To become more familiar with John Kerry's Senate voting record, I've written up a little Perl script to parse the output from his voting record as given by
, and produce a formatted single page for each year that he has been in the Senate. The Project Vote Smart pages are extremely informative and helpful, but they don't provide a comprehensive year-by-year view like this, so one is forced to click several links to get to the information for each and every vote.
What follows is the first of several diaries which will provide this information on a year-by-year basis. This first entry gives John Kerry's voting record for 1988, the first year where his record in the Senate is kept by Vote Smart, and a very active year indeed. Kerry has served in the US Senate from 1984 to the present.
- Category: Trade Issues
- Omnibus Trade-Veto Override
(Complete Information)
Senator John Forbes Kerry voted YES.
HR 3: A bill to enhance the competitiveness of American industry, and for other purposes
Vote to override President Reagan's veto of a bill that would, among other provisions, make changes in procedures for dealing with unfair foreign trade practices, repeal the windfall-profits tax on oil and require certain employers to provide workers with 60 days' notice of plant closings or layoffs. The bill would also clarify the law against business-related bribes abroad by U.S. businesses, streamline controls on militarily sensitive exports and revise agriculture and education programs.
(Bill sponsored by Gephardt, D-MO)
Veto override failed 61-37: R 10-35; D 51-2 on 06/08/1988. A two- thirds majority of those present and voting [66 in this case] of both houses is required to override a veto.
- Category: Military Issues
- Presidential Notification of Covert Operations-Passage
(Complete Information)
Senator John Forbes Kerry voted YES.
S 1721: A bill to improve the congressional oversight of certain intelligence activities, and to strengthen the process by which such activities are approved within the Executive branch, and for other purposes.
Vote to pass a bill that would require the president, under 'ordinary circumstances' to notify Congress of all covert operations. The president would have to inform leaders of Congress in private before any covert operations could commence. In cases of emergency or when time is of the essence, the president could wait up to 48 hours after activity begins.
(Bill sponsored by Cohen)
Bill passed 71-19: R 26-17; D 45-2 on 03/15/1988.
- Category: Business and Consumers
- Minimum Wage Increase-Cloture
(Complete Information)
Senator John Forbes Kerry voted YES.
S 837: A bill to amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to restore the minimum wage to a fair and equitable rate, and for other purposes.
Vote on a motion to invoke cloture [thus ending debate and bringing the bill to a vote] on a bill to raise the minimum wage from $3.35 to $4.55 an hour over three years. In addition, the measure would revise the definition of a business that must adhere to the standards of the Fair Labor Standards Act. It would exempt retail or service establishments whose annual gross volume of sales or business is less than $500,000, and increase from $362,500, effective in 1989.
(Cloture motion sponsored by Kennedy, D-MA; Bill sponsored by Kennedy, D-MA)
Cloture motion rejected 56-35: R 8-32; D 48-3 on 09/23/1988. A three-fifths majority vote [60] of the total Senate is required to invoke cloture.
- Omnibus Trade-Veto Override
(Complete Information)
Senator John Forbes Kerry voted YES.
HR 3: A bill to enhance the competitiveness of American industry, and for other purposes
Vote to override President Reagan's veto of a bill that would, among other provisions, make changes in procedures for dealing with unfair foreign trade practices, repeal the windfall-profits tax on oil and require certain employers to provide workers with 60 days' notice of plant closings or layoffs. The bill would also clarify the law against business-related bribes abroad by U.S. businesses, streamline controls on militarily sensitive exports and revise agriculture and education programs.
(Bill sponsored by Gephardt, D-MO)
Veto override failed 61-37: R 10-35; D 51-2 on 06/08/1988. A two- thirds majority of those present and voting [66 in this case] of both houses is required to override a veto.
- Category: Energy Issues
- Nuclear Accident Liability-Tabling Motion
(Complete Information)
Senator John Forbes Kerry voted NO.
HR 1414: Price-Anderson Amendments
Vote on a motion to table [kill] an amendment that would require the federal government to seek to recover funds from a federal contractor who was guilty of gross negligence or willful misconduct leading to an accident at a weapons-productions plant. After the government paid victims of a Department of Energy-contractor accident that occurred at a government owned, regulated and managed plant, the government would sue the contractor for the costs. A yea was a vote supporting the president's position.
(Motion sponsored by Johnston, D-LA; Amendment sponsored by Metzenbaum, D-OH; Bill sponsored by Udall)
Tabling motion agreed to 53-41: R 35-10; D 18-31 on 03/16/1988.
- Category: Appropriations
- FY 1989 HUD Approps.-NASA/UDAG Program
(Complete Information)
Senator John Forbes Kerry voted YES.
HR 4800: A bill making appropriations for the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and for sundry independent agencies and offices, for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1989 and for other purposes.
Vote on an amendment to shift $30 million from NASA to the Urban Development Action Grant [UDAG] program. The program, designed to spur private investment in distressed urban areas was created in 1978.
(Amendment sponsored by Heinz, R-PA; Bill sponsored by Boland, D-MA)
Motion rejected 34-63: R 9-36; D 25-27 on 07/12/1988.
- Category: Labor
- Omnibus Trade-Veto Override
(Complete Information)
Senator John Forbes Kerry voted YES.
HR 3: A bill to enhance the competitiveness of American industry, and for other purposes
Vote to override President Reagan's veto of a bill that would, among other provisions, make changes in procedures for dealing with unfair foreign trade practices, repeal the windfall-profits tax on oil and require certain employers to provide workers with 60 days' notice of plant closings or layoffs. The bill would also clarify the law against business-related bribes abroad by U.S. businesses, streamline controls on militarily sensitive exports and revise agriculture and education programs.
(Bill sponsored by Gephardt, D-MO)
Veto override failed 61-37: R 10-35; D 51-2 on 06/08/1988. A two- thirds majority of those present and voting [66 in this case] of both houses is required to override a veto.
- Minimum Wage Increase-Cloture
(Complete Information)
Senator John Forbes Kerry voted YES.
S 837: A bill to amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to restore the minimum wage to a fair and equitable rate, and for other purposes.
Vote on a motion to invoke cloture [thus ending debate and bringing the bill to a vote] on a bill to raise the minimum wage from $3.35 to $4.55 an hour over three years. In addition, the measure would revise the definition of a business that must adhere to the standards of the Fair Labor Standards Act. It would exempt retail or service establishments whose annual gross volume of sales or business is less than $500,000, and increase from $362,500, effective in 1989.
(Cloture motion sponsored by Kennedy, D-MA; Bill sponsored by Kennedy, D-MA)
Cloture motion rejected 56-35: R 8-32; D 48-3 on 09/23/1988. A three-fifths majority vote [60] of the total Senate is required to invoke cloture.
- Category: Congressional Affairs
- Presidential Notification of Covert Operations-Passage
(Complete Information)
Senator John Forbes Kerry voted YES.
S 1721: A bill to improve the congressional oversight of certain intelligence activities, and to strengthen the process by which such activities are approved within the Executive branch, and for other purposes.
Vote to pass a bill that would require the president, under 'ordinary circumstances' to notify Congress of all covert operations. The president would have to inform leaders of Congress in private before any covert operations could commence. In cases of emergency or when time is of the essence, the president could wait up to 48 hours after activity begins.
(Bill sponsored by Cohen)
Bill passed 71-19: R 26-17; D 45-2 on 03/15/1988.
- Category: Drug Issues
- Death Penalty for Drug-Related Killings-Passage
(Complete Information)
Senator John Forbes Kerry voted NO.
S 2455: Death Penalty for Drug-Related Killings Passage
Vote to pass a bill that would allow the use of the death penalty for drug traffickers who were convicted or murder, or ordering a murder. The measure would require a separate sentencing hearing before a judge or jury on the issue of punishment, where the judge or jury would have to weigh aggravating and mitigating circumstances before determining whether the death penalty was appropriate. The jury would have to be unanimous in imposing the death penalty. A yea was a vote supporting the president's position.
(Bill sponsored by D'Amato)
Bill passed 65-29: R: 37-6; D 28-23 on 06/10/1988.
- Category: Campaign Finance and Election Issues
- Campaign Finance Overhaul-Cloture
(Complete Information)
Senator John Forbes Kerry voted YES.
S 2: A bill to amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to provide for a voluntary system of spending limits and partial public financing of Senate general election campaigns, to limit contributions by multicandidate political committees, and for other purposes.
Vote on a motion to invoke cloture, thus limiting debate and bringing the measure to the floor for a vote, on a bill to limit campaign spending and the role of political action committees [PACs]. Congressional candidates could not accept more than 30 percent of their spending limit from PACs. Personal spending by a candidate would be capped at $20,000 plus 30 cents multiplied by the voting age population for the first 400,000 people and then 25 cents for the rest of the voting age population in states with more than 400,000 people eligible to register.
(Motion sponsored by Byrd, D-WV; Bill sponsored by Boren)
Cloture motion rejected 53-41: R 3-39; D 50-2 on 02/26/1988. A three-fifths majority vote (60) of the total Senate is required to invoke cloture.
- Category: Crime Issues
- Death Penalty for Drug-Related Killings-Passage
(Complete Information)
Senator John Forbes Kerry voted NO.
S 2455: Death Penalty for Drug-Related Killings Passage
Vote to pass a bill that would allow the use of the death penalty for drug traffickers who were convicted or murder, or ordering a murder. The measure would require a separate sentencing hearing before a judge or jury on the issue of punishment, where the judge or jury would have to weigh aggravating and mitigating circumstances before determining whether the death penalty was appropriate. The jury would have to be unanimous in imposing the death penalty. A yea was a vote supporting the president's position.
(Bill sponsored by D'Amato)
Bill passed 65-29: R: 37-6; D 28-23 on 06/10/1988.
- Category: Defense
- FY 1989 Defense Authorization-SALT II Limits
(Complete Information)
Senator John Forbes Kerry voted NO.
S 2355: An original bill to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 1989 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe personnel strengths for such fiscal year for the Armed Forces, and for other purposes.
Vote to table [kill] an amendment that would keep the US strategic arsenal roughly in line with the US-Soviet strategic arms limitation treaty of 1979 [SALT II] which had not been ratified at the time. The amendment would limit the deployment of multiple-warhead [MIRVed] intercontinental ballistic missiles [ICBMs], MIRVed ballistic missiles of any type, including submarine-launched missiles, and strategic bombers equipped with long-range cruise missiles. Among other provisions, the amendment would freeze the number of those weapons that were deployed as of January 25, 1988. A yea vote to table the amendment was a vote supporting the president's position.
(Motion sponsored by Nunn, D-GA; Amendment sponsored by Bumpers, D-AR; Bill sponsored by Nunn)
Tabling motion agreed to 51-45: R 39-5; D 12-40 on 05/11/1988.
- FY 1989 Defense Approps.-Contra Aid
(Complete Information)
Senator John Forbes Kerry voted YES.
HR 4781: A bill making appropriations for the Department of Defense for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1989, and for other purposes.
Vote on an amendment to provide $27.14 million in humanitarian aid to Nicaraguan contras and establish procedures for congressional consideration of President Reagan's request of $16.5 million worth of stockpiled military aid to the contras. The measure would provide no immediate military aid to the contras.
(Amendment sponsored by Byrd, D-WV; Bill sponsored by Chappell)
Amendment adopted 49-47: R 0-43; D 4-49 on 08/10/1988.
- FY 1989 Defense Authorization-SDI Funding and NASA
(Complete Information)
Senator John Forbes Kerry voted YES.
S 2355: An original bill to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 1989 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe personnel strengths for such fiscal year for the Armed Forces, and for other purposes.
Vote on a motion that would allow the Senate to reconsider an amendment that had been tabled [killed] in an earlier vote. The amendment would have reduced funding for the strategic defense intiatiave [SDI] or 'Star Wars' missile defense program from $4.5 billion to $3.8 billion for fiscal 1989. The difference of $700 million would go to NASA for the purpose of building a new space shuttle. The amendment was originally tabled by a vote of 50-46 on May 11, 1988. A nay was a vote supporting the president's position.
(Motion sponsored by Exon, D-NE; Amendment sponsored by Johnston, D-LA; Bill sponsored by Nunn, D-GA)
Motion to reconsider rejected 48-50: R 6-39; D 42-11 on 05/11/1988
- Category: Housing and Property Issues
- FY 1989 HUD Approps.-NASA/UDAG Program
(Complete Information)
Senator John Forbes Kerry voted YES.
HR 4800: A bill making appropriations for the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and for sundry independent agencies and offices, for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1989 and for other purposes.
Vote on an amendment to shift $30 million from NASA to the Urban Development Action Grant [UDAG] program. The program, designed to spur private investment in distressed urban areas was created in 1978.
(Amendment sponsored by Heinz, R-PA; Bill sponsored by Boland, D-MA)
Motion rejected 34-63: R 9-36; D 25-27 on 07/12/1988.
- Category: Welfare and Poverty Issues
- Welfare Overhaul Work Requirement-Tabling Motion
(Complete Information)
Senator John Forbes Kerry voted YES.
S 1511: A bill to amend title IV of the Social Security Act to replace the AFDC program with a comprehensive program of mandatory child support and work training which provides for transitional child care and medical assistance, benefits improvement, and mandatory extension of coverage to two-parent families, and which reflects a general emphasis on shared and reciprocal obligation, program innovation, and organizational renewal.
Vote on a motion to table [kill] an amendment that would require states to require if two-parent families are receiving welfare, at least one parent must work a minimum of 16 hours per week in either subsidized jobs or unpaid community work experience. Among other provisions, the measure would require this stipulation to be in place by 1994. A nay was a vote supporting the president's position.
(Motion sponsored by Monyihan, D-NY; Amendment sponsored by Dole, R-KS; Bill sponsored by Monyihan, D-NY)
Motion rejected 41-54: R 3-40; D 38-14 on 06/16/1988.
- Category: Health Issues
- AIDS Research and Education-Promoting Homosexuality
(Complete Information)
Senator John Forbes Kerry voted YES.
S 1220: A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for a comprehensive program of education, information, risk reduction, training, prevention, treatment, care, and research concerning acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.
Vote on a motion that would table [kill] an amendment that would ban the use of funds for any activities that would promote or encourage, directly, homosexual sexual activity as part of federally funded AIDS information and education programs. The amendment was offered as part of an underlying amendment that would require such AIDS education and research programs to warn that homosexual and bisexual activities, multiple sex partners and intravenous drug use increased one's likelihood of acquiring the AIDS virus.
(Motion sponsored by Kennedy, D-MA; Amendment sponsored by Helms, R-NC; Underlying amendment sponsored by Nickles, R-OK; Bill sponsored by Kennedy)
Tabling motion rejected 22-73: R 7-36; D 15-37 on 04/28/1988
- Catastrophic Health Insurance-Conference Report
(Complete Information)
Senator John Forbes Kerry voted YES.
HR 2470: A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide protection against catastrophic medical expenses under the medicare program, and for other purposes.
Adoption of the conference report on the bill to cap the amounts for which Medicare beneficiaries will be financially liable for Medicare-covered services and to make other changes in the program.
(Bill sponsored by Stark)
Conference Report adopted 86-11: R 34-11; D 52-0 on 06/08/1988.
- Category: Civil Rights
- AIDS Research and Education-Promoting Homosexuality
(Complete Information)
Senator John Forbes Kerry voted YES.
S 1220: A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for a comprehensive program of education, information, risk reduction, training, prevention, treatment, care, and research concerning acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.
Vote on a motion that would table [kill] an amendment that would ban the use of funds for any activities that would promote or encourage, directly, homosexual sexual activity as part of federally funded AIDS information and education programs. The amendment was offered as part of an underlying amendment that would require such AIDS education and research programs to warn that homosexual and bisexual activities, multiple sex partners and intravenous drug use increased one's likelihood of acquiring the AIDS virus.
(Motion sponsored by Kennedy, D-MA; Amendment sponsored by Helms, R-NC; Underlying amendment sponsored by Nickles, R-OK; Bill sponsored by Kennedy)
Tabling motion rejected 22-73: R 7-36; D 15-37 on 04/28/1988
- Civil Rights Restoration Act-Veto Override
(Complete Information)
Senator John Forbes Kerry voted YES.
S 557: A bill to restore the broad scope of coverage and to clarify the application of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, and title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Vote to override President Reagan's March 16 veto, of the bill to provide broad coverage of four civil rights laws by making clear that, if one entity of an institution receives federal funds, the entire institution must abide by the anti-discrimination laws. The bill would overturn a ruling by the Supreme Court in Grove City College v. Bell and applied to Title IX of the 1972 Education Act which barred discrimination on the basis of sex in education programs, and three other laws prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, age or handicap. A nay was a vote supporting the president's position.
(Bill sponsored by Kennedy)
Veto overridden 73-24: R 21-24; D 52-0 on 03/22/1988. A two-thirds majority of those present and voting [65 in this case] of both houses is required to override a veto.