Fred Thompson Voted Poorly

Fred Thompson votes.  Fred is not your friend.  The definitive Fred.

Blocking Striker Replacement Executive Order, Cloture on Amendment to H.R. 889. During consideration of the Defense Supplemental Appropriations bill, Senator Nancy Kassebaum (R-KS) offered this amendment to block Presidents Clinton’s Executive Order banning federal contractors from hiring permanent replacements for workers who are on strike.  Senator Don Nickles (R-OK) noted President Clinton’s autocratic usurpation of the power of the Legislative Branch in issuing this Executive Order: “(I)n article I., section I (of the U.S. Constitution), it says: ‘All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives.’  We did not elect the President to be issuing Executive Orders in defiance of Congress.”  The Senate rejected a motion to invoke cloture (end debate) on the amendment on March 15, 1995 by a vote of 58 to 39 (Congressional Record, page S3918, roll call 103.  Fred Thompson voted AGAINST this motion.  Failing to win the 60 votes needed to invoke cloture, and thereby allow a vote on the Kassebaum amendment, the Senate dropped its consideration of the amendment.  104-1:  (Source: The New American, July 24, 1995).

Defunding the Presidential Election Campaign Fund, Amendment to Senate Concurrent Resolution 13.  Senator John Kerry (D-MA) offered this amendment to strike provisions in the budget resolution that eliminate funding for the Presidential Election Campaign Fund.  Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) noted that only “a tiny minority – 14.5 percent of filers – checked ‘yes’ on their 1993 (tax) returns” to fund this wasteful program, clear evidence that the American taxpayers have rejected federal funding of elections.  The Senate adopted the Kerry amendment to strike the language eliminating funding on May 24, 1995 by a vote of 56 to 44.  (Congressional Record, pages S7349-50), roll call 194.  Fred Thompson voted FOR this amendment.  104-1:  (Source: The New American, July 24, 1995).

Republican Deficit Budget, House Concurrent Resolution 67.  This budget resolution would set nonbinding budget levels for the fiscal years 1996-2002.  For fiscal 1996, it calls for a planned deficit of $157.1 Billion and outlays of $1,574 Billion ($60 Billion  more than last year’s profligate Democratic budget).  Although this budget resolution would in theory balance the budget in 2002, in practice the budget would only be balanced by “borrowing” $113.5 Billion from surpluses in Social Security and other trust funds.  The Senate passed the resolution on May 25, 1995 by a vote of 57 to 42 (Congressional Record, page S7473, roll call 232.  Fred Thompson voted FOR this bill. 104-1:  (Source: The New American, July 24, 1995).

Counter-Terrorism Legislation, S. 735.  This bill would federalize virtually all state crimes of assault, murder, kidnapping, sabotage, and even simple vandalism under the guise of anti-terrorism legislation as long as “the offense obstructs, delays, or affects interstate or foreign commerce in any way or degree…”  Because the Supreme Court has since the 1940s ruled that almost everything under the sun has an effect on interstate commerce, the bill is a blanket federalization of the criminal code.  The bill would also weaken the posse comitatus guidelines (which bans the use of the military in domestic police actions) to allow for military assistance in chemical and biological weapons cases, initiate a new foreign aid program for terrorism prevention, urge the President to “undertake immediate efforts to develop effective multilateral efforts: to stop terrorism, and authorize the President to use “all necessary means” to stop international terrorism – including :military force.”  S. 735 does contain a few appropriate items such as longer jail sentences for terrorist and limitations on habeas corpus appeals from state courts, but the general direction of the legislation was best summed up by Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), a proponent of the bill, in debate on the Senate floor:  “(T)he Congress is faced with a decision to increase protection for the people by chipping away at the edges of freedom…. We have no idea what kind of mistakes will be made, or whose rights will be infringed, when this bill is implemented.”  The Senate passed the bill on June 7, 1995 by a vote of 91 to 8.  (Congressional Record, page S7857, roll call 242.  Fred Thompson voted FOR this bill.  104-1:  (Source: The New American, July 24, 1995).

Fiscal 1996 Budget, Conference Report on House Concurrent Resolution 67.  (see HR67 above).  The Senate adopted the conference report (the final version of the legislation) on June 29, 1995 by a vote of 54 to 46.  (Congressional Record, page S9410, roll call 296).  Fred Thompson  voted FOR this bill.  (Source: The New American, January 22, 1996).

Non-Discriminatory Award of Federal Contracts, Amendment to H.R. 1854.  During consideration of the fiscal 1996 legislative appropriations bill, Senator Phil Gramm (R-TX) offered this amendment to prohibit the awarding of federal contracts under the bill to anyone but the most qualified (i.e., those with the lowest bids), effectively prohibiting the Clinton Administration from carrying out various minority set-aside programs.  While the Gramm amendment was being considered, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) offered an alternative amendment to prohibit the awarding of federal contracts to “unqualified persons” in the furtherance of “reverse discrimination.”  Gramm explained that “the whole purpose: of the language in the Murray amendment “is to confuse.”  The grant recipients who benefit from minority se-aside programs “very well may be qualified, but …. Somebody else might have been better qualified or have submitted a lower bid.”  Interestingly, Murray even admitted in debate that nearly $8 Billion in federal set-asides would be at risk if the Gramm amendment were added to each of the regular appropriations bills.  Gramm’s logic and Murray’s admission notwithstanding, the Senate rejected the Gramm amendment on July 20, 1995 by a vote of 36 to 61 (Congressional Record, page S10418, roll call 317).  Fred Thompson voted AGAINST this amendment.  The Senate subsequently adopted the fraudulent Murray amendment by a vote of 84 to 13.  (Source: The New American, January 22, 1996).

Federal Funding for AIDS Programs, S. 641.  This legislation would reauthorize “such sums as may be necessary: for the federal Ryan White CARE Program for AIDS research through fiscal year 2000, provided the total does not exceed the total for cancer research in any given year.  While passage of this bill occasioned many senatorial self-congratulations  as to how generous they are with other people’s money, few senators heeded the Constitutional limitations of the federal government under the Tenth Amendment, which prohibits the federal government from exercising any power not specifically authorized by the Consistution.  The Senate passed the bill on July 27, 1995 by a vote of 97 to 3 (Congressional Record, page S10760, roll call 338).  Fred Thompson voted FOR this bill. 

Agriculture Appropriations, H.R. 1976.   This legislation would provide $63.8 Billion in appropriations for federal agricultural subsidy programs and related regulatory agencies during fiscal 1996.  Although this legislation represents a $5.2 Billion cut from fiscal 1995, the federal government has no Constitutional authorization for engaging in agricultural policies.  The Senate passed the bill on September 20, 1995 by a vote of 95 to 3.  (Congressional Record, page S13918, roll call 450.  Fred Thompson voted FOR this bill. (Source: The New American, January 22, 1996).

Legal Services Corporation, Motion to Table an Amendment to H.R. 2076.  During consideration of the fiscal 1996 Commerce, Justice, and State Departments appropriations bill, Senator Pete Domenici (R-NM) offered an amendment to retain the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) as a quasi-federal entity and increase funding for the LSC from $210 Million to $340 Million.  The bill would have abolished the LSC, allocating the $210 Million to the states under a block grant program.  Senator Lauch Faircloth (R-NC) lamented that the Legal Services Corporation “is nothing more than an entitlement program for activist lawyers.  We simply subsidize them and pay them.”  The Senate rejected a motion to table (kill) the Domenici amendment on September 29, 1995 by a vote of 39 to 60 (Congressional Record, page S14617, roll call 476).  Fred Thompson voted AGAINST this bill.  The Senate subsequently adopted the Domnici amendment by voice vote.  (Source: The New American, January 22, 1996).  

Foreign Aid, Conference Report on H.R. 1868.  This conference report was received from the house, and would appropriate $12.1 Billion for America’s foreign aid programs during fiscal 1996.  Although this is $1.5 Billion less than the amount appropriated for fiscal 1995, the funding provided by the bill is not exactly pocket change.  The federal government should not be in the foreign aid business.  The Senate adopted the conference report on November 1, 1995 by a vote of 90 to 6.  (Congressional Record, page S16476, roll call 559).  Fred Thompson voted FOR this bill. (Source: The New American, January 22, 1996).

Start II Treaty Ratification.   This vote would ratify the second Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START II) with Russia, which would, by the year 2003, require the reduction in the total number of nuclear warheads to 3,500 for each country, ban MIRVed land-based missiles, and reduce the number of submarine-launched missiles.  Noting that President Clinton had vetoed a bill to deploy a ballistic missile defense system because it might interfere with START II, Senator James Inhofe (R-OK) criticized the Clinton Administration policy, stating: “Yes, we are getting the Russians down to 3,500 missiles, if they comply…. My simple proposition is this: Missile defense should be our highest national security priority.  If the President believes that our highest priority must be sacrificed to gain Russia’s approval of START II, I say it is too high a price to pay.”  The Senate ratified the START II Treaty on January 26, 1996 by a vote of 87 to 4.  (Congressional Record, page S484, roll call 6).  Fred Thompson  voted FOR this bill.  (Source: The New American, July 8, 1996).

Fiscal 1996 Omnibus Appropriations, H.R. 3019.  This $383 Billion appropriations bill would serve as  the financial life line for the federal welfare state for the rest of the fiscal year.  The bill would fund the Departments of Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Education and Labor, and it would squander foreign aid on Bosnia.  The bill did have a few Billion on Constitutional agencies of the federal government, programs that could be easily funded in separate legislation after the rejection of this bill.  The Senate larded on and additional $3 Billion into the bill for environmental, jobs, and other educational programs.  The Senate passed the bill on March 19, 1996 by a vote of 79 to 21 (Congressional Record, page S2309, roll call 42). Fred Thompson  voted  FOR this bill.  (Source: The New American, July 8, 1996).

Line-Item Veto Legislation, Conference Report on S. 4.  This conference report would unconstitutionally grant the President line-item veto power in spending and tax bills by allowing him to cut or eliminate spending or a tax break within legislation after signing it into law.  Congress would then have the option to pass a bill overturning the line-item deletion, but that bill would itself be subject to a veto by the President.  This dangerous legislation would savage the separation of powers and further tip the scales of power from the legislature toward the executive branch.  Although the legislation was marketed as a means of eliminating legislative pork, all it would do is make one player in the pork barrel politics game dominant:  the President.  As and example of how the line-item veto would be used to facilitate even more costly presidential pork, Senator Dale Bumpers (D-AR) recalled that when “I was governor … I had a line-item veto.  And I used it for?  To get legislators in line. ‘Senator, you know that vo-tech school for your high school in this bill? That sucker is going to be gone unless you get back down there and change your vote.’  That is the way I used it.  That is the way a President of the United States would use it.”  The Senate adopted the conference report on March 27, 1996 by a vote of 69 to 31.  (Congressional Record, page S2995), roll call 56).  Fred Thompson  voted FOR this bill.  (Source: The New American, July 8, 1996).

Terrorism Bill, Conference Report on S. 735.   This conference report would grant the President and the Attorney General the power to co-opt the criminal code of the states for most crimes against property and violent crimes; it would restrict habeas corpus appeals from state and federal prisoners (including death row inmates); and it would authorize about $1 Billion for various federal law enforcement agencies, state “assistance” programs, and even a new foreign aid program.  The Senate adopted the conference report on April 17, 1996 by a vote of 91 to 8. (Congressional Record, S3477, roll call 71).  Fred Thompson  voted FOR this bill.  (Source: The New American, July 8, 1996).

Constitutional Amendment for Congressional Term Limits, Senate Joint Resolution 21.   This resolution would call for a constitutional amendment to limit the number of consecutive terms a congressman could serve to two terms for senators (12 years) and six terms for representatives (12 years), regardless of the wishes of the voters.  By preventing many congressmen from seeking re-election, the amendment would give Congress an increasing flavor of perpetual lame-duck session and insulate congressmen from the wishes of the constituents.  Lame-duck legislatures are the friends of special interests and the advocates of big, wasteful, and elitist government.  The supporters of term limits attempted to invoke cloture and end debate on the measure (thereby clearing the way for a final vote to pass the resolution), but faied to do son on April 23, 1996 by a vote of 58 to 42.  (Congressional Record, page S3879, roll call 79). A three-fifths vote of the entire Senate (60 votes) is necessary to invoke cloture.  Failing the cloture motion, the Senate dropped the measure.   Fred Thompson  voted  FOR this bill.  (Source: The New American, July 8, 1996). 

Fiscal 1996 Omnibus Appropriations, Conference Report on H.R. 3019.   This conference report would keep the federal welfare state humming with Billions of dollars for the federal Departments of Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Labor, and Education; it would also provide $860 Million for the Bosnia military occupation.  Only President Clinton’s remarks upon signing the bill can adequately summarize the complete cave-in of the Republican leadership in backing this bill:  “(W)e have a bill we can all be proud of ….The Congress …..  sought to kill AmeriCorps, the National Service program.  This bill retains it, as I had insisted, funding the Corporation for National and Community Service at $402 Million…. The House sought to terminate Goals 2000 ….  This bill restores funding for Goals 2000 … (T)he Congress sought toend the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program …. That program is continued …. (T)he Congress proposed to end the Department of Commerce’s Advanced Technology Program (ATP) …. Adequate funding is provided for that program …. Other programs or agencies that one or both houses sought to end, but which this bill restores, include the Community Development Financial Institutions program the Summer Youth jobs program, and the Council on Environmental Quality.”  There is a lot more Mr. Clinton had to say about welfare state programs rescued from oblivion, but one can get the general idea from the excerpt.  The Senate adopted the conference report on April 25, 1996 by a vote of 88 to 11.  (Congressional Record, pages S4159-60, roll call 89).  Fred Thompson voted FOR this bill. (Source: The New American, July 8, 1996).

Fiscal 1997 Republican Deficit Budget, Conference Report on House Concurrent Resolution 178.  With this non-binding budget blueprint, the 104^th Congress continues to pass the buck for balancing the budget to a future Congress.  The practice of government by deficit continues unabated under this conference report, which was heavily promoted by the Republican Party leadership.  The legislation call for a planned deficit of $153.4 Billion in fiscal 1997, an increase in the national debt by more than $1 TRILLION over six years, and increases in total federal government spending by several hundred Billion annually by 2002.  Even the much-vaunted “balanced budget: forecast for the year 2002 (three election years in the future) is a complete sham.  More that four-fifths of the deficit reduction is the six-year plan is postponed until fiscal 2000 or later, after two congressional elections.  And even in the unlikely event that future Congresses follow this model, the conference report itself lists a deficit of $103.9 Billion in fiscal 2002, and the budget can only be “balanced” by stealing that amount from temporary surpluses in trust funds like Social Security.  The Senate adopted the conference report on June 13, 1996 by a vote of 53 to 46.  (Congressional Record, page S6186, roll call 159.  Fred Thompson voted FOR this bill. (Source: The New American, October 28, 1996).

Agricultural Appropriations for Fiscal 1997, H.R. 3603.   This legislation would appropriate $54.3 Billion in agricultural subsidies and food stamps during fiscal 1997.  Although this is $9 Billion less than fiscal 1996 figure, the spending has no authorization under the U.S. Constitution.  The Senate passed the bill on July 24, 1996 by a vote of 97 to 1. (Congressional Record, page S8616, roll call 237). Fred Thompson voted FOR this bill. (Source: The New American, October 28, 1996).

Foreign Aid for NATO Expansion, Amendment to H.R. 3540.  This bill calls for the inclusion of all former members of the Warsaw Pact nations (except Russia) into a NATO membership track and would fund $60 Million in military assistance to speed the inclusion of Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic.  The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is military alliance formed under the auspices of chapter eight of the United Nations Charter, and member nations pledge that “an armed attack against one or more of them …. Shall be considered an attack against them all.”  The Senate adopted the amendment to ins annual foreign aid bill on July 25, 1996 by a vote of 81 to 16. (Congressional Report, S8842, roll call 245).  Fred Thompson  voted FOR this bill.  (Source: The New American, October 28, 1996).

Foreign Aid Appropriations for Fiscal 1997, H.R. 3540.   This bill would appropriate $12.2 Billion for foreign aid programs during fiscal 1997.  The legislation represents less than a two percent cut over fiscal 1996, despite the fact that foreign aid programs are among the most blatantly unconstitutional and wasteful of all federal programs.  The Senate passed the bill on July 26, 1996 by a vote of 93 to 7.   (Congressional Record, page S8946, roll call 248).  Fred Thompson  voted FOR this bill.  (Source: The New American, October 28, 1996).

Minimum Wage Increase, Conference Report on H.R. 3448.  This bill would increase the federal minimum wage from $4.25 to $5.15 per hour in two stages ending September 1997.  The bill also contains a number of tax breaks for individuals and small businesses totaling $20 Billion over ten years – elements added as sugar coating to get the Senate to take the minimum wage-hike pill.  The Senate adopted the conference report on August 2, 1996 by a vote of 76 to 22.  (Congressional Record, S9527, roll call 265).  Fred Thompson voted FOR this bill.  (Source: The New American, October 28, 1996).

Requiring Congressional Approval of U.S. International Trade Agreements That Amend U.S. Law, Senate Joint Resolution 5.   Senator Ernest Hollings (D-SC) offered an amendment to S.J.R. 5 which would require congressional approval of any U.S. international trade agreements that amend or repeal U.S. laws.  The amendment reads, in full: “No international trade agreement which would in effect amend or repeal statutory law of the United States law may be implemented by or in the United States until the agreement is approved by the Congress.”  As Senator Hollings noted during consideration of the amendment, “This is constitutional language, that no international agreement that would, in effect, amend or repeal statutory law can be implemented until approved by the Congress.  Under the Constitution, Article I, Section 8, it is the duty of the Congress to regulate foreign commerce – not the executive branch…”  Despite the constitutional mandate, the Senate approved on March 5, 1997 a motion to table (Kill) the Hollings amendment by a vote of 84 to 16.  (Congressional Record, page S1970, roll call 25).  Fred Thompson voted FOR this motion to table.  (Source: The New American, August 18, 1997). 

Extending Welfare Benefits to Legal Immigrants,  Amendment to S. 672.  Senator Alfonse D’ Amato (R-NY) offered this amendment to extend Supplemental Security Income and food stamp benefits to legal immigrants through September 30, 1997 – the date those benefits are scheduled to end.  D’ Amato reasoned: “I do not believe we ever wanted to take 500,000 basically senior citizens and say that ‘you’re going to be cut off,’ senior citizens who are here in this country legally…..” D’ Amato did not point out that these welfare recipients are not even citizens and that, even if they were, the U.S. Constitution does not authorize the payment of welfare benefits.  The Senate passed the D’ Amato amendment on May 7, 1997 by a vote of 89 to 11. (Congressional Record, page S4068, roll call 58). Fred Thompson voted FOR this amendment.  (Source: The New American, August 18, 1997). 

Automatic Funding of Federal Government, Amendment to S. 672.  Senator Robert Byrd (D-WV) offered an amendment to strike language in S. 672 which would have put the federal government’s spend-a-thon on auto-pilot at the previous year’s funding level if Congress and the President fail to pass a budget by the start of the next fiscal year.  After the amendment was offered, Senator Ted Stevens (R-AK) motioned to table (kill) the amendment.  This legislation would have the identical effect as the amendment offered in the House (H.R. 1469).  The Senate approved the Stevens motion, thereby favoring putting the government on automatic pilot in the event of no budget, on May 8, 1997 by a vote of 55 to 45. (Congressional Record, page S4172, roll call 61).  Fred Thompson voted FOR this amendment.  (Source: The New American, August 18, 1997). 

Reauthorization of Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, H.R. 5.   This unconstitutional legislation was deceptively billed as a measure giving more control back to states and local school districts.  It was introduced in the House by Rep. William Gooding (R-PA), who gushed that it “focuses the act on children’s education instead of process and bureaucracy  …. Local principals and school administrators will be given more flexibility …. (It) includes a provision that will give local schools tremendous relief from IDEA funding mandates …”  But the reality is that, according to the Congressional Budget Office, federal expenditures on IDEA will surpass $20 Billion by the year 2002.  And with federal money will come the inevitable federal controls. The Senate reauthorized the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act on May 14, 1997 by a vote of 98 to 1.  (Congressional Record, page S4411, roll call 66).  Fred Thompson voted FOR this bill. (Source: The New American, August 18, 1997). 

Fiscal 1997 Supplemental Appropriations, H.R. 1871.  This bill provided $8.6 Billion in supplemental appropriations, including $5.6 Billion in emergency disaster aid for spring flood victims ($3.3 Billion of that amount for FEMA) and $1.9 Billion for military “peacekeeping” activities in Boania and the Middle East.  The Senate passed the bill on June 12, 1997 by a vote of 78 to 21. (Congressional Record, page S5584, roll call 100).  (Source: The New American, August 18, 1997). 

Foreign Aid Appropriations for Fiscal 1998, S. 955.  This legislation would appropriate $13.2 Billion during fiscal 1998 for foreign aid giveaways, an increase of more that $900 Million over the fiscal 1997 level.  The Senate passed the bill on July 17, 1997 by a vote of 91 to 8.  (Congressional Record, page S7634, roll call 185).  Fred Thompson  voted FOR this bill. (Source: The New American, January 5, 1998). 

Eliminate Tobacco Subsidies, Motion on S. 1033.   This amendment, sponsored by Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL) is for H.R. 2160.  During consideration of the House fiscal 1998 agriculture appropriations bill, Representative Nita Lower (D-NY) offered this amendment to prohibit any money in the bill from being used to pay the salaries of officials who distribute subsidies for tobacco farmers – in effect killing the subsidy.  The Senate agreed to a motion to table (kill) the amendment on July 23, 1997 by a vote of 53 to 47.  (Congressional Record, page S7920, roll call 196).  Fred Thompson voted FOR this amendment.  (Source: The New American, January 5, 1998). 

Agricultural Appropriations for Fiscal 1998, S. 1033.   The House passed H.R. 2160 which allocated $49.7 Billion for agricultural subsidies.  This Senate bill was similar to the House bill but it appropriated a sum of $50.7 Billion.  The Senate passed the bill on July 24, 1997 by a unanimous vote of 99 to 0. (Congressional Record, page S7995, roll call 201).  Fred Thompson  voted FOR this bill.  (Source: The New American, January 5, 1998). 

Labor/HHS/Education Appropriations for Fiscal 1998, S. 1061.  The House passed H.R. 2264, which allocated $279.2 Billion to the welfare state.  The house bill was $8 Billion less than the amount appropriated for fiscal 1997.  This Senate bill set the total spending at $269 Billion.  The Senate passed thi bill on September 11, 1997 by a vote of 92 to 8. (Congressional Record, page S9116, roll call 235).  Fred Thompson  voted FOR this bill.  (Source: The New American, January 5, 1998). 

American Heritage Rivers Initiative, Motion on H.R. 2107.  This amendment by Senator Tim Hutchinson (R-AR) would have required congressional approval before President Clinton could designate any rivers under the American Heritage Rivers Initiative he established by Executive Order on September 11^th.  Senator Hutchinson explained that “we have allowed the executive branch, through various Executive Orders, to usurp what is legitimately and constitutionally our right and our responsibility.  This amendment represents one small area where we can say that the President has issued and Executive Order, and we now will ensure that we have the right of review.”  The Senate agreed to a motion to table (kill) the Hutchinson amendment on September 18, 1997 by a vote of 57 to 42.  (Congressional Record, page S9553, roll call 247).  Fred Thompson  voted FOR the motion.  (Source: The New American, January 5, 1998). 

Attack on First Amendment (McCain-Feingold Campaign Finance Reform), Cloture on S. 25.  This ‘Campaign Finance Reform’ legislation would have required most local broadcasters to give federal candidates free advertising time, banned contributions from citizen political action committees (PACs), restricted expenditures by independent organizations and individuals who engage in issue advocacy.  Senator Michael Enzi (R-WI) said that the bill “stifles the free speech of the American citizens and gives expanded new powers to a Washington bureaucracy.”  Moreover, the “unconstitutional restrictions of this bill would increase the power of the media elites at the expense of the average American voter.”  The Senate rejected a motion to invoke cloture, thereby limiting debate and paving the way for passage of the bill, on October 9, 1997 by a vote of 52 to 47.  (Congressional Record, page S10731, roll call 273).  Fred Thompson voted  FOR this motion.  After failing to invoke cloture, the Senate dropped consideration of the bill.  (Source: The New American, January 5, 1998).  

Fast Track, Motion on S. 1269.   “Fast Track” trading authority would give President Clinton a blank check to negotiate new trade and regulatory agreements without the congressional authority to amend them (Congress could only vote up or down on the total package).  The legislation unconstitutionally delegates Congress’ power to legislate to the President and allows Mr. Clinton to pursue new global eco-regulations under the banner of  “trade.”  This vote was on a “Motion to Proceed” with a bill to give President Clinton fast track authority and essentially served as a referendum on fast track approval.  The Senate agreed to the motion to proceed on November 5, 1997 by a vote of 68 to 31. (Congressional Record, page S11753, roll call 294).  Fred Thompson  voted  FOR this motion.  (Source: The New American, January 5, 1998).  

Labor/HHS/Education Appropriations for Fiscal 1998, Conference Report on H.R. 2264.  This $268 Billion appropriations bill from the House represents the keystone of the arch of the federal welfare state.  Although the strong economy has allowed the cost of the mammoth bill to be modestly cut by $10.7 Billion from the record spending level in the 1997 bill, ultra-liberal Rep. David Obey (D-WI) was able to gloat about what it did include: “We have needle exchange in here…. Cuts in family planning are fully restored….Goals 2000 (is fully funded) at last year’s freeze level….(The bill is) a progressive effort to meet the nation’s needs, and I make no apology for the funding that we spend in it.”  The fact that the bill won the enthusiastic and near unanimous support of the left-wing liberals while failing to win the votes of loyal conservatives dedicated to less government is a clear condemnation of the corrupt Republican leadership which pushed it through Congress.  The House passed the bill and sent it to the Senate.  The Senate adopted the conference report on November 8, 1997 by a vote of 91 to 4. (Congressional Record, pages S12094-95, roll call 298.  Fred Thompson  voted  FOR  this bill. (Source: The New American, July 6, 1998).

Nomination of David Satcher as Surgeon General.   That the very position of Surgeon General is nonessential is evidenced by the fact that it had been vacant since Joycelyn Elders resigned in 1994 without any deleterious effects on the national health.  Yet Clinton-nominee David Satcher is particularly unsuitable for the position because he supports partial-birth abortion and the use of tax dollars for needle exchange programs for drug addicts.  The Senate approved President Clinton’s nomination of David Satcher as Surgeon General on February 10, 1998 by a vote of 63 to 35.  (Congressional Record, page S542, roll call 9).  Fred Thompson voted FOR this nomination.  (Source: The New American, July 6, 1998).

Anti-Free Speech Campaign Finance “Reform,” Motion on S. 1633.  This legislation, commonly known as the McCain-Feingold campaign finance “reform” package, is the most dangerous threat to free speech to reach the floor of the Senate in decades.  It would have a chilling effect on free speech by severely restricting independent expenditures, thereby crippling the ability of conservatives to overcome the leftist domination of the mass media.  The McCain-Feingold bill was offered on the Senate floor as a substitute to campaign finance legislation already under consideration.  The Senate rejected a motion to table (kill) the McCain-Feingold substitute on February 24, 1998 by a vote of 48 to 51. (Congressional Record, page S906, roll call 12).  Fred Thompson  voted AGAINST motion to table.  (Source: The New American, July 6, 1998).

NATO Expansion Treaty Ratification.  This treaty would admit Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic to the NATO alliance.  NATO is a regional security arrangement under chapter eight of the United Nations Charter.  Ratifications of the NATO expansion treaty would commit the United States to go to war on behalf of these ‘former’ Soviet-bloc countries in the even they are attacked.  The agreement, which would offer no additional territorial security to the United States and her citizens, would cost taxpayer billions.  Much of the cost would involve foreign assistance intended to bring the three countries up to NATA standards.  The Senate ratified the treaty on April 30, 1998 by a vote of 80 to 19.  (Congressional Record, page S3907).  Fred Thomson voted  FOR this treaty.  (Source: The New American, July 6, 1998).

Disaster Assistance and Money for Bosnia, Conference Report on H.R. 3579.  This “emergency” supplemental appropriations for fiscal 1998 conference report would appropriate a total of $6.1 Billion, most of which would go towards disaster assistance ($2.6 Billion) and support of President Clinton’s military adventures in Bosnia and Iraq ($2.9 Billion).  A number of House liberals opposed the conference report because it did not contain the $18 Billion IMF bailout money (failed previous House vote).  The Senate adopted the conference report on April 30, 1998 by a vote of 88 to 11. (Congressional Record, page S3913, roll call 118). Fred Thompson voted  FOR this bill.  (Source: The New American, July 6, 1998).

Consolidation of Federal Job Training Programs, H.R. 1385.  This legislation would streamline (meaning more effectively regulate) some 62 separate federal job training and adult education programs and increase the cost of these programs by more than $4 Billion over five years (compared to current law).  More telling than the spending increase in the Republican leadership’s job program “reform” package are the stated goals in the committee report.  The legislation, according to the bill’s authors, “provides the tools to develop comprehensive workforce investment systems that address the needs of job seekers and employers while retaining federal priorities.”  Mussolini had a much simpler term for such government/corporate alliances; he called it “fascism.”  The Senate passed the bill on May 5, 1998 by a vote of 91 to 7.  (Congressional Record, page S4266, roll call 119).  Fred Thompson voted FOR this bill. (Source: The New American, July 6, 1998).

New Agricultural Research Grants and Food Stamps for Immigrants, Conference Report on S. 1150.  This conference report would authorize approximately $11.7 Billion over five years for agricultural research programs, food stamps, and child nutrition programs, according to the Congressional Budget Office.  The legislation would also impose a $1.1 Billion unfunded mandate upon the states for the payment of food stamps to qualifying legal immigrants.  The Senate adopted the conference report on May 12, 1998 by a vote of 92 to 8.  (Congressional Record, page S4680, roll call 129.  Fred Thompson voted FOR this bill. (Source: The New American, July 6, 1998).

“Super-Pork” Transportation Authorization, Conference Report on H.R. 2400.  This conference report would authorize $216 Billion over the next six years (including $9 Billion for 1,500-1,800 pork-barrel projects) and increase total transportation spending by more than 40 percent over 1998-2003.  During the Senate debate on this measure, Senator John McCain (R-AZ) correctly labeled it “the largest pork barrel spending bill ever written.”  In the House, even ultra-liberal Representative David Obey (D-WI) was forced to admit that it is “a veritable pork bonanza.”  The Senate adopted the conference report on May 22, 1998 by a vote of 88 to 5.  (Congressional Record, page S5417, roll call 147).  Fred Thompson  voted FOR this bill. (Source: The New American, October 26, 1998).   

Separate Male and Female Military Training and Barracks, Amendment to S. 2057.  This amendment by Senator Robert Byrd (D-WV) would have required segregated training for male and female recruits in the military, and separate barracks for male and female soldiers after basic training.  “Let us not delay the process of implementing changes recommended by former Senator Kassebaum-Baker and the commission she headed, a commission established by the Secretary of Defense,” Senator Byrd urged.  “Put these young recruits in separate barracks, train them separately until they have been installed in the military discipline…”  The Senate rejected the Byrd amendment on June 25, 1998 by a vote of 39 to 53.  (Congressional Record, page S7156, roll call 180).  Fred Thompson voted AGAINST this bill.  (Source: The New American, October 26, 1998). 

Higher Education Act Reauthorization, H.R. 6.  This bill would authorize $108 Billion for college loans and other higher education programs over the next five years.  The legislation would increase spending by nearly $10 Billion over that time period.  In addition to the student loan program and a bank subsidy program, it would establish a new block grant program to states for teacher training.  None of these programs are listed anywhere in the U.S. Constitution among the delegated powers of Congress.  The Senate passed the bill on July 9, 1998 by a vote of 96 to 1.  (Congressional Record, page S7872, roll call 195).  Fred Thompson  voted FOR this bill.  (Source: The New American, October 26, 1998). 

Agricultural Appropriations for Fiscal 1999, H.R. 4101.  This massive $57.3 Billion agricultural appropriations bill represents a profligate 15 percent increase in spending over fiscal 1998.  The Senate passed the bill on July 16, 1998 by a vote of 97 to 2.  (Congressional Record, page S8329, roll call 209).  Fred Thompson  voted FOR this bill.  (Source: The New American, October 26, 1998). 

Require All Gun Dealers to Make Trigger Locks “Available,” Amendment to S. 2260.   This amendment would require that all federally licensed firearms dealers sell trigger locks, lock boxes, and other safety devices in addition to firearms.  “My amendment requires that vendors have these safety devices available for sale,” explained Senator Larry Craig (R-ID), “but it does not require that a vendor sell a safety device along with every firearm.”  The amendment would have unconstitutionally imposed an additional burden on the firearms industry, although it was promoted my Craig  as a means of avoiding the even more draconian Boxer amendment under consideration.  The Senate adopted the amendment on July 21, 1998 by a vote of 72 to 28.  (Congressional Record, page S8634, roll call 215).  Fred Thompson  voted FOR this bill.  (Source: The New American, October 26, 1998). 

Transportation Appropriations, S. 2307.   This legislation would fund transportation projects during fiscal 1999; the $47.1 Billion it provides represents a more than 10 percent increase in spending over fiscal 1998 appropriations.  The Senate passed the bill on July 24, 1998 by a vote of 90 to 1. (Congressional Record, page S8956, roll call 235).  Fred Thompson  voted FOR this bill.  (Source: The New American, October 26, 1998). 

Abolish Marriage Penalty in Tax Code, Motion on S. 2312.   This amendment would have abolished the tax code’s so-called “marriage penalty,” which taxes a married couple at a higher rate than an unmarried couple living together.  The amendment would have allowed married couples to file separately using “one half of the taxable income computed as if the spouses were filing a joint return.”  “The federal government should not be penalizing marriages, a sacrosanct institution and the bedrock of our social structure,” Senator Dirk Kempthorne (R-ID) persuasively argued.  The Senate rejected a motion to table (kill) the amendment on July 29, 1998 by a vote of 48 to 51.  (Congressional Rrecord, page S9177, roll call 242).  Fred Thompson  voted FOR  this motion.  Subsequently, the amendment was withdrawn.  (Source: The New American, October 26, 1998). 

Restore Congressional Control Over War Powers, Motion on S. 2132.  This beautifully concise, one-sentence amendment would have prohibited funds in the Defense Appropriations bill from being used for “offensive military operations by the United States Armed Forces except in accordance with Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution, which vests in Congress the power to declare war and take certain other related actions.”  Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL) explained the rationale for his much-needed amendment:  “The framers never intended the Armed Forces to be employed by the Executive as a blunt instrument for enforcing U.S. foreign policy without congressional approval.  Yet… that is exactly what we have seen.  Absent a reaffirmation by Congress of its proper constitutional war powers, we will certainly see it again.”  The Senate tabled (killed) the Durbin amendment on July 30, 1998 by a vote of 84 to 15.  (Congressional Record, page S9392, roll call 251).  Fred Thompson  voted FOR this motion.  (to table the amendment)

(Source: The New American, October 26, 1998). 

Foreign Aid Appropriations, S. 2334.  This legislation would not only appropriate $12.6 Billion in foreign aid giveaways during fiscal 1999, but capitalize the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for the full $18 Billion requested by the Clinton Administration.  The Senate passed the bill on September 2, 1998 by a vote of 90 to 3. (Congressional Record, page S9869, roll call 259).  Fred Thompson  voted FOR this bill. (Source: The New American, October 26, 1998). 

Impeachment of President Clinton, Article I.  Article I – Grand Jury Perjury – The first article of impeachment (from the House) found that “William Jefferson Clinton willfully provided perjurious, false, and misleading testimony” to a federal grand jury.  A two-thirds majority of the Senate would be required to convict the President and remove him from office.  The Senate acquitted the President on February 12, 1999 by a vote of 45 to 55. (Congressional Record, page S1458, roll call 17).  Fred Thompson voted NOT GUILTY.  (Source: The New American, August 16, 1999). 

Ban on Assault Weapons Sales to Juveniles, Amendment to S. 254.  Senator John Ashcroft (R-MO) offered this amendment to (in his words) “prohibit private sales of semiautomatic assault rifles to minors, and it would require that they have parental permission in order for one even to be in the possession of a minor.”  The Senate adopted the amendment on May 13, 1999 by a vote of 96 to 2 with only Senators Michael Enzi (R-WY) and Robert Smith (R-NH) defending the right to keep and bear arms.  (Congressional Record, page S5236, roll call 115).  Fred Thompson  voted FOR this bill.  (Source: The New American, August 16, 1999). 

Exonerating Admiral Kimmel and General Short, Amendment to S. 1059.  Following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Admiral Husband E. Kimmel and General Walter C. Short, who were in command of the forces there, were blamed for the disaster.  On December 16, 1941, they were relieved of their commands and reduced in rank.  Husband E. Kimmel was reduced in rank from Admiral to Rear Admiral and Walter C. Short from Lieutenant General to Major General.  This amendment to the Defense authorization bill, in urging President Clinton to posthumously re-advance the ranks of these officers, cites “numerous investigations” that document that Admiral Kimmel and General Short “were not provided necessary and critical intelligence … that foretold of war with Japan, that warned of imminent attack, and that would have alerted them to prepare for the attack….”  The Senate adopted the amendment on May 25, 1999 by a vote of 52 to 47.  (Congressional Record, pages S5915-16, roll call 142).  Fred Thompson  voted AGAINST this amendment.  (Source: The New American, August 16, 1999). 

End Aggression Against Yugoslavia.  Senator Robert Smith (R-NH) proposed a measure to prohibit military aggression by the U.S. government against Yugoslavia after October 1, 1999.  This measure would require an end to the air war as well.  Sen. Smith noted: “Every single person out there who has a son or daughter old enough to serve in the military should ask themselves: Is it worth my son’s or daughter’s life to die in Yugoslavia for a humanitarian crisis that does not involve the national security of the Untied State?”  Senator Smith’s proposal, an amendment to S. 1059, was tabled (killed) by the Senate on May 26, 1999 by a vote of 77 to 21.  (Roll Call 151). Fred Thompson  voted FOR (to table) this motion.  (Source: The New American, January 3, 2000). 

Foreign Aid Appropriations.  This $12.7 Billion foreign aid bill provides wasteful and unconstitutional foreign aid programs aboard.   This bill, S. 1234 was adopted by the Senate on June 30, 1999 by a vote of 97 to 2. (Roll Call 192).  Fred Thompson  voted  FOR  this bill. (Source: The New American, January 3, 2000).

MFN/NTR Trade with Red China.  This legislation would reverse President Clinton’s decision to grant China “Normal Trade Relations” (formerly Most Favored Nation status).  But the Senate dispensed with the measure in a different manner, voting on whether to discharge the resolution from the Senate Finance Committee for a vote on passage instead of voting on the resolution itself.  The Senate rejected the discharge motion on the bill, S.J. 27, on July 20, 1999 by a vote of 12 to 87.  (Roll Call 213).  Fred Thompson voted NO.  (Source: The New American, January 3, 2000).

Subsidized Trade with Vietnam.   “Vietnam has historically not been eligible to take advantage of American taxpayer-funded programs which subsidize business deals between American companies and the Communist Government agencies in Hanoi,” explained Senator Robert Smith (R-NH).  “That is, until last year.”    In 1998 President Clinton issued a waiver of the Jackson-Vanik law for Communist Vietnam, giving a green light to federal corporate subsidy programs beneficial to the Red regime.  Sen. Smith’s legislation would overturn Clinton’s waiver and ban taxpayer subsidies from going to the butcher in Hanoi, through programs such as Overseas Private Investment Corporation, Export-Import Bank, and U.S. Department of Agriculture subsidy programs.  A discharge motion on Sen. Smith’s bill (S.J.Res 28) would have brought the measure from the Finance Committee to the floor for a vote on passage.  The Senate rejected the motion on July 20, 1999 by a vote of 5 to 94 (Roll Call 214).  Fred Thompson  voted AGAINST the measure.   (Source: The New American, January 3, 2000).

Holbrooke Nomination.  This vote was on the nomination of Richard Holbrooke to be U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations.  Holbrooke is the author of the disastrous Dayton Accords, which sealed the fate of thousands of Serbs and produced the current, indefinite U.S. intervention in the Balkans.  “I am voting against him.” Senator Tim Hutchinson (R-AR) declared, “because I disagree with the policy that he has put forward in the Balkans.  I just can’t, in good conscience, vote for someone who I think is taking our country in the wrong direction.  This is his policy: that the United States should spend Billions of dollars, wear and tear on our equipment and our troops, stretching our military for a goal that I believe is not achievable.”  The Senate confirmed the momination of Richard Holbrooke on August 5, 1999 by a vote of 81 to 16. (Roll Call 259).  Fred Thompson  voted  FOR the Holbooke nomination.  (Source: The New American, January 3, 2000).

National Endowment for the Arts.  This vote was on a measure proposed by Senator Robert Smith (R-NH) to eliminate $99 Million slated for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), effectively abolishing the agency.   The U.S. Constitution does not grant to any branch of the federal government the power to fund art.  Smith therefore reminded his colleagues of their oath of office.  “We came here to pass laws that support the Constitution of the United States.”  Smith stated, “Whatever you may feel about this issue, we did not come here to pass laws about our personal beliefs…. When we swear to uphold that document, we agree to live by that vision whether we like it or not.”   Senator Smith’s legislation, and amendment to H.R. 2466, was tabled (killed) by the Senate on August 5, 1999 by a vote of 80 to 16.  (Roll Call 260).  Fred Thompson  voted  FOR this motion, (to kill).  (Source: The New American, January 3, 2000).

Labor/HHS/Education Funding.   This $318 Billion bill is the main funding measure fo the federal welfare state during fiscal 2000.  The Senate big spenders not only increased the amount over fiscal 1999 by more that nine percent, they actually gave President Clinton $5.8 Billion more than he requested.   The measure, S. 1650, was passed by the Senate on October 7, 1999 by a vote of 73 to 25.  (Roll call 321).  Fred Thompson  voted  FOR this bill. (Source: The New American, January 3, 2000).

Agricultural Appropriations.  This measure would appropriate $69 Billion for agricultural programs, food stamps, and foreign aid programs for fiscal year 2000.  The legislation represents an irresponsible 11 percent increase in spending over fiscal 1999.  The final version of the bill, H.R. 1906, was adopted by the Senate on October 13, 1999 by a vote of 74 to 26.  Fred Thompson  voted  FOR  this bill. (Source: The New American, January 3, 2000).

Expanding the Welfare State.  This $385 Billion monstrosity constitutes a complete sellout of conservative principles to the demands of the welfare-staters at the White House.  This measure would fund five regular annual appropriations bills (District of Columbia, Labor/HHS/Education, Foreign Operations, Commerce/Justice/State/Judiciary, and Interior), often at higher levels than were originally requested by the Clinton administration.   The Health and Human Services Department – the key welfare agency of the federal government – received an 11.4 percent increase in funding, more than Mr. Clinton originally requested.  The Department of Education received a 6.8 percent increase in funding, also more than Mr. Clinton originally sought.  Foreign aid spending was also funded at  a higher level than originally sought by the President.  President Clinton’s federal teacher hiring initiative was granted $1.325 Billion, the COPS program of federally paid law enforcement officers was awarded $595 Million, and alleged “arrears” payments to the United Nations were authorized to the tune of $926 Million.    Some Republicans in the House falsely sold the bill to conservatives on the grounds that it contained a strong pro-life provision in the foreign aid section.  But the bill allows President Clinton to waive the provision, a prohibition against funding international family-planning organizations, if he is willing to subtract a mere $12.6 Million penalty from the $385 million population control budget.  (Subsequently, this is exactly what Mr. Clinton did.)       The bill, the final version of H.R. 3194, was adopted by the Senate on November 19, 1999 by a vote of 74 to 24.  (Roll Call 374).  Fred Thompson   voted  FOR  this bill. (Source: The New American, January 3, 2000).

Flag Desecration Constitutional Amendment.  This joint resolution propose a constitutional amendment to grant Congress the power to prohibit the physical desecration of the U.S. flag.  Senator Storm Thurmond (R-SC), who argued for the amendment, stated that it would “once again give Congress the authority to protect the flag from physical desecration …. It would simply overturn a few very recent judicial decisions that rejected America’s traditional approach to the flag under the law.”  However, if Congress truly wishes to rein in the Supreme Court with regard to flag burning, it can simply exercise its constitutional power to limit the Court’s appellate jurisdiction (Article III, Section 2).   The proposed flag desecration constitutional amendment, Senate Joint Resolution 14, failed to attain the two-thirds majority required and was rejected on March 29, 2000 by a vote of 63 to 37.  (Roll Call 48).  Fred Thompson  voted  FOR  this amendment.  (Source: The New American, July 17, 2000).

Television for “Underserved” Areas.  As a way of providing local television to 30 million households in areas of the country that cannot receive over-the-air signals or do not have local television through a satellite provider, this bill would create a new program that would provide $1.25 Billion in loan guarantees to telecommunication provider.  The loans would offer a competitive edge to satellite providers since cable companies cannot apply for the loans to expand their service.  The loans would be administered by the Department of Agriculture’s Rural Utilities Service.  This bill, S. 2097, passed the Senate on March 30, 2000  by a vote of 97 to 0.  (Roll Call 50).  Fred Thompson  voted  FOR   this bill.  (Source: The New American, July 17, 2000).

Troops in Kosovo.  This amendment would strike the provision in the military construction appropriations bill that would terminate funding for continued troop deployment in Kosovo unless Congress authorized the deployment.  The provision also declared that no more than 75 percent of year 2000 supplemental spending for Kosovo could be obligated until the president certified that the European allies were paying specific percentages of the costs involved.  If the administration did not certify those requirements by July 15, 2000, then the remaining money could by used only to withdraw the troops.   The amendment to strike the Kosovo provision of S. 2521  passed the Senate on May 18, 2000 by a vote of 53 to 47.  (Roll Call 105).  Fred Thompson  voted  FOR this amendment.   (Source: The New American, July 17, 2000).

Farm Subsidies.  This vote was  to adopt the final version (conference report) of the bil that would provide $8.2 Billion over the next five years for increased crop insurance subsidies.  Currently, the federal government pays 13 to 57 percent of crop insurance premiums, but this bill would increase that portion to a range of 38 to 67 percent of the premiums.  The aim of the increase is to curtail large emergency payments.  This bill also would provide for $7.1 Billion in economic assistance to farmers affected by low prices.  All of this aid is especially irksome since the 1996 “Freedom to Farm” law passed by Congress was supposed to wean farmers off of harmful government subsidies.  The conference report on the farm subsidies bill, H.R. 2559, passed the Senate on May 25, 2000 by a vote of 91 to 4.  (Roll Call 115).  Fred Thompson  voted  FOR  this bill.  (Source: The New American, July 17, 2000).

Cut Anti-Drug Foreign Aid Increase by $734 Million.  Senator Slade Gorton (R-WA) introduced this amendment to cut the anti-drug foreign aid allotment for South and Central America from $934 Million down to $200 Million.  Although Gorton’s amendment represents a sizable cut in the amount budgeted for the program in fiscal 2001 foreign aid appropriations bill, the remaining #200 Million is still quadruple the $50 Million appropriated during fiscal 2000.   The Senate rejected the Gorton amendment to S. 2522 on June 21, 2000 by a vote of 19 to 79.  (Roll Call 139).  Fred Thompson  voted  AGAINST  this bill. (Source: The New American, November 6, 2000).

Welfare State Mother Lode.  The House version of this bill is a colossal $351.8 Billion fiscal 2001 Labor/HHS/Education appropriations bill that represents a spending increase of more than seven percent over fiscal 2000.  The Senate bill increased the amount to $354.6 Billion.  The Senate passed H.R. 4577 on June 30, 2000 by a vote of 52 to 43.  (Roll Call 171).  Fred Thompson  voted  FOR  this bill. (Source: The New American, November 6, 2000).

Fiscal 2001 Agriculture Appropriations.  This massive $77.4 Billion appropriations bill would fund federal agricultural subsidy programs – as well as the federal Food Stamp program, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and several other programs – throughout fiscal 2001.  Although this bill represents about a 8 percent cut from fiscal 2000, none of the programs funded by this bill are authorized by the U.S. Constitution.   The Senate passed H.R. 4461 on July 20, 2000 by a vote of  79 to 13.  (Roll Call 225).  (Source: The New American, November 6, 2000).

China PNTR.  This bill, H.R. 4444, would grant Communist China Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR), and thereby abolish the annual review process of Chinese NTR.  It would also pave the way for Chinese entry into the World Trade Organization.  The bill would all but guarantee that the tyrannical Chinese government will continue to receive Billions of dollars in U.S. taxpayer-subsidized trade annually through the export subsidy programs such as the Export-Import Bank and multilateral organs such as the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank.  Although many of those promoting PNTR for China have claimed to be doing so on the basis of “free trade,” just five days earlier the Senate had voted down – by voice vote – an amendment by Senator Ernest Hollings (D-SC) that would have allowed PNTR but abolished U.S. export subsidies to China.   The Senate passed H.R. 4444 on September 19, 2000 by a vote of 83 to 15.  (Roll Call 251). Fred Thompson  voted  FOR  this amendment. (Source: The New American, November 6, 2000).

Release of $582 Million in UN “Dues”.  This bill would release $582 Million to the United Nations as a second of three payments to the world body for “back dues” allegedly owed by the United States.  The UN – in accordance with the intent of the new world order elite – has become more aggressive in recent years in its pursuit of the powers of a world tyranny.  The world body is seeking, through its International Criminal Court treaty, the power to bring any person in the world to trial.  The UN is also seeking a global tax power and has proposed a global ban of private ownership of firearms.  The Senate passed the bill on February 7, 2001 by a vote of 99 to 0.  (Roll Call 10).  Fred Thompson  voted  FOR  this bill. (Source: The New American, July 30, 2001).

McCain-Feingold Campaign Finance.  The intent behind the McCain-Feingold Campaign Finance bill is to squelch criticism of government and elected officials.  The bill would further limit contributions by organization and corporations to political parties and require most organizations criticizing federal elected officials to file financial reports with the FEC.  Regulations under McCain-Feingold and Shays-Mechan (the corresponding House version of the bill) would essentially require disclosure of the the names and political finances of political activists.  The bill would not abolish or directly restrict free speech and free press.  But requiring disclosure is a measure of political control and intimidation.  The Senate passed S. 27 on April 2, 2001 by a vote of 59 to 41.  (Roll Call 64).   Fred Thompson voted  FOR  this bill.  (Source: The New American, July 30, 2001).

Marriage Penalty Elimination.   This amendment by Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas) to the tax cut bill would eliminate the “marriage penalty” in the income tax laws by the year 2008 and substantially increase the standard deduction for married couples beginning in 2002.  The Senate rejected the Hutchison amendment to H.R. 1836 on May 17, 2001 by a vote of 27 to 73.  (Roll Call 113).  Fred Thompson  voted  AGAINST  this bill.  (Source: The New American, July 30, 2001).

Education Spending Bill.  The “No Child Left Behind Act of 2001,” the main elementary and secondary educational authorization bill for fiscal 2002, would increase spending for fiscal 2002 by an unbelievable 28 percent over fiscal 2001.  The Congressional Budget Office estimated that the total cost of this bill (which, by the way, is only a portion of federal education spending) “would total approximately $23 Billion in 2002 and about $135 Billion over the 2002-2006 period…”   The Senate bill spends even more money in fiscal 2002 ($27.7 Billion) and would authorize spending for an even longer period of time (through fiscal 2008).  The Senate passed H.R 1 on June 14, 2001 by a vote of 91 to 8.  (Roll Call 192).  Fred Thompson  voted  FOR  this bill.  (Source: The New American, July 30, 2001).

Energy and Water Appropriations.  H.R. 2311 would appropriate $25.1 Billion for the Department of Energy, the Army Corps of Engineers, water projects, and related agencies in fiscal 2002.  The lion’s share of the money in the bill is for the Energy Department.  The Senate version of H.R. 2311 would appropriate $1.4 Billion more that that of the House version.  The Senate passed H.R. 2311 on July 19, 2001 by a vote of 97 to 2.  (Roll Call 240).   Fred Thompson  voted  FOR  this bill. (Source: The New American, December 3, 2001).

Mexican Trucks.  During consideration of the Transportation appropriations bill, Sen. Phil Gramm (R-Texas) offered an amendment to prohibit the imposition of safety requirements on Mexican trucks traveling in the U.S. that did not also apply to American and Canadian trucks.  The intent behind the Gramm amendment was to open up American highways to Mexican long-haul trucks in support of the North American Free Trade (NAFTA) Agreement.  The Senate tabled (killed) the Gramm amendment on July 25, 2001 by a vote of 65 to 35.  (Roll Call 250).  Fred Thompson  voted  NO (not to table) the amendment. (Source: The New American, December 3, 2001).

Arsenic Standard for Drinking Water.  During consideration of the VA-HUD appropriations bill (H.R. 2620), Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) offered an amendment intended to force the EPA to establish a stricter standard for arsenic in drinking water.  Boxer argued that the current standard of 50 parts per billion was “way too high.”  The Senate adopted the Boxer amendment on August 1, 2001 by a vote of 97 to 1.  (Roll Call 265).   Fred Thompson  voted  FOR  this bill.  (Source: The New American, December 3, 2001).  In an October 31^st letter to Congress, EPA Administrator Christie Whitman said the agency would adopt a standard, which must be met by 2006, of just 10 parts per billion.  That’s “the equivalent of one teaspoon per 1.3 million gallons of water” according to the New York Times!  Compliance will be costly for rural communities that will have to spend heavily on water treatment facilities. 

VA-HUD Appropriations.    H.R. 2620 would appropriate $112.7 Billion for the Department of Veteran Affairs ($51.3 Billion) and Housing and Urban Development ($30 Billion) and 20 independent agencies in fiscal 2002.  The agencies include NASA ($15.0 Billion), the EPA ($7.5 Billion), and FEMA ($3.6 Billion).  Congressmen (House) who argue that  they voted for this legislation in order to preserve VA programs should have voted against it with the insistence that the myriad spending programs it contains be divided into separate parts, allowing for a vote on each.   The senate version of H.R. 2620 would appropriate $113.4 Billion for the Department of Veteran Affairs and Housing Urban Development and 20 independent agencies in fiscal 2002.  The total appropriation is slightly more than that of the House version.  The Senate passed H.R. 2620 on August 2, 2001 by a vote of 94 to 5.  (Roll Call 269).   Fred Thompson  voted  FOR  this bill.  (Source: The New American, December 3, 2001).

Airline Bailout.   After the September 11^th terrorist attacks, the House voted on a bailout for the airline industry known as the Air Transportation Safety and System Stabilization Act (H.R. 2926).  This Act would provide $5 Billion in cash, and up to $10 Billion in loan guarantees for air carriers.  S. 1450 is the Senate version of the bill. The Senate passed S. 1450 on September 21, 2001 by a vote of 96 to 1.  (Roll Call 284).  Fred Thompson  voted  FOR  this bill.  (Source: The New American, December 3, 2001).

Vietnam Trade.  House Joint Resolution 51 would allow the president to grant Normal Trade Relations (formerly Most Favored Nation trade status) to Vietnam on an annual basis.  This status would reduce the tariffs on imports from the despotic Communist regime.  The Senate passed H.J.Res. 51 on October 3, 2001 by a vote of 88 to 12.  Fred Thompson  voted  FOR this bill.  (Source: The New American, December 3, 2001).

Aviation Security.  The Aviation Security Act (S. 1447) would federalize security at airports and make baggage and passenger screeners at the nation’s 142 largest airports federal employees.  (The attorney general could allow smaller, non-hub airports to use state or local law enforcement personnel.)  S. 1447 would also provide for more air marshals on commercial flights and require the strengthening of the cockpit door and locks.  And I would impose a $2.50 per passenger surcharge for each flight leg.  The Senate passed S. 1447 on October 11, 2001 by a vote of 100 to 0.  (Roll Call 295).  Fred Thompson  voted  FOR  this bill.  (Source: The New American, December 3, 2001).

Anti-Terrorism Authority.   The Senate passed two versions of the anti-terrorism bill: S. 1510 and H.R. 3162.  The latter became law (see the vote a few paragraphs down).  Russ Feingold (D-Wis.), who warned that the bill’s new police and surveillance provisions threatened civil liberties, was the only senator to vote against S. 1510 and H.R. 3162.  The Senate passed S. 1510 on October 11, 2001 by a vote of 96 to 1.  (Roll Call 302).  Fred Thompson  voted  FOR  this senate bill.  (Source: The New American, December 3, 2001).

Interior Appropriations.  The final version of H.R. 2217 would appropriate $19.1 Billion in fiscal 2002 for the Interior Department and related agencies.  The total spending in the bill was slightly higher than that of either the House- or Senate-passed versions of the legislation ($18.9 and $18.7 Billion respectively).  The Interior appropriations included $1.9 Billion for the anti-private property Bureau of Land Management.  It also included $125 Million for the National Endowment for the Humanities and $115 Million for the National Endowment for the Arts.  The Senate adopted the conference report on October 17, 2001 by a vote of 95 to 3.  (Roll Call 304). Fred Thompson  voted  FOR  this bill.  (Source: The New American, December 3, 2001).

Foreign Aid.  The Senate version of H.R. 2506 would appropriate $15.5 Billion for foreign aid programs in fiscal 2002.  The Senate passed H.R. 2506 on October 24, 2001  by a vote of 96 to 2.  (Roll Call 312).  Fred Thompson  voted  FOR  this bill. 

Anti-Terrorism Authority.  H.R. 3162, known as the “USA Patriot Act,” was passed by the House on October 24^th, passed by the Senate the next day, and signed into law the day after that.  The Act, introduced in response to the September 11^th terrorist attacks, gives law enforcement and intelligence agencies vast new powers to combat terrorism.  It expands the list of crimes deemed terrorist acts; increases the ability of law enforcement to secretly search homes and business records; expands the FBI’s wiretapping and surveillance authority; and provides for nationwide jurisdiction for search warrants and electronic surveillance devices, including the legal extension of those devices to e-mail and the Internet.  The bill includes a “sunset” provision under which the new surveillance powers “shall cease to have effect on December 31, 2005.”  The very presence of that provision underscores the justifiable concern of some lawmakers that those new powers could be abused.  The Senate adopted the House version of the anti-terrorism bill (H.R. 3162) without amendment on October 25, 2001, thereby completing congressional action.  The vote was 98 to 1.  (Roll Call 313).  Fred Thompson  voted  FOR  this bill.  (Source: The New American, December 3, 2001).

Agriculture Appropriations.  H.R. 2330 would appropriate $74.4 Billion for agriculture programs in fiscal 2002.  The spending includes $31.8 Billion for agricultural programs including crop subsidies, $22 Billion for the food stamp program, $10.1 Billion for child nutrition programs, and $1.1 Billion for foreign food aid and export assistance.  The Senate version of H.R. 2330 would appropriate $23 Billion for the food stamp program, $1 Billion more than in the House version.  The Senate passed H.R. 2330 on October 25, 2001 by a vote of 91 to 5.  (Roll Call 315).  Fred Thompson  voted  FOR  this bill.  (Source: The New American, December 3, 2001).

Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations.  The Senate version of this mammoth spending bill (H.R. 3061) would appropriate $407.6 Billion in fiscal 2002, including $123.1 Billion in “discretionary spending,” for the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Department, and related agencies.  The spending includes $302.7 Billion for HHS and $51.2 Billion for the Education Department.  Total spending would increase by nearly 12 percent over the previous fiscal year ($365 Billion).  The Senate passed H.R. 3061 on November 6, 2001 by a vote of 89 to 10.  (Roll Call 324).  Fred Thompson  voted  FOR  this bill. (Source: The New American, July 15, 2002).

VA-Hud Appropriations.  This conference report, H.R. 2620 would appropriate $112.7 Billion for the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development and 20 independent agencies in fiscal 2002.  HUD’s portion is $30 Billion.  The agencies include NASA, the EPA, and FEMA.  Congressmen arguing in the House, that they voted for this legislation to preserve VA programs should have voted against it, insisting that the myriad (and often unconstitutional) spending programs it contains be divided into separate parts, allowing for a vote on each.  The Senate adopted the conference report on November 8, 2001 by a vote of 87 to 7.  (Roll Call 334).  Fred Thompson  voted  FOR this bill.  (Source: The New American, July 15, 2002).

Agriculture Appropriations.  The final version of this conference report, H.R. 2330, would appropriate $75.9 Billion for agriculture programs in fiscal 2002.  This unconstitutional spending includes $31.9 Billion for agricultural programs including crop subsidies, $23 Billion for the food stamp program, $10.1 Billion for child nutrition programs, and $1.1 Billion for foreign food aid and export assistance.   The Senate adopted the conference report on November 15, 2001 by a vote of 92 to 7. (Roll Call 339).  Fred Thompson  voted  FOR  this bill.  (Source: The New American, July 15, 2002).

Education.  House conference report, H.R. 1, would overhaul education proposals to increase school accountability and reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) for six years.  This bill would require states to test students in reading and math in grades three through eight annually, provide new accountability measures for schools that fail to make adequate yearly progress, and give schools greater flexibility to spend federal funds.  It would include about $26.3 Billion for federal elementary and secondary education programs and $13.5 Billion for Title I programs for disadvantaged children in fiscal 2002.  According to Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas): “H.R. 1 will lead to de facto, if not de jure, national testing…. Under the United States Constitution, the federal government has no authority to hold states ‘accountable’ for their education performance.  In the free society envisioned by the founders, schools are held accountable to parents, not federal bureaucrats…”   The Senate adopted the conference report on December 18, 2001 by a vote of 87 to 10.  (Roll Call 371).  Fred Thompson  voted   FOR  this bill.  (Source: The New American, July 15, 2002).

Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations.   This conference report (H.R. 3061), would appropriate $407.7 Billion for fiscal 2002 for the Labor, Health and Human Services (HHS), and Education departments, including $123.4 Billion in “discretionary” spending.  This bill would provide more than $51 Billion for federal aid to education, including funding for the education overhaul bill (H.R. 1) with its new annual state testing program.  Total spending for HHS would increase by nearly 14 percent over fiscal 2001.  The Education department would receive 15 percent more than last year.  The Senate adopted the conference report on December 20, 2001 by a vote of 90 to 7.  (Roll Call 378).  Fred Thompson  voted  FOR  this bill.  (Source: The New American, July 15, 2002).

Alaskan Pipeline.   During consideration of the energy bill (S. 517), Senator Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) offered an amendment to prohibit constructing a natural gas pipeline eastward from the Prudhoe Bay area through the adjacent coastal area of the energy-rich Alaska National Wildlife Refuge and on into Canada and the lower forty-eight states.  This amendment would in effect mandate that the already-proposed natural gas pipeline from Prudhoe Bay to the lower forty-eight be constructed sought from Prudhoe Bay through the Fairbanks area before entering Canada.  Daschle argued that the southern route through Fairbanks would “avoid the environmental pitfalls that construction could have on the fragile northern Alaska environment.”  Senator Don Nickles (R-Okla.) opposed this Daschle amendment: “I would like to think we believe  in the free market system enough to where we would let the marketplace decide what is the best route, what is the most economical route, what is the route that will do the least environmental damage.”   The Senate adopted Daschle’s amendment on March 6, 2002 by a vote of 93 to 5.  (Roll Call 41).   Fred Thompson voted  FOR this amendment.  (Source: The New American, July 15, 2002).

Campaign Financing.   This bill, H.R. 2356, would restrict our God-given right of free speech through banning “soft money” donations to national political parties and preventing issue ads from mentioning specific candidates within 60 days of a general election or 30 days of a primary.  In contrast, the First Amendment to the Constitution states: “Congress shall make no law … abridging the freedom of speech…”   The Senate passed H.R. 2356 on March 20, 2002 by a vote of 60 to 40. (Roll Call 54).  Fred Thompson   voted  FOR  this bill.  (Source: The New American, July 15, 2002).

Elections.  The House bill, H.R. 3295, would overhaul the nation’s election procedures, including authorizing $400 Million in one-time payments for states and counties to replace or upgrade punch card voting machines.  The bill would also authorize $2.25 Billion for states over three years to improve the administration of elections and mandate “minimum” federal election standards.  This intervention by Congress in state elections threatens our federal system.  According to Article I, Section 4 of the Constitution, Congress is authorized to alter state election procedures for federal offices: “The times, places and manner of holding elections, for Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed in each state by the legislature thereof, but the Congress may at any time by law make or alter such regulations…”  However, Founder Alexander Hamilton asserted that Congress should only use this authority to “make or alter such regulations” in “extraordinary circumstances.”   The Senate-passed version of this legislation (S. 565) – like the House-passed version – would overhaul the nation’s election procedures.  As summarized by Congressional Quarterly: “The main thrust of both bills is to set national standards for the conduct of elections – and authorize grants to help states meet those standards…”  The Senate bill would authorize $3.5 Billion over five years.  The Senate passed S. 565 on April 11, 2002 by a vote of 99 to 1.  (Roll Call 65).  Fred Thompson  voted  FOR  this bill.  (Source: The New American, July 15, 2002).

Automobile Fuel Consumption.  During consideration of the energy bill (S. 517), Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.) offered an amendment to require new regulations for automobile manufactured after model year 2006 to reduce oil consumption by at least one million barrels per day by 2015.  Carper’s amendment didn’t specify how this objective would be achieved; possibilities included raising the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards or requiring alternative fuels.  The Senate tabled (killed) the Carper amendment on April 25, 2002 by a vote of 57 to 42.  (Roll Call 90).  Fred Thompson  voted  NO (not to table) this bill.  (Source: The New American, July 15, 2002).

Alternative Vehicles.  During consideration of the energy bill (S. 517), Senator Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) offered an amendment to “stride the provisions relating to alternative vehicles and fuels incentives.” Those provisions would provide $2.1 Billion in credits for Americans who buy fuel cell, hybrid, and alternative fuel vehicles.  The credit would vary depending on the vehicle; the average credit for an alternative fuel vehicle would be about $5,000.  The Senate tabled (killed) the Kyl amendment on April 25, 2002 by a vote of 91 to 8.  (Roll Call 91).  Fred Thompson voted  YES (to table) this bill.  (Source: The New American, July 15, 2002).

Trade Promotion Authority.  During consideration of the Trade Promotion Authority bill ( H.R. 3009), Senator Mark Dayton (D-Minn.), in an effort to retain congressional power and preserve sovereignty, offered an amendment to enable a simple majority of senators to remove from fast-track authority any trade agreement provisions limiting U.S. trade remedy laws (e.g., anti-dumping measures).  Under fast-track procedures, now call Trade Promotion Authority, senators must accept or reject entire trade agreements (without amendment) presented by the president.  The Senate rejected a motion to table (kill) Dayton’s amendment on May 14, 2002 by a vote of 38 to 61.  (Roll Call 110).  Fred Thompson  voted  YES (to table) the bill.  The Dayton amendment was subsequently adopted by voice vote.  (Source: The New American, July 15, 2002).

NATO Expansion.  This bill (H.R. 3167) supports President Bush’s plans to further expand NATO and authorizes military assistance to several countries in the former Soviet bloc.  NATO (the North Atlantic Treaty Organization) was established as a regional arrangement under the United Nations for the ostensible purpose of containing Communism. Now that “post-Soviet” Russia is a partner in NATO, that rationale no longer applies.  But NATO is still useful to the world order architects by providing the means to deploy troops directly under the UN.  It also commits the U.S. to defend any NATO member that is attacked.   The Senate passed H.R. 3167 on May 17, 2002 by a vote of 85 to 6.  (Roll Call 116).  Fred Thompson  voted  FOR  this bill.  (Source: The New American, July 15, 2002).

Trade Promotion Authority.   This bill would authorize Trade Promotion Authority (TPA), formerly known as fast-track authority, for President Bush.  The House bill (H.R. 3005) would give President Bush the authority to negotiate so-call free trade agreements.  Under TPA rules, Congress would only be allowed to vote yes or no on any free trade agreements presented to it by the Bush administration.  President Bush has repeatedly stated that he would use TPA to complete negotiations for a Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) by the end of his first term.  Under the guise of “free trade,” the FTAA would put us on the path to loss of sovereignty in a regional government of the Western Hemisphere, in the same manner that European nations are now losing sovereignty to the EU.   The Senate-passed version of the bill was broader than the House-passed bill by not only including TPA but extending trade preferences for four Andean nations and substantially expanding federal Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA), including new medical insurance subsidies for workers who lose their jobs to foreign competition.  The TAA benefits expansion would cost an estimated $12 Billion over 10 years.  The Senate passed H.R. 3009 on May 23, 2002 by a vote of 66 to 30.  (Roll Call 130).  Fred Thompson  voted  FOR  this bill.  (Source: The New American, July 15, 2002).

Airline Bailout.  The supplemental appropriations bill for fiscal 2002 (H.R. 4775) contained a provision that would have capped the amount of federal loan guarantees available to airlines for the remainder of the fiscal year.  The Congressional Budget Office estimated that this provision would have lowered the total cost of the bill by $393 Million in fiscal 2002.  Sen. Robert Byrd (D-W.V.) introduced an amendment to strike this provision of the bill.  The Senate adopted his amendment on June 4, 2002 by a vote of 91 to 4.  (Roll Call 131).  Fred Thompson  voted  FOR  this bill.  (Source: The New American, November 4, 2002).

Aids Funding.  After rejecting Durbin’s amendment to provide $500 Million instead of $100 Million in new funding for the Global Fund to Combat AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, the Senate considered and amendment by Sen. Jesse Helms (R-N.C.) to make $200 Million available for that purpose.  The Senate adopted Helms’ amendment on June 6, 2002 by a vote of 79 to 14.  (Roll Call 142).  Fred Thompson  voted  FOR  this bill.  (Source: The New American, November 4, 2002).

Terrorism Insurance.  This bill (S. 2600) would create a new federal program for assuming much of the recovery costs from future, catastrophic terrorist attacks.  The federal program would cover “80 percent of that portion of the amount of aggregate insured losses that … exceeds the participating insurance company deductible required to be paid for those insured losses” up to $10 Billion, and 90 percent of such losses between $10 Billion and $100 Billion.  The program would terminate one year after the bill’s enactment, unless the treasury secretary decides to extend it for an additional year.  The Senate passed the bill on June 18, 2002 by a vote of 84 to 14.  (Roll Call 157).  Fred Thompson  voted  FOR  this bill.  (Source: The New American, November 4, 2002).

Trade Promotion Authority.  The final version (conference report) of H.R. 3009 would give President Bush Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) for congressional consideration of trade agreements reached before June 1, 2005.  President Bush has made it abundantly clear that he intends to use TPA to complete negotiations on the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) by early 2005.  The FTAA could be modeled after the EU, but is designed to evolve toward a full-blown regional government at a greatly accelerated pace.  The Senate adopted the conference report on August 1, 2002 by a vote of 64 to 34.  (Roll Call 207).   Fred Thompson  voted  FOR  this bill.  (Source: The New American, November 4, 2002).

War Authorization Against Iraq.  This measure (House Joint Resolution 114) authorizes the president “to use the Armed Forces of the United States as he determines to be necessary and appropriate in order to – (1) defend the national security of the United States against the continuing threat posed by Iraq; and (20) enforce all relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions regarding Iraq.”  However, since the Constitution give Congress the sole responsibility for declaring war, this resolution represents congressional abdication of its responsibility.  Furthermore, the main thrust of the joint resolution is that the president is authorized to use the Armed Forces of the United States to “strictly enforce through the United Nations Security Council all relevant Security Council resolutions regarding Iraq.”  That is, the purpose of the resolution is to enforce UN Security Council dictates.  The Senate passed the resolution on October 11, 2002 by a vote of 77 to 23.  (Roll Call 237).  Because the Senate adopted the identical measure the House had passed the previous day, the Senate vote completed congressional action.  Fred Thompson  voted  FOR  this bill.  (Source: The New American, November 4, 2002).