Departments

Worker Rights
CQ Vote #179
1. Senate Rejects Minimum Wage Increase
During consideration of the defense authorization legislation, Senator Kennedy (D-MA) offered an amendment to raise the minimum wage to $7.25. The UAW and the rest of the labor movement strongly supported this amendment, which would provide a long overdue raise to millions of low income workers. GOP leaders countered with a terrible amendment providing a smaller, inadequate increase in the minimum wage linked to anti-worker provisions undermining the 40-hour work week and denying minimum wage and overtime protections to millions of workers. In the end, both of these amendments failed to get the 60 votes needed to pass, and thus were rejected by the Senate. The vote on the Kennedy minimum wage increase amendment was 52-46 (R8-46; D 43-0; I 1-0). June 21. Click Here To Return to the Top

CQ Vote #229
2. Senate Blocks Effort to Hold Minimum Wage Increase Hostage to Drastic Reduction in the Estate Tax
In a cynical political maneuver, GOP Congressional leaders crafted a legislative package that combined an increase in the minimum wage with a measure drastically reducing the estate tax. The UAW and a broad coalition of progressive groups strongly opposed this political ploy. The reduction in the estate tax would give huge tax windfalls to a tiny number of the richest families in the United States. It would also aggravate our budget deficits and undermine funding for vital domestic programs. In addition, the minimum wage increase was phased in too slowly, and contained a provision nullifying state protections for workers who receive tips. As a result of this provision, the GOP bill would actually result in a big pay cut for millions of minimum wage workers in seven states. In the end, Senate Democrats were able to sustain a filibuster to block the GOP estate tax-minimum wage package. An attempt to invoke cloture to cut off debate on this package failed by a vote of 56-42 (R 52-3; D 4-38; I 0-1). August 3. It takes 60 votes to stop a filibuster. Senate GOP Leader Bill Frist supported cloture, but shifted his vote to “No” in order to preserve his procedural ability to later move to reconsider the vote. Click Here To Return to the Top

Trade
CQ Vote #190
3. Senate Approves Oman Free Trade Deal
The UAW and other unions and progressive groups opposed the U.S.-Oman Free Trade Agreement because it failed to contain meaningful, enforceable protections for workers’ rights. But the Senate approved this free trade deal by a vote of 60-34. (R 48-5; D 11-29; I 1-0). June 29. Click Here To Return to the Top

Budget/Taxes
CQ Vote #58
4. Senate Approves Amendment Increasing Funding for Health, Education & Training
During consideration of the budget plan for FY 2007, Senators Specter (R-PA) and Harkin (D-IA) offered an amendment to allow for $7 billion in increased funding for health, education, and training. The UAW and other unions strongly supported this amendment, and it was approved by a vote of 73-27 (R 28-27; D 44-0; I 1-0). March 16. Click Here To Return to the Top

CQ Vote #74
5. Senate Passes Misguided GOP Budget Plan
The budget plan crafted by GOP leaders for FY 2007 did not provide sufficient funding for many important domestic programs. At the same time, it assumed that the 2001-2003 Bush tax cuts for the rich would be made permanent. It also called for cuts in spending on Medicare and Medicaid and would establish a new point of order against spending on Medicare. The UAW and our progressive allies opposed this GOP budget plan, but it passed the Senate by a vote of 51-49 (R 50-5; D 1-43; I 0-1). March 16. Click Here To Return to the Top

CQ Vote #118
6. Senate Passes Budget Reconciliation Tax Bill
The UAW and our progressive allies opposed the conference report on the budget reconciliation tax legislation. The centerpiece of this measure was a provision extending the reduction in taxes on capital gains and dividends. This provision largely benefits wealthy individuals. It would also aggravate our federal deficits and deprive the federal government of resources that are needed for education, health care and other domestic programs. Despite our opposition, the Senate passed this legislation by a vote of 54-44 (R 51-3; D 3-40; I 0-1). May 11. Click Here To Return to the Top

Health Care

CQ Vote #5
7. Senate Kills Effort to Extend Enrollment Period for Medicare Prescription Drug Program
Because of the complex and confusing nature of the Medicare prescription drug program, many seniors encountered considerable difficulty in deciding whether to enroll in the program. At the same time, seniors faced penalties if they missed the June 30th deadline for enrolling in the program. To alleviate this situation, during consideration of the budget reconciliation tax cut legislation, Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL) offered an amendment to extend the initial enrollment period by six months through the end of 2006. GOP leaders raised a point of order to block this amendment. When Senator Nelson moved to waive this point of order, his motion was rejected by a vote of 52-45 (R 8-45; D 43-0; I 1-0). February 2. Under Senate rules, it takes 60 votes to overcome a point of order. Click Here To Return to the Top

CQ Vote #21
8. Senate Blocks Asbestos Compensation Bill
The UAW supported legislation sponsored by Senators Specter (R-PA) and Leahy (D-VT) that would have established a $140 billion federal trust fund to compensate the victims of asbestos related diseases. In our judgment, this proposal would have been far superior to the current tort system in providing prompt, equitable compensation to millions of workers who have been made sick by exposure to asbestos. But trial lawyers waged a fierce battle to stop this legislation, and used a budget technicality to raise a point of order against the bill. Senator Specter moved to waive this point of order, but this motion was rejected by a vote of 58-41 (R 44-11; D 13-30; I 1-0). February 14. It takes 60 votes to overcome a point of order. As a result of this vote, the asbestos compensation legislation was effectively killed. Senator Frist supported Specter's motion, but later switched to opposition so under the Senate rules he could later be in a position to move to reconsider the vote. Click Here To Return to the Top

CQ Vote #115
9. Senate Blocks Misguided Medical Malpractice Bills
In May, Senate GOP leaders tried to bring up two medical malpractice bills that would have limited the ability of patients to recover damages when they are the victims of negligent medical care. The UAW opposed these misguided measures and they were both blocked by filibusters. The GOP attempt to invoke cloture to cut off debate on the first medical malpractice bill was rejected by a vote of 48-42 (R 48-3; D 0-39). May 8. It takes 60 votes to end a filibuster. Click Here To Return to the Top

CQ Vote #119
10. Senate Blocks Dangerous Small Business Health Plan Legislation
Under the guise of helping small businesses cope with rising health care costs, Senate GOP leaders pushed much broader legislation that would have allowed insurers to bypass many state health care requirements. In effect, this would have given insurers broad flexibility to adopt discriminatory practices in designing, pricing and marketing their health care policies. This would inevitably lead to higher premiums for older, sicker workers, persons with chronic conditions and disabilities, and individuals who enroll in plans with more comprehensive coverage. The UAW and other progressive groups opposed this dangerous legislation. In the end, it was blocked by a Democratic filibuster after an effort to invoke cloture to cut off debate failed by a vote of 55-43 (R 53-1; D 2-41; I 0-1). May 11. It takes 60 votes to stop a filibuster. Click Here To Return to the Top

Civil and Human Rights

CQ Vote #2
11. Senate Confirms Alito
The UAW and our allies in the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights opposed the nomination of Judge Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court. While serving on the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, Judge Alito's onions consistently reflected a narrow, constricted interpretation of statutes protecting worker rights. In addition, his opinions in race and gender employment discrimination cases reflected a restrictive interpretation of civil rights laws. In light of these opinions, we did not believe Judge Alito would be committed to supporting the rights of workers, minorities and women. But despite our opposition, the Senate confirmed Alito to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court by a vote of 58-42 (R 54-1; D 4-40; I 0-1). January 31. Click Here To Return to the Top

CQ Vote #141
12. Senate Rejects Tougher Workplace Rights Enforcement
During consideration of the immigration legislation, Senator Kennedy offered an amendment to expand enforcement of employment laws to help prevent exploitation of immigrant workers and to prevent workplace rights from being undermined for all American workers. This amendment made willful violations of OHSA standards a criminal felony, increased fines for FLSA and OSHA violations, and required employers to provide back pay to undocumented workers who are discharged for organizing activities. The UAW and other unions strongly supported this amendment. But the Senate tabled (killed) it by a vote of 57-40 (R 54-0; D 3-39; I 0-1). May 23. Click Here To Return to the Top