The U.S. Congress Votes Database

109th Congress / Senate / 1st session / Vote 363

  • Question: On the Motion
  • Category: Motion
  • Vote description: Motion to Concur in House Amdt. To S. 1932, With an Amdt.; Work, Marriage, and Family Promotion Reconciliation Act of 2005
  • Vote type: 1/2 (Help)
  • Result: Agreed to, 50-50, with the Vice President voting Yes to break the tie. (Help)
  • Date/time: December 21, 2005, 10:14 a.m.
  • Republican majority opinion: Yes (Help)
  • Democrat majority opinion: No (Help)

Key Vote Analysis

This bill cut nearly $40 billion over five years from the federal budget by imposing substantial changes on welfare, child support and student lending programs. The Washington Post reported that this bill represented "the first effort in nearly a decade to try to slow the growth of entitlement programs, one that will be felt by millions of Americans."

Decided largely by party line in both the House and the Senate, the bill attempted to slow what Republicans called the runaway growth of entitlement programs. But Democrats objected that women on welfare would face longer hours of work, Medicaid recipients would face higher co-payments and deductibles, and more affluent seniors would find it more difficult to qualify for Medicaid-backed nursing care.

The bill exposed some division within the Republican Party. The House passed the original by a vote of 212 to 206 at around 6:07 a.m. on Dec. 19, 2005, after what a Washington Post story called "a grueling night of last-minute negotiations," which was made necessary by some moderate Republicans who worried the bill might be harmful to the poor. The bill then moved to the Senate where, on Dec. 22, Vice President Dick Cheney had to cast a tie-breaking vote to secure its passage. Senate Democrats won some minor changes, forcing the House to vote on the new version on Feb. 1, 2006. It passed 216 to 214. The president signed the bill into law on Feb. 8, 2006.

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Vote totals

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Yes No
Aquarius Conrad Burns, John Cornyn, Mike Enzi, Judd Gregg, Arlen Specter, Craig Thomas, John Warner Tom Carper, Mark Dayton, Herb Kohl, Frank Lautenberg, Paul Sarbanes
Aries John Ensign, Orrin Hatch, Richard Lugar Lincoln Chafee, Patrick Leahy
Cancer Lamar Alexander, Larry Craig, Lindsey Graham, Kay Bailey Hutchison, George Voinovich Dianne Feinstein, Carl Levin, Barbara Mikulski
Capricorn Johnny Isakson, Jeff Sessions, John Thune Evan Bayh, Jon Corzine, Mike DeWine, Tim Johnson, Mark Pryor
Gemini Lisa Murkowski Chris Dodd, Jay Rockefeller, Gordon Smith
Leo Norm Coleman, Liddy Dole Barack Obama
Libra Chuck Hagel, Trent Lott, Jim Talent Jeff Bingaman, Maria Cantwell, Blanche Lincoln, Patty Murray, Bill Nelson
Pisces George Allen, Kit Bond, Tom Coburn, Bill Frist, Mitch McConnell Kent Conrad, Russ Feingold, Edward Kennedy, Joseph Lieberman, Kenneth Salazar, Olympia Snowe
Sagittarius Wayne Allard, Richard Burr, Thad Cochran Max Baucus, Susan Collins, John Kerry, Mary Landrieu, Harry Reid, Chuck Schumer
Scorpio Jim Bunning, Saxby Chambliss, James Inhofe, Mel Martinez, Ted Stevens Joe Biden, Barbara Boxer, Robert Byrd, Hillary Clinton, Dick Durbin, Tom Harkin, Jack Reed
Taurus Mike Crapo, Pete Domenici, Jon Kyl, Pat Roberts, Rick Santorum, Richard Shelby, David Vitter Byron Dorgan, James Jeffords, Ben Nelson, Debbie Stabenow, Ron Wyden
Virgo Bob Bennett, Sam Brownback, Jim DeMint, Chuck Grassley, John McCain, John Sununu Daniel Akaka, Daniel Inouye
Yes No
Female Liddy Dole, Kay Bailey Hutchison, Lisa Murkowski Barbara Boxer, Maria Cantwell, Hillary Clinton, Susan Collins, Dianne Feinstein, Mary Landrieu, Blanche Lincoln, Barbara Mikulski, Patty Murray, Olympia Snowe, Debbie Stabenow
Male Lamar Alexander, Wayne Allard, George Allen, Bob Bennett, Kit Bond, Sam Brownback, Jim Bunning, Conrad Burns, Richard Burr, Saxby Chambliss, Tom Coburn, Thad Cochran, Norm Coleman, John Cornyn, Larry Craig, Mike Crapo, Jim DeMint, Pete Domenici, John Ensign, Mike Enzi, Bill Frist, Lindsey Graham, Chuck Grassley, Judd Gregg, Chuck Hagel, Orrin Hatch, James Inhofe, Johnny Isakson, Jon Kyl, Trent Lott, Richard Lugar, Mel Martinez, John McCain, Mitch McConnell, Pat Roberts, Rick Santorum, Jeff Sessions, Richard Shelby, Arlen Specter, Ted Stevens, John Sununu, Jim Talent, Craig Thomas, John Thune, David Vitter, George Voinovich, John Warner Daniel Akaka, Max Baucus, Evan Bayh, Joe Biden, Jeff Bingaman, Robert Byrd, Tom Carper, Lincoln Chafee, Kent Conrad, Jon Corzine, Mark Dayton, Mike DeWine, Chris Dodd, Byron Dorgan, Dick Durbin, Russ Feingold, Tom Harkin, Daniel Inouye, James Jeffords, Tim Johnson, Edward Kennedy, John Kerry, Herb Kohl, Frank Lautenberg, Patrick Leahy, Carl Levin, Joseph Lieberman, Bill Nelson, Ben Nelson, Barack Obama, Mark Pryor, Jack Reed, Harry Reid, Jay Rockefeller, Kenneth Salazar, Paul Sarbanes, Chuck Schumer, Gordon Smith, Ron Wyden
Yes No
Midwest Kit Bond, Sam Brownback, Norm Coleman, Chuck Grassley, Chuck Hagel, Richard Lugar, Pat Roberts, Jim Talent, John Thune, George Voinovich Evan Bayh, Kent Conrad, Mark Dayton, Mike DeWine, Byron Dorgan, Dick Durbin, Russ Feingold, Tom Harkin, Tim Johnson, Herb Kohl, Carl Levin, Ben Nelson, Barack Obama, Debbie Stabenow
Northeast Judd Gregg, Rick Santorum, Arlen Specter, John Sununu Lincoln Chafee, Hillary Clinton, Susan Collins, Jon Corzine, Chris Dodd, James Jeffords, Edward Kennedy, John Kerry, Frank Lautenberg, Patrick Leahy, Joseph Lieberman, Jack Reed, Chuck Schumer, Olympia Snowe
South Lamar Alexander, George Allen, Jim Bunning, Richard Burr, Saxby Chambliss, Tom Coburn, Thad Cochran, John Cornyn, Jim DeMint, Liddy Dole, Bill Frist, Lindsey Graham, Kay Bailey Hutchison, James Inhofe, Johnny Isakson, Trent Lott, Mel Martinez, Mitch McConnell, Jeff Sessions, Richard Shelby, David Vitter, John Warner Joe Biden, Robert Byrd, Tom Carper, Mary Landrieu, Blanche Lincoln, Barbara Mikulski, Bill Nelson, Mark Pryor, Jay Rockefeller, Paul Sarbanes
West Wayne Allard, Bob Bennett, Conrad Burns, Larry Craig, Mike Crapo, Pete Domenici, John Ensign, Mike Enzi, Orrin Hatch, Jon Kyl, John McCain, Lisa Murkowski, Ted Stevens, Craig Thomas Daniel Akaka, Max Baucus, Jeff Bingaman, Barbara Boxer, Maria Cantwell, Dianne Feinstein, Daniel Inouye, Patty Murray, Harry Reid, Kenneth Salazar, Gordon Smith, Ron Wyden
Yes No
None Jon Corzine, Barack Obama
2006 George Allen, Conrad Burns, Bill Frist, Rick Santorum, Jim Talent Lincoln Chafee, Mark Dayton, Mike DeWine, James Jeffords, Paul Sarbanes
2008 Lamar Alexander, Wayne Allard, Saxby Chambliss, Thad Cochran, Norm Coleman, John Cornyn, Larry Craig, Liddy Dole, Pete Domenici, Mike Enzi, Lindsey Graham, Chuck Hagel, James Inhofe, Mitch McConnell, Pat Roberts, Jeff Sessions, Ted Stevens, John Sununu, John Warner Max Baucus, Joe Biden, Susan Collins, Dick Durbin, Tom Harkin, Tim Johnson, John Kerry, Mary Landrieu, Frank Lautenberg, Carl Levin, Mark Pryor, Jack Reed, Jay Rockefeller, Gordon Smith
2010 Bob Bennett, Kit Bond, Sam Brownback, Jim Bunning, Richard Burr, Tom Coburn, Mike Crapo, Jim DeMint, Chuck Grassley, Judd Gregg, Johnny Isakson, Mel Martinez, John McCain, Lisa Murkowski, Richard Shelby, Arlen Specter, John Thune, David Vitter, George Voinovich Evan Bayh, Barbara Boxer, Chris Dodd, Byron Dorgan, Russ Feingold, Daniel Inouye, Patrick Leahy, Blanche Lincoln, Barbara Mikulski, Patty Murray, Harry Reid, Kenneth Salazar, Chuck Schumer, Ron Wyden
2012 John Ensign, Orrin Hatch, Kay Bailey Hutchison, Jon Kyl, Trent Lott, Richard Lugar, Craig Thomas Daniel Akaka, Jeff Bingaman, Robert Byrd, Maria Cantwell, Tom Carper, Hillary Clinton, Kent Conrad, Dianne Feinstein, Edward Kennedy, Herb Kohl, Joseph Lieberman, Bill Nelson, Ben Nelson, Olympia Snowe, Debbie Stabenow
Yes No
Alabama Jeff Sessions, Richard Shelby
Alaska Lisa Murkowski, Ted Stevens
Arizona Jon Kyl, John McCain
Arkansas Blanche Lincoln, Mark Pryor
California Barbara Boxer, Dianne Feinstein
Colorado Wayne Allard Kenneth Salazar
Connecticut Chris Dodd, Joseph Lieberman
Delaware Joe Biden, Tom Carper
Florida Mel Martinez Bill Nelson
Georgia Saxby Chambliss, Johnny Isakson
Hawaii Daniel Akaka, Daniel Inouye
Idaho Larry Craig, Mike Crapo
Illinois Dick Durbin, Barack Obama
Indiana Richard Lugar Evan Bayh
Iowa Chuck Grassley Tom Harkin
Kansas Sam Brownback, Pat Roberts
Kentucky Jim Bunning, Mitch McConnell
Louisiana David Vitter Mary Landrieu
Maine Susan Collins, Olympia Snowe
Maryland Barbara Mikulski, Paul Sarbanes
Massachusetts Edward Kennedy, John Kerry
Michigan Carl Levin, Debbie Stabenow
Minnesota Norm Coleman Mark Dayton
Mississippi Thad Cochran, Trent Lott
Missouri Kit Bond, Jim Talent
Montana Conrad Burns Max Baucus
Nebraska Chuck Hagel Ben Nelson
Nevada John Ensign Harry Reid
New Hampshire Judd Gregg, John Sununu
New Jersey Jon Corzine, Frank Lautenberg
New Mexico Pete Domenici Jeff Bingaman
New York Hillary Clinton, Chuck Schumer
North Carolina Richard Burr, Liddy Dole
North Dakota Kent Conrad, Byron Dorgan
Ohio George Voinovich Mike DeWine
Oklahoma Tom Coburn, James Inhofe
Oregon Gordon Smith, Ron Wyden
Pennsylvania Rick Santorum, Arlen Specter
Rhode Island Lincoln Chafee, Jack Reed
South Carolina Jim DeMint, Lindsey Graham
South Dakota John Thune Tim Johnson
Tennessee Lamar Alexander, Bill Frist
Texas John Cornyn, Kay Bailey Hutchison
Utah Bob Bennett, Orrin Hatch
Vermont James Jeffords, Patrick Leahy
Virginia George Allen, John Warner
Washington Maria Cantwell, Patty Murray
West Virginia Robert Byrd, Jay Rockefeller
Wisconsin Russ Feingold, Herb Kohl
Wyoming Mike Enzi, Craig Thomas
Yes No
Baby boomer George Allen, Sam Brownback, Richard Burr, Tom Coburn, Norm Coleman, John Cornyn, Mike Crapo, Jim DeMint, John Ensign, Bill Frist, Lindsey Graham, Judd Gregg, Chuck Hagel, Mel Martinez, Lisa Murkowski, Rick Santorum, Jeff Sessions, John Sununu, Jim Talent, John Thune, David Vitter Evan Bayh, Maria Cantwell, Tom Carper, Lincoln Chafee, Hillary Clinton, Susan Collins, Kent Conrad, Jon Corzine, Mark Dayton, Mike DeWine, Russ Feingold, Tim Johnson, Mary Landrieu, Blanche Lincoln, Patty Murray, Barack Obama, Mark Pryor, Jack Reed, Kenneth Salazar, Chuck Schumer, Gordon Smith, Olympia Snowe, Debbie Stabenow, Ron Wyden
Pre-boomer Lamar Alexander, Wayne Allard, Bob Bennett, Kit Bond, Jim Bunning, Conrad Burns, Saxby Chambliss, Thad Cochran, Larry Craig, Liddy Dole, Pete Domenici, Mike Enzi, Chuck Grassley, Orrin Hatch, Kay Bailey Hutchison, James Inhofe, Johnny Isakson, Jon Kyl, Trent Lott, Richard Lugar, John McCain, Mitch McConnell, Pat Roberts, Richard Shelby, Arlen Specter, Ted Stevens, Craig Thomas, George Voinovich, John Warner Daniel Akaka, Max Baucus, Joe Biden, Jeff Bingaman, Barbara Boxer, Robert Byrd, Chris Dodd, Byron Dorgan, Dick Durbin, Dianne Feinstein, Tom Harkin, Daniel Inouye, James Jeffords, Edward Kennedy, John Kerry, Herb Kohl, Frank Lautenberg, Patrick Leahy, Carl Levin, Joseph Lieberman, Barbara Mikulski, Bill Nelson, Ben Nelson, Harry Reid, Jay Rockefeller, Paul Sarbanes
Yes No
Democratic Daniel Akaka, Max Baucus, Evan Bayh, Joe Biden, Jeff Bingaman, Barbara Boxer, Robert Byrd, Maria Cantwell, Tom Carper, Hillary Clinton, Kent Conrad, Jon Corzine, Mark Dayton, Chris Dodd, Byron Dorgan, Dick Durbin, Russ Feingold, Dianne Feinstein, Tom Harkin, Daniel Inouye, Tim Johnson, Edward Kennedy, John Kerry, Herb Kohl, Mary Landrieu, Frank Lautenberg, Patrick Leahy, Carl Levin, Joseph Lieberman, Blanche Lincoln, Barbara Mikulski, Patty Murray, Bill Nelson, Ben Nelson, Barack Obama, Mark Pryor, Jack Reed, Harry Reid, Jay Rockefeller, Kenneth Salazar, Paul Sarbanes, Chuck Schumer, Debbie Stabenow, Ron Wyden
Independent James Jeffords
Republican Lamar Alexander, Wayne Allard, George Allen, Bob Bennett, Kit Bond, Sam Brownback, Jim Bunning, Conrad Burns, Richard Burr, Saxby Chambliss, Tom Coburn, Thad Cochran, Norm Coleman, John Cornyn, Larry Craig, Mike Crapo, Jim DeMint, Liddy Dole, Pete Domenici, John Ensign, Mike Enzi, Bill Frist, Lindsey Graham, Chuck Grassley, Judd Gregg, Chuck Hagel, Orrin Hatch, Kay Bailey Hutchison, James Inhofe, Johnny Isakson, Jon Kyl, Trent Lott, Richard Lugar, Mel Martinez, John McCain, Mitch McConnell, Lisa Murkowski, Pat Roberts, Rick Santorum, Jeff Sessions, Richard Shelby, Arlen Specter, Ted Stevens, John Sununu, Jim Talent, Craig Thomas, John Thune, David Vitter, George Voinovich, John Warner Lincoln Chafee, Susan Collins, Mike DeWine, Gordon Smith, Olympia Snowe
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