July 2005 Budget Voting Thread

[Emsworth]

Senators,
The question is on the adoption of the following spending cuts:

1. Corps of Engineers                                  $3.989 billion;
2. Agency for International Development                    $3.390 billion;
3. International Assistance Programs               $2.089 billion;
4. Small Business Administration                    $681 million
5. Export-Import Bank                            $1.044 billion;
6. Cargo Preference Program                        $673 million;
7. Assistance for Former Soviet Union                $484 million;
8. Federal Drug Control Program                   $457 million;
9. Corporation for National and Community Service    $433 million;
10. Assistance for Eastern Europe                    $402 million;
11. Corporation for Public Broadcasting                $375 million;
12. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission       $331 million;
13. Legal Services Corporation                        $329 million;
14. Peace Corps                                    $284 million;
15. National Labor Relations Board                   $238 million;
16. Overseas Private Investment Corporation            $207 million;
17. National Endowment for the Humanities            $125 million;
18. National Endowment for the Arts                $113 million;
19. Appalachian Regional Commission                $109 million;
20. Neighborhood Reinvestment Corp.                $105 million;
21. African Development Fund                        $57 million;
22. Trade and Development Agency                   $55 million;
23. Federal Labor Relations Board                    $29 million;
24. Selective Service System                        $25 million;
25. Commission on Civil Rights                        $9 million;
26. Legislative Branch                       $86 million;
27. Judicial Branch                       $1 million.

Those in favor, say aye; those opposed, say no.
Separate votes may be cast for each proposed cut.

(EDIT: Figures updated for consistency)

[Emsworth]

The motion has enough votes to pass. Senators have twenty-four hours to change their votes.

[Emsworth]

With seven Senators voting Aye, and one Senator abstaining, the motion has passed.

[Emsworth]

The next series of votes is rather long. The questions are:

1. On restoring the following programs (which were previously cut) to the Budget:
a. Export-Import Bank                            $1.044 billion;
b. Assistance for Former Soviet Union                $484 million.

2. On making the following spending cuts:
a. Food stamps               $10 billion;
b. Child nutrition programs               $4 billion;
c. Women, Infants, and Children Nutrition Program               $2.5 billion;
d. District of Columbia               $1.206 billion;
e. Farm subsidies               $9 billion;
f. Universal Service Fund               $3.5 billion.

Those in favor, say Aye; those opposed, say No. As usual, separate votes may be cast on each proposal.

[Emsworth]

2. On making the following spending cuts:
a. Food stamps               $10 billion;
b. Child nutrition programs               $4 billion;
c. Women, Infants, and Children Nutrition Program               $2.5 billion;
d. District of Columbia               $1.206 billion;
e. Farm subsidies               $9 billion;
f. Universal Service Fund               $3.5 billion.

What are the current budgets on these things?

The values are mentioned here in the debate.

[Emsworth]

Senators have twenty-four hours in which to vote if they have not yet done so, or to modify their votes.

[Emsworth]

Proposal 2a passes with six Senators voting Aye, one Senator voting No, and one Senator abstaining.

Proposal 2b passes with six Senators voting Aye and two Senators voting No.

All other proposals pass with eight Ayes and no Noes.

[Emsworth]

If so, shouldn't the Senate move on to other matters?

DanielX has made some proposals in the main Budget thread. I would bring them to a vote, but there seem to be a few issues (the proposals do not specify which programs are going to be cut). Once that is resolved, I would bring the Budget to a final vote.

[Emsworth]

The question is on the adoption of the following spending cuts:

1. Sub-Department of Health and Human Services                           $76 billion;
2. Sub-Department of Education                $10 billion;
3. Environmental Protection Agency               $636 million;
4. Legislative Branch               $390 million;
5. Office of Personnel Management               $6 billion;
6. Sub-Department of the Treasury               $10 billion;
7. International Assistance Programs               $500 million.

All those in favor, say Aye; those opposed, say No.

[Emsworth]

Are all of these cuts across-the-board?

Yes, all cuts are across-the-board.

[Emsworth]

Senators have twenty-four hours to vote or to change their votes.

[Emsworth]

#1: Aye 1, Nay 6 (will fail)
#2: Aye 7, Nay 0 (will pass)
#3: Aye 3, Nay 4 (future uncertain)
#4: Aye 7, Nay 0 (will pass)
#5: Aye 7, Nay 0 (will pass)
#6: Aye 2, Nay 5 (likely fail)
#7: Aye 4, Nay 3 (future uncertain)

Gabu is deemed to have abstained on all of the above, as he noted in his Leave of Absence request. Therefore, #6 will fail.

[Emsworth]

Voting is now closed. There have voted:

1. Aye 1; No 6
2. Aye 7; No 0
3. Aye 3; No 4
4. Aye 7; No 0
5. Aye 7; No 0
6. Aye 2; No 5
7. Aye 4; No 3

Therefore, I declare that motions 2, 4, 5, and 7 are approved, and that motions 1, 3, and 6 are rejected.

[Emsworth]

We may now proceed to the final vote on the Budget (see here for the text).

The question is on the passage of the Revised Budget for Fiscal Year 2006. All those in favor, say Aye; those opposed, say No.

[Emsworth]

Two Senators have formally abstained; two Senators are deemed to have abstained because they are absent. Therefore, with four Ayes, the Budget has enough votes to pass.

Senators have twenty-four hours to vote or to change their votes.

[Emsworth]

With four Ayes and zero Noes, the Budget is hereby passed.