This (and last) Week In Thaddeus, #3 & 4

Turns out it's tough to start writing a weekly update on a Congressman during a winter recess...nevertheless, Congress reconvened last week, and here are some of the things Rep. McCotter voted on:

January 16th - voted NO no H Res 918, which was in consideration of HR 2768 - The Supplemental Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response Act of 2007 (MINER Act) - a bill which would establish improved mandatory standards for miner safety. From the independent Congressional Budget Office:

The Supplemental Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response Act of 2007, H.R. 2768 would require operators of mineral and non-mineral mines to increase worker safety measures and improve emergency preparedness. It would require the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) to issue new regulations on a variety of mine safety issues, including underground refuges, mine ventilation, and communication systems. H.R. 2768 also would temporarily suspend limits on the number of mine inspectors employed by MSHA, and would call for an increase in mine inspection activities. In addition, the bill would require the agency to maintain and publish detailed maps of active and abandoned mines in the United States. The bill would also adjust the minimum and maximum civil penalties that MSHA may levy on mine operators. Enacting H.R. 2768 would not affect direct spending.

In the last 12 years, nearly 900 Americans have died in mining accidents, according to the US Department of Labor. Republicans apparently think that's fine. After amendments were made, and Republicans attempted to send this bill back to committees, the bill was passed, 214-199, and the Michigan delegation voted along party lines.

Later that day, Congress voted to appropriate $641 BILLION in Defense spending. Rep. John Conyers was the only Michigander to vote NO. But hey, at least there was a provision in the bill to require the DoD to use renewable energy!

January 17th - Rep. McCotter made a rare trip across the aisle (Thad McCotter has voted with a majority of his Republican colleagues 90.1% of the time during the current Congress.) to help pass HR 3524, which renews HOPE VI programs for public housing. McCotter did so, however, only after voting with his Republican comrades for an amendment that would have continued Bush administration policy to issue demolition-only grants, rather than the eventually-passed one-to-one replacement funding. But let's give credit where credit may be due, and celebrate the passage of some decent legislation. Too bad for Thad that it took a Democratic majority to get this bill through, as opposed to previous versions that died in committee. The Bush administration has been trying to kill the program for 5 years running.