Ensign, Heller follow Bush Lead: Health program, Energy Policy, and Conservation votes

** Senator John Ensign (R-NV) continued his commitment to un-compassionate conservativism by voting against H.R. 5501, the Lantos-Hyde Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Reauthorization Act). The measure passed 80-16 (4) on Senate vote number 182. Senator Harry Reid (D-NV) voted in favor of the bill. Senator Ensign was one of only 31 members of the Senate to agree with the DeMint Amendment which would have slashed $15 billion from the health programs. [vote 181]

** Representative Dean Heller (R-NV2) was the only member of the Nevada Congressional Delegation to vote against H.R. 6515, the “Drill Responsibly in Leased Lands Act.” The measure failed to achieve the 2/3rds required, on a 244-173 vote. [roll call 511] Both Representatives Berkley (D-NV1) and Porter (R-NV3) voted in favor of the measure which would have (1) authorized leasing in the Alaskan National Petroleum Reserve with at least one lease sale per year until 2013; (2) facilitated pipeline construction from the NPR; (3) required pipeline operators to certify annually that the pipeline is fully maintained and efficiently operated; (4) expedited the construction of a natural gas pipeline from Alaska to continental U.S. markets; (5) repealed provisions of the Mineral Leasing Act that allow the export of Alaskan North Slope oil; (6) amended the Export Administration Act of 1979 to re-impose the prohibition of crude oil exports; (7) require oil companies to use their existing leases before accumulating more; and (8) instructed the Secretary of the Interior to ensure that lessees make prompt, transparent, and accurate royalty payments. [CRS] Evidently, Representative Heller believes that it is perfectly all right for oil corporations to export Alaskan North Slope oil rather than require that it go to American refineries?

** Representatives Heller and Porter both voted against adding the Taunton River, (MA) to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, H.R. 415. [roll call 507] Rep. Shelley Berkley (D-NV1) voted in favor of the measure, which passed 242-175. Adding the Taunton to the list means that dams and other ‘projects’ cannot adversely affect river values, agencies must protect natural, cultural, and recreational uses, water quality must be maintained, and there must be a comprehensive river management plan. [Rivers]