WASHINGTON – Here’s how Maine’s senators were recorded on major roll call votes in the week ending Aug. 1. The House was in recess.

SENATE U.S. energy policy

Voting 84 for and 14 against, the Senate on July 31 sent to conference with the House a package of tax breaks and policy changes designed to increase energy production and conservation in the U.S. The bill (HR 6) provides at least $14 billion over ten years in tax credits and incentives to promote oil and gas exploration, clean-coal technology, nuclear energy and energy conservation. It replaced a more partisan measure (S 14, below) that was debated all week and then shelved.

The newly passed bill also requires power companies to generate ten per cent of their electricity from renewable sources by 2020, bans the discredited gasoline additive M.T.B.E. and triples the use of ethanol, a clean-burning gasoline additive made from corn, to five billion gallons by 2013.

A yes vote was to pass the bill.

Sen. Susan Collins, R, voted yes. Sen. Olympia Snowe, R, voted yes.

SUV mileage

Voting 32 for and 65 against, the Senate on July 29 refused to require cars, SUVs, minivans and certain utility vehicles to achieve a fleet average of 40 miles-per-gallon by 2015. The amendment was offered to an energy bill (S 14) that was eventually shelved.

At present, the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAF) standard is 27.5 mpg for cars and 20 mpg for SUVs, minivans and light trucks. The amendment also sought to close a loophole that exempts the large SUVs known as Hummers from fuel efficiency standards.

Christopher Bond, R-Mo., said: “There are over 30 vehicles in showrooms that get over 30 miles to the gallon, but guess what: They represent less than two percent of sales. In their buying decisions, consumers consistently favor safety, utility, performance and other characteristics over fuel economy.”

A yes vote was to raise CAF standards.

Collins and Snowe voted yes.

Energy deregulation

The Senate on July 30 voted, 53 for and 44 against, to limit the regulation of the utility mergers and acquisitions that would occur under S 14 (above). By repealing the 68-year-old Public Utility Holding Company Act, the bill sought to clear the way for foreign and non-utility holding companies to acquire local and regional electric and gas companies. On this vote, the Senate killed a bid for stronger Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) authority over deals involving power-generation plants.

A yes vote was to limit FERC scrutiny.

Collins and Snowe voted no.

Utility firewalls

Voting 50 for and 48 against, the Senate on July 30 killed an amendment to S 14 (above) requiring firewalls between a utility company and non-utility affiliates in the same holding company. The amendment sought to protect utility ratepayers and investors from being forced to subsidize less-profitable affiliates. It required separate books and management structures and prevented the shifting of costs and risk to utility companies.

Sponsor Russ Feingold, D-Wis., said that without his amendment, “holding companies will be able to freely diversify into unregulated businesses” and engage in transactions” that “drain financial resources and key assets from the utility businesses.”

A yes vote opposed setting up firewalls.

Collins and Snowe voted no.

Chile trade pact

Voting 66 for and 31 against, the Senate on July 31 sent to President Bush for his signature a fast-track bill (HR 2738) establishing many areas of free trade between Chile and the U.S. Under the pact, over the next four years both countries would eliminate tariffs and other barriers over a range of goods and services.

Supporters said the pact would open many new markets for U.S. service industries, farmers and manufacturers. Critics faulted Chile’s environmental and labor practices and objected to visa policies that will allow Chilean professionals to remain indefinitely in the U.S.

A yes vote supported the agreement.

Collins and Snowe voted yes.

Pryor nomination

Voting 53 for and 44 against, the Senate on July 31 failed to advance the nomination of William H. Pryor Jr., the Alabama attorney general, to sit on the Atlanta-based 11th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals. Republican backers needed 60 votes to end a Democratic filibuster. Democrats said Pryor, 41, holds extreme views on issues such as environmental regulation and the separation of church and state, while Republicans defended him as a mainstream conservative.

A yes vote was to advance the nomination.

Collins and Snowe voted yes.

Copy the Story Link