Bailout bill: See how your reps voted

Washington — Two of Georgia’s congressmen were among the vote switchers Friday when the House of Representatives passed the historic $700 billion rescue plan to stabilize financial markets. The final vote was 263-171.

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Reps. John Lewis and David Scott, both Atlanta Democrats, voted for the measure, which came before the House for the second time this week. Both had voted “no” last Monday when the House rejected a similar measure.

“I have decided the cost of doing nothing is greater than the cost of doing something,” Lewis said. “The fear that is gripping Wall Street has the power to shut down Main Street.”

Lewis spoke not long after published reports said he had been called by Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama urging him to vote for the bill.

Scott, who as a member of the House Financial Committee helped draft the bill, said he changed his vote after he won assurances of more help to homeowners facing foreclosures.

He said new language in the bill “forces the Secretary of the Treasury to take a more aggressive strategy to restructure troubled mortgages.”

Scott added that small businesses in Atlanta “started running out of short term loan options” and would have been faced with cutting payrolls without action to steady the credit markets.

Also voting for the bill were Reps. Sanford Bishop of Albany and Jim Marshall of Macon, both Democrats who were the only Georgians to vote for the proposal when it came up four days ago.

Georgia’s seven House Republicans continued to vote solidly against the $700 billion plan, which has been so unpopular among the public that e-mails and phone calls, most of them in opposition, have strained the Capitol Hill computers and telephone systems close to the breaking point.

The Georgia GOP members did not engage in the Friday House debate, but all have criticized the proposal for inserting the federal government into private markets.

HOW THE DELEGATION VOTED:

John Barrow, Democrat, of Savannah: No

Sanford Bishop, Democrat of Albany: Yes

Paul Broun, Republican of Athens: No

Nathan Deal, Republican of Gainesville: No

Phil Gingrey, Republican of Marietta: No

Hank Johnson, Democrat of Lithonia: No

Jack Kingston, Republican of Savannah: No

John Lewis, Democrat of Atlanta: Yes

John Linder, Republican of Duluth: No

Jim Marshall, Democrat of Macon: Yes

Tom Price, Republican of Roswell: No

David Scott, Democrat of Atlanta: Yes

Lynn Westmoreland, Republican of Grantville: No

Comments

By phillip

Oct 10, 2008 8:23 PM | Link to this

Another thing. It seems that all the illigal issue,s are gone. even though you paid $340 billion for thier welfare in 2007. What about this year. If each one of the twenty million or so, don,t buy 10 gallon of gas this year, how much gas could you save, or food stamps that cost you?? Think about it.

By nana

Oct 4, 2008 8:54 PM | Link to this

This bailout ticks me and my family off. I think we all need to realize that just because our rep voted no doesn't necessarily mean he/she wouldn't have voted yes. They simply watched the vote count and once the votes needed were obtained they then voted no. You could see this happen if you watched the vote. As soon as there were enough votes for the #(%# thing to pass it was unbelieveable how many "nay" votes were then cast and in an unbelievably quick time. I say vote everyone of them out and start with new. They should have known this was going on before it got to this point. Vote them out and push for term limits.

By Charles

Oct 4, 2008 2:14 PM | Link to this

I have voted for Senator Chambliss, Senator Isackson, and Congressman Gingrey in every election; however, I will vote against Chambliss this year and against Isackson the next time he runs. When I got home from work yesterday I called Congressman Gingrey�s office in Marietta and thanked him for voting against the Big Banker�s Bailout and asked them for a yard sign. I have voted for Gingrey before but my support was only lukewarm. I told his aid that had Gingrey voted for this bailout I would have voted against him. Now he will have a sign in my yard and I will do all I am able to see that he is re-elected.

By American with a brain

Oct 4, 2008 9:38 AM | Link to this

It's a lack of government intervention along with greed and excess that got us into this mess. Real estate and mortgage lenders had free reign with little or no oversight or control over their lending practices. Borrowers went way over their heads unchecked. Banks packaged up the mess, insurers gave it a good rating and they sold it across the world.

So with the credit markets being left to their own devices they have almost completely frozen up...so much for letting the markets work it out. The private sector "hands-off" policy isn't working at present and hasn't been working for the past year.

I don't think some people understand that the credit markets ARE FROZEN in shock and need to be revived.

By Jerry

Oct 4, 2008 9:30 AM | Link to this

Yea, Saxby is an elitist. He has his own adjenda, and will listen to me, but also ignore my suggestions. I won't be voting for him again.

By Know the issue

Oct 4, 2008 9:26 AM | Link to this

To David Duke & Frank Oliver - you are an embarrassment to this state, the south, and this country. Accept the fact Obama has more grace and honor than you could ever dream of. To everyone else who wants to vote against someone who voted for the bill. Chances are great you weren't going to vote vote for them anyway. That said, try to get a deeper understanding of the impact of NOT passing this bill would have meant. None of us like the idea of the government stepping in, but to not do anything would have hurt all of us, not Wall Streeters, more than we can bear. Look at your own 401K or retirement fund and see how much not passing it the first time has cost you. Take that astounding number and multiply if a thousand times. We all could have stood the chance of completely losing all our retirement. I am not at an age I can afford to rebuild, maybe you are. But it is reckless to hurt all of us because of your ideology. Not passing this bill would have meant people losing jobs at a rate we have never seen, small companies closing because they can't make payroll, retirement funds losing years of value to retirees now and in the future. We are right now in a situation where it will take until 2015 to recover. Everybody needs to tighten their belts, and prepare for some very lean years even with it passing. Doing nothing was not an option we could afford unless you do not understand the economic engine in this country.

By Pat Woodard

Oct 4, 2008 8:44 AM | Link to this

October 4, 2008

Senator Chambliss,

The nationalization of our financial institutions by the US Congress this week, is so foreign to the role and purpose of the Federal government that this Republican is nauseated by its mere existence.

This sellout of such vast proportion denotes the arrogance of the current congress and in my estimation all of today's Washington politicians. This is the sheer use of unbridled power used against the citizens of this country for a truly destructive purpose.
My regard for you sir has plummeted as you joined the unreasoned panic. This rush to "do something" plays into the self serving hands of Wall Street, protects the perpetrators of who caused this, and crushes our Capitalistic systems.

Please give your loyal constituents (I WAS ONE) an explanation for your terrible decision on this issue. Your website statement rings hollow for me and so typically empty of substance or thought.

Congressman Tom Price at least did not disappoint me as did you and Senator Isakson with your votes. Price at least has the courage to abide by his beliefs and his vow to protect the Constitution.

I told my wife before hand that I could never vote for anyone who would vote for such a measure, and now I will be true to MY word.

Respectfully,

Pat Woodard
Sitting it out in Alpharetta

Suggested reading: �Profiles in Courage� by John Kennedy, 1959

CC: Sen. Isakson, Cong. Price

By Glenn

Oct 4, 2008 8:27 AM | Link to this

This bailout bill is nothing more than another prop-up for the economy. We should be in a recession now, which we would eventually return from.... if the markets were left alone to follow their natural cycles. Now we are looking forward to a depression.... thanks Wall Street! thanks Congress!

By jeff

Oct 4, 2008 7:47 AM | Link to this

who is the biggest criminal.wallsteet,banks,or the lack of goverment oversight. Who's the biggest losser? None of the above. I fell so used and lied to by the goverment then and now. I think this is a way the goverment buy's property way under value with our money . only to sell it year later for a profit. You think that help middle america. think again.

By Mike (mere citizen)

Oct 4, 2008 3:06 AM | Link to this

Thank you Mr.Price and Mr.Gingrey...you obviously were listening to the people that elected you to your offices...we look forward to your future representation of "the peoples"desires and concerns...God bless you...but...Mr.Chambliss and Mr. Isakson were not wearing their hearing aids!!

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