Tuesday, October 02, 2007

Legislative Action: 10th District and State - 100107

American Planning Assn
presents:
MegaVote

October 1, 2007

In this MegaVote for Ohio's 10th Congressional District:


Recent Congressional Votes -
* Senate: Conference Report for Water Resources Development Act of 2007
* Senate: Biden Amendment: To express the sense of Congress on federalism in Iraq
* Senate: Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act
* Senate: Increasing the statutory limit on the public debt
* Senate: Making continuing appropriations for FY2008
* House: Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act
* House: Making continuing appropriations for FY2008
* House: Popcorn Workers Lung Disease Prevention Act
* House: Flood Insurance Reform and Modernization Act of 2007

Upcoming Congressional Bills -
* Senate: National Defense Authorization Act, FY2008
* House: Regional Economic and Infrastructure Development Act of 2007
* House: MEJA Expansion and Enforcement Act of 2007
* House: Improving Government Accountability Act
* House: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to exclude discharges of indebtedness on principal residences from gross income


Recent Senate Votes

Conference Report for Water Resources Development Act of 2007 - Vote Agreed to (81-12, 7 Not Voting)

The Senate approved the conference report for this bill that would reauthorize the Water Resources Development Act.

Sen. George Voinovich voted YES......send e-mail or see bio
Sen. Sherrod Brown voted YES......send e-mail or see bio


Biden Amendment: To express the sense of Congress on federalism in Iraq - Vote Agreed to (75-23, 2 Not Voting)

The Senate passed the Biden Amendment calling for the partition of Iraq into three semi-autonomous regions.

Sen. George Voinovich voted NO......send e-mail or see bio
Sen. Sherrod Brown voted YES......send e-mail or see bio


Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act - Vote Agreed to (67-29, 4 Not Voting)

The Senate voted to increase spending on the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, or SCHIP, by $5 billion to $12 billion per year over the next five years.

Sen. George Voinovich voted NO......send e-mail or see bio
Sen. Sherrod Brown voted YES......send e-mail or see bio


Increasing the statutory limit on the public debt - Vote Agreed to (53-42, 5 Not Voting)

The Senate voted in favor of this resolution to raise the debt limit from $9 trillion to $9.8 trillion.

Sen. George Voinovich voted NO......send e-mail or see bio
Sen. Sherrod Brown voted NO......send e-mail or see bio


Making continuing appropriations for FY2008 - Vote Agreed to (94-1, 5 Not Voting)

The Senate almost unanimously passed the continuing resolution that funds government operations at its current levels until November 16, while Congress continues to work on the new spending bills.

Sen. George Voinovich voted YES......send e-mail or see bio
Sen. Sherrod Brown voted YES......send e-mail or see bio



Recent House Votes

Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act - Vote Passed (265-159, 1 Present, 8 Not Voting)

The House voted to extend the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, or SCHIP, a health insurance program aimed at children from low-income families that do not quality for Medicaid.

Rep. Dennis Kucinich voted NO......send e-mail or see bio


Making continuing appropriations for FY2008 - Vote Passed (404-14, 14 Not Voting)

The House passed this continuing resolution that funds government operations at its current levels until November 16, while Congress continues to work on the new spending bills.

Rep. Dennis Kucinich voted NO......send e-mail or see bio


Popcorn Workers Lung Disease Prevention Act - Vote Passed (260-154, 2 Present, 16 Not Voting)

The House passed this act to help prevent cases of "popcorn lung," a disorder found in popcorn plant workers.

Rep. Dennis Kucinich voted Not Voting......send e-mail or see bio


Flood Insurance Reform and Modernization Act of 2007 - Vote Passed (263-146, 23 Not Voting)

The House passed this legislation to continue a flood insurance program that provides affordable insurance to homeowners living in areas vulnerable to flooding.

Rep. Dennis Kucinich voted YES......send e-mail or see bio



Upcoming Votes

National Defense Authorization Act, FY2008 - H.R.1585

The Senate is scheduled to continue work on this $459.3 billion bill that would fund the Department of Defense for the 2008 fiscal year.



Regional Economic and Infrastructure Development Act of 2007 - H.R.3246

The House is scheduled to vote on this bill that would provide a comprehensive regional approach to economic and infrastructure development in the most severely economically distressed areas of the U.S.



MEJA Expansion and Enforcement Act of 2007 - H.R.2740

The House will vote on this bill to require accountability for contractors and contract personnel under Federal contracts.



Improving Government Accountability Act - H.R.928

The House will also vote on this bill to enhance the independence of Inspectors General.



To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to exclude discharges of indebtedness on principal residences from gross income - H.R.3648

The House is scheduled to take up this bill, which would ensure that any mortgage debt secured by a principal residence will not be taxed.




Monday, October 01, 2007

Legislative Action: 10th District and State - 092407

American Planning Assn
presents:
MegaVote
Congressional Directories


September 24, 2007

In this MegaVote for Ohio's 10th Congressional District:


Recent Congressional Votes -
* Senate: Motion to Invoke Cloture: District of Columbia House Voting Rights Act of 2007
* Senate: Levin Amendment: To provide for a reduction and transition of United States forces in Iraq
* House: Expanding American Homeownership Act of 2007
* House: Terrorism Risk Insurance Revision and Extension Act
* House: FAA Reauthorization Act of 2007

Upcoming Congressional Bills -
* Senate: National Defense Authorization Act, FY2008
* Senate: Water Resources Development Act of 2007
* House: State Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2007
* House: Making continuing appropriations for FY2008
* House: Popcorn Workers Lung Disease Prevention Act
* House: Small Business Investment Expansion Act of 2007
* House: Flood Insurance Reform and Modernization Act of 2007


Recent Senate Votes

Motion to Invoke Cloture: District of Columbia House Voting Rights Act of 2007 - Vote Rejected (57-42, 1 Not Voting)

The Senate failed to move forward with this bill that would create a new seat for the District of Columbia in the House of Representatives.

Sen. George Voinovich voted YES......send e-mail or see bio
Sen. Sherrod Brown voted YES......send e-mail or see bio


Levin Amendment: To provide for a reduction and transition of United States forces in Iraq - Vote Rejected (47-47, 6 Not Voting)

The Senate voted against setting a nine month deadline to withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq.

Sen. George Voinovich voted NO......send e-mail or see bio
Sen. Sherrod Brown voted YES......send e-mail or see bio



Recent House Votes

Expanding American Homeownership Act of 2007 - Vote Passed (348-72, 12 Not Voting)

The House easily passed this bill that will give the Federal Housing Administration the authority to assist struggling homeowners in making their mortgage payments.

Rep. Dennis Kucinich voted YES......send e-mail or see bio


Terrorism Risk Insurance Revision and Extension Act - Vote Passed (312-110, 10 Not Voting)

The House passed this bill that would help the insurance industry cover costs in the event of a terrorist attack.

Rep. Dennis Kucinich voted YES......send e-mail or see bio


FAA Reauthorization Act of 2007 - Vote Passed (267-151, 14 Not Voting)

The House passed a measure obliging airlines to change flight schedules if the airlines are worsening delays with too many peak hour flights at the most trafficked airports.

Rep. Dennis Kucinich voted YES......send e-mail or see bio



Upcoming Votes

National Defense Authorization Act, FY2008 - H.R.1585

The Senate is scheduled to continue work on this $459.3 billion bill that would fund the Department of Defense for the upcoming fiscal year.



Water Resources Development Act of 2007 - H.R.1495

The Senate is scheduled to vote on the Conference Report of this bill that would reauthorize the Water Resources Development Act.



State Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2007 - H.R.___

The House is scheduled to once again work on legislation to reauthorize the State Children’s Health Insurance Program.



Making continuing appropriations for FY2008 - H.J.Res.___

The House will take up this resolution to fund government operations, as the 2007 fiscal year ends on Sunday, September 30.



Popcorn Workers Lung Disease Prevention Act - H.R.2693

The House is scheduled to vote on this bill that calls on the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to issue a standard regulating worker exposure to diacetyl.



Small Business Investment Expansion Act of 2007 - H.R.3567

The House will vote on this bill that would expand opportunities for investment in small businesses.



Flood Insurance Reform and Modernization Act of 2007 - H.R.3121

The House is also scheduled to vote on this bill that is intended to restore the financial solvency of the national flood insurance program.



Friday, September 28, 2007

More RTA News - E 55 Rapid Station Plan

RTA is wrapping up planning for the new transit station at Eat 55th Street.
From their site:

Major Projects - E 55 Rapid Station

This is one of the few RTA stations that serves both heavy-rail and light-rail customers.

Design drawings are 90 percent finished.

The Board of Trustees should award construction contracts this winter, and construction work would start in early 2008.

To make the station more visible, it is being moved to the southeast corner of the Rapid Corridor and East 55th Street, near the end of I-490.

Because of a 30-foot elevation difference, the $10 million project includes:

  • Two station buildings
  • An elevator to make the station ADA compliant
  • A parking lot
  • Public art

RTA declared North America’s best public transit system



RTA declared North America’s best public transit system

WHAT:
American Public Transportation Association (APTA) President William Millar will announce RTA's receipt of APTA’s Outstanding Public Transportation System Award. This means RTA has been selected as the BEST PUBLIC TRANPORTATION SYSTEM IN NORTH AMERICA.

WHEN:
Monday, October 1, 10 a.m.

WHERE:
Euclid Avenue at East 40th Street, new bus station

WHO:
William Millar, President, APTA
George V. Voinovich, U.S. Senator, Ohio
Frank G. Jackson, Mayor, city of Cleveland
Peter Lawson Jones, Commissioner, Cuyahoga County
Deborah Sutherland, Mayor, City of Bay Village and President of the Cuyahoga Mayors and Managers
Joseph A. Calabrese, CEO & GM, RTA