substantive health and retirement benefits and keep their headquarters in America. A yes vote was to advance the amendment to HR 1 (above).
No: Flake
Not voting: McCain
Gregory Katsas, appeals judge: The Senate on Nov. 28 confirmed, 50-48, Gregory G. Katsas, a former deputy counsel to President Trump, for a seat on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. A yes vote backed Katsas over Democratic objections to his role in helping draft the administration’s policies on LGBT rights and travel from Muslim-majority countries.
Yes: Flake
Not voting: McCain
