How They Voted
Legislation implementing climate change budget provisions will require 60 Senate votes
Both Montana's U. S. Senators voted in favor of a measure insisting that any climate change legislation involving a cap and trade system for carbon emissions would require at least 60 votes. Montana's Democrat senators joined 24 other Democrats and all Senate Republicans in voting for the prohibition against the use of reconciliation - a budgetary procedure that reconciles policy with fiscal guidelines, and which allows a simple majority vote. The measure passed 67 to 31.
Budget resolutions pass without any Republican votes
The Senate passed the FY2010 budget resolution by a vote of 55 to 43. Sen. Baucus and Sen. Tester both voted in support of the resolution. Two other Senate Democrats joined all Republicans in opposing the measure. The House passed a separate resolution by a vote of 233 to 196, with Rep. Rehberg joining all other Republicans and 20 Democrats in opposition. The two budget resolutions, which set the stage for energy, education and health care changes promoted by President Obama in his FY 2010 budget, will have to be reconciled after Congress returns from its two week recess in April. See New York Times article about the Senate and House budget approvals (April 2, 2009).
Public Lands Bill Opposed by Rehberg
The bipartisan Omnibus Public Lands Management Act of 2009 is important to Montana. The bill, which overwhelmingly passed the Senate 77-20, designated additional Wilderness lands in several states (not Montana) and authorized other public lands programs. It included a provision introduced by Sen. Tester and co-sponsored by Sen. Baucus called the Cooperative Watershed Management Act to provide grants to grassroots groups who agree to work together to manage Montana's water resources. The federal funds would supplement other private money. Sen. Baucus and Sen. Tester supported the bill.
The bill passed the House by a two-to-one vote (285-140) - but Montana's Rep. Dennis Rehberg voted ‘no,' saying his vote was because the bill did not protect Second Amendment rights by allowing citizens to take guns into national parks and wildlife refuges.
