Olympia Snowe |
Believe the hype — US Senator Olympia Snowe’s key votes in 2005 and 2006 do, indeed, straddle party lines. Whether you like that or not depends on which issues get to you:Abortion
YES to amend a bill to allocate $100 million for pregnancy prevention, March 17, 2005. Rejected 47 to 53.
YES to confirm John Roberts Jr. to the Supreme Court, a candidate opposed by reproductive rights groups, September 29, 2005. Confirmed 78 to 22.
YES to confirm Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court, a candidate opposed by reproductive rights groups. January 31, 2006. Confirmed 58 to 42.
NO to criminalize transporting pregnant minors across state lines, July 25, 2006. Passed 65 to 34.
War
YES to appropriate $107.41 billion in emergency money for US military in Iraq and Afghanistan and hurricane relief efforts, May 4, 2006. Passed 77 to 21.
YES to appropriate $505.23 billion to the Department of Defense and related agencies, June 22, 2006. Passed 96 to 0.
Privacy
YES to confirm General Michael Hayden, who oversaw the National Security Agency’s covert collection of Americans’ phone records, to direct the Central Intelligence Agency, May 26, 2006. Confirmed 78 to 15.
Stem Cells
YES to allow the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct and fund human embryonic stem cell research, July 18, 2006. Passed 63 to 37. Vetoed by the president.
Civil Liberties
YES to amend the Constitution to prohibit physical desecration of the American flag, June 27, 2006. Failed 66 to 34.
DID NOT VOTE on a bill to suspend terror detainees’ right to a fair trial, September 28, 2006. Passed 65 to 34.
Gay Marriage
NO to a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage, June 7, 2006. Failed 49 to 48.
Environment
NO to offshore oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico, August 1, 2006. Passed 71 to 25.
Immigration
YES to pass the Secure Fence Act authorizing additional fencing to guard the US-Mexico border and granting the Secretary of Homeland Security oversight over illegal immigration, September 29, 2006. Passed 80 to 19.
Sources: Washington Post, Secretary of the Senate, Project Vote Smart
