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Scan any Congressman’s
voting record and you will find
instances where it seems to be
inconsistent. Those in
consistencies puzzle many people
and cause some to question
whether their Representative has
any firm opinions.
The confusion results from the
legislative process that often
requires two, three or as many as
five different votes on the same
bill. That is, several votes on a
bill that has the same number
and title, but not necessarily the
same language.
Why so many votes and why
would the bill change between
votes?
' The first time the House of
Representatives acts on a piece
of legislation is as it emerges
from the committee which
considered it.' The language
adopted by the committee is
debated on the House floor and
amendments may be added.
Then we either vote the
legislation up or down.
If the bill clears the House, it
goes to the Senate for con
sideration. More than likely, the
Senate will make some changes
in the language, and may even
change the entire intent and
thrust of the bill as originally
approved by the House.
Any differences between House
and Senate versions of the
legislation must be resolved by a
CREDIT
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LEBANON
PH. 273-4506
Lancaster Farming, Saturday, March 31.1973
conference committee, and then
we vote on the conference
committee’s report.
Depending on which version of
the bill dominates the conference
committee’s compromise
proposal, a Congressman’s vote
can change. If the Senate version
is at odds with the original House
bill, and the conference com
mittee has adopted most of the
Senate language, a Represen
tative may find himself opposed
to a bill he originally favored.
This is true even though the bill
carries its original title and
number.
Still another vote can come if
the legislation is sent to the White
House and vetoed there. At this
point, the priorities that a
Congressman has previously
used in determining his vote may
have to be revised to reflect the
national priorities outlined by the
President.
For example, a vote on
legislation the first time through
and even the second time through
can be based on a Represen
tative's evaluation of his
District’s priorities. He can vote
for spending money to do things
that his District feels are most
important.
But, a Presidential veto often
causes a Representative to
evaluate those District needs and
desires more in light of the
national interest. Congress has a
habit of spending money for a
little of everything and thereby
causing deficits, inflation and
increasing the possibility of new
taxes. If the President is right
that the spending in a bill favored
by a Representative could break
the budget and cause national
economic problems, a vote
against the bill after the veto may
be in order. In other words, new
circumstances require new
thinking.
The role of a legislator requires
that he be flexible and realistic.
Too often, it is those two things
that make the legislative process
seem indecisive or wishy-washy.
But, in fact, it is flexibility and
realism that result in the com
promises needed in developing
any piece of legislation.
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