Thursday, February 02, 2006
From ChildCareWorks:
The U.S. House of Representatives passed the budget reconciliation bill last night. The vote was very close – 214 to 216 – so the bill was very nearly defeated.
Minnesota advocates can be very proud of our advocacy work over the past weeks and months. Rep. Jim Ramstad responded to our calls and pleas to vote against this destructive legislation with a NO vote on the bill. This is especially meaningful as he supported the bill the first time around. Rep. Ramstad joined 13 Republicans and 1 Independent as well as all of the Democrats who were present in rejecting this bill. Yet, on a slim 2-vote margin, the bill indeed passed.
For additional information go to http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2006/roll004.xml for the full roll call vote and http://www.clasp.org/NewsFlash/Reconcil/ for details on the bill.
The next battle, however, is close at hand, as President Bush is expected to release his 2007 budget on Monday, and Congress will soon begin that debate. So – now is a good time to either thank your Representative for supporting children and families by rejecting this bill, or conversely to let your Representative know how disappointed you are with their support of legislation that will be so damaging to families in Minnesota. Not sure who represents you in Washington D.C.? You can find all of your elected officials at http://maps.commissions.leg.state.mn.us/website/districts/.
Thank you for your dedication and commitment to children and families in Minnesota!