Heap of Heath

If you’re getting your only Shuler news from this blog then you’re getting only bits and dollops of the tenure of Deputy Whip Largely. Our Heath has been involved in a lot lately, and in the interest of finding ways not to be furious with him over his doubletalk and discrimination vote, here’s a look at last week’s votes (via Congress.org’s Megavote – sign up here):

Overriding the Veto of the Water Resources Development Act – Vote Passed (361-54, 17 Not Voting)
The House voted on Tuesday to override President Bush’s veto of the Water Resources Development Act.
Rep. Heath Shuler voted YES

This was the first Bush veto override, and the resoundingly bipartisan smackdown will mean water projects for lots and lots of districts. You can call it pork, but it looks more like vital infrastructure investment to me.

Employment Non-Discrimination Act – Vote Passed (235-184, 14 Not Voting)
The House passed this bill that would bar employers with 15 or more employees from discriminating against potential workers based on their real or supposed sexual orientation.
Rep. Heath Shuler voted NO

Heath said “I oppose discrimination and bigotry in any and all forms” just after voting to oppose an anti-discrimination bill for his homosexual constituents. This kind of doubletalk smacks of dishonesty. This vote was an insult to every gay or lesbian person in the district.

United States-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement – Vote Passed (285-132, 16 Not Voting)
This bill is intended to strengthen trade ties with Peru.
Rep. Heath Shuler voted NO

Noticing that every time someone signs an international trade deal, western North Carolina loses more jobs, Shuler wisely voted to stay out of this one. Without labor and environmental mandates in our trade bills, we’ll just continue to sell our workers and our planet down the road.

Defense Appropriations Act, FY2008 – Vote Passed (400-15, 17 Not Voting)
The House overwhelmingly passed the conference report for this $471 billion bill funding the Department of Defense for the 2008 fiscal year.
Rep. Heath Shuler voted YES

This vote may be a prelude to another dog’n'pony show the Democrats will put on to try to convince progressives they’re doing something about the war. It’ll supposedly insulate them from Republican charges of abandoning the troops. It won’t, of course, insulate them from Republican attacks, but we need them to be big boys and girls, take the taunting, and do the right thing. Chances are they won’t do a damn thing, preferring finger-pointing and blame-laying to good old fashioned ass-kicking.

Labor/HHS/Education Appropriations Act, FY2008 – Vote Passed (274-141, 17 Not Voting)
With this vote the House sent the appropriations bill funding the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education to the President’s desk.
Rep. Heath Shuler voted YES

I don’t know diddly about this one. Any of you?

Temporary Tax Relief Act of 2007 – Vote Passed (216-193, 24 Not Voting)
The House passed this bill to provide tax relief for the 2007 filing year.
Rep. Heath Shuler voted YES

eCarl Mumpower’s been ragging Heath about what’s being billed as a “fix” to the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT). This tax, originally targeted to the very rich, wasn’t indexed to inflation. So now it’s hitting upper middle class families as well as the wealthy. This vote temporarily “fixes” the problem but makes up for the revenue shortfall by tagging money managers and venture capital firms. There will be a lot more haggling over this in the spring.

Upcoming Votes

Mortgage Reform and Anti-Predatory Lending Act of 2007 – H.R.3915
The House is scheduled to vote on this legislation intended to reform consumer mortgage practices.

Head Start for School Readiness Act – H.R.1429
The House will vote on the conference report of this bill to reauthorize the Head Start Act.