Following documentation from The New American Magazine 08/08/05

Minimum Wage. During consideration of the bankruptcy overhaul bill (S. 256), Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.) offered an amendment to raise the minimum wage from $5.15 an hour to $7.25 an hour. The minimum wage was last raised in 1996 by 90 cents, a far less ambitious amount than Kennedy’s $2.10 proposed increase. While this proposal may look tempting to many unskilled workers, it would actually make many of them too expensive to hire. The Senate rejected Kennedy’s amendment on March 7, 2005 by a vote of 46-49 (Roll Call 26). Obama voted for this bill. It is unconstitutional for the government to prohibit citizens from working for less than a government set minimum wage. 

Vocational/Technical Training. This legislation, like the House version, would reauthorize the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Act. The Senate version (S. 250) would authorize $1.3 billion for vocational and job training programs. The Senate passed S. 250 on March 10, 2005 by a vote of 99-0 (Roll Call 43). Obama voted for this bill.  Federal aid to education and job training programs is unconstitutional. 

Alaskan Drilling. During consideration of the budget resolution (S. Con. Res. 18), Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) offered an amendment to delete language in the resolution that would allow leases for oil and gas exploration and development in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). Like a similar House amendment, the intent behind this amendment is to continue the ban against drilling for oil and gas in the ANWR. The Senate rejected Cantwell’s amendment on March 16, 2005 by a vote of 49-51 (Roll Call 52). Obama voted for this bill (to continue the ban).  The United States should develop its own energy resources and reduce its dependence on foreign oil. 

Funding Local Law Enforcement. During consideration of the budget resolution (S. Con. Res. 18), Sen. Joseph Biden (D-Del.) offered an amendment to increase funding for the COPS (Community Oriented Policing Services) program by $1 billion. (As described in the amendment’s “Purpose,” this additional funding will be “fully off-set by closing corporate loopholes and will generate $2 billion in revenue” — that is, additional taxes.) The Senate rejected Biden’s amendment on March 17, 2005 by a vote of 45-55 (Roll Call 70). Obama voted for this bill.  Federal aid to local police forces is unconstitutional and invites federal control. 

Funding Special Education. During consideration of the budget resolution (S. Con. Res. 18), Sen. Mark Dayton (D-Minn.) offered an amendment to provide a fund of $71.3 billion for special education programs under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The Senate rejected this amendment on March 17, 2005 by a vote of 37-63 (Roll Call 79). Obama voted for this bill.  Federal funding of education is unconstitutional. 

Abortion. During consideration of the State Department authorization bill (S. 600), Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) offered an amendment to repeal the rule prohibiting U.S. foreign aid from going to organizations that provide or promote abortions. Known as the “Mexico City” policy, this rule was imposed by President Reagan, lifted by President Clinton, and then reinstated by the second President Bush. The Senate adopted Boxer’s amendment on April 5, 2005 by a vote of 52-46 (Roll Call 83). Obama voted for this bill.  Federal aid to provide or promote abortions violates the right to life. 

Supplemental Appropriations. Supplemental Appropriations. The final version (conference report) of this supplemental appropriations bill (H.R. 1268) would add another $82 billion to the federal budget for fiscal 2005. The supplemental spending, even if needed and constitutional, should not have been added on to the annual federal budget after the fact, but should have been included as part of the regular appropriations process. The supplemental spending in this bill includes $75.9 billion for defense-related purposes, most of it for the military occupation of Iraq, and $907 million for tsunami victims, the latter clearly unconstitutional. One particularly objectionable element of this legislation is the REAL ID Act, which was added to the supplemental appropriations bill by the conference committee. The REAL ID Act would authorize the federal government to impose national standards for driver’s licenses and thereby develop a national ID system. The House adopted the final version of H.R. 1268 on May 5, 2005 by a vote of 368-58 (Roll Call 161). The Senate passed identical legislation five days later. This is the final version (conference report) of this legislation. The Senate adopted the conference report on May 10, 2005 by a vote of 100-0 (Roll Call 117). Obama voted for this bill.  The bill contains both unconstitutional spending and the REAL ID Act. 

 Following documentation from The New American Magazine 12/12/05

Nuclear Power Plants in China. During consideration of the foreign aid appropriations bill, Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) introduced this amendment to prohibit the Export-Import Bank, a U.S. government agency, from providing federal loans or loan guarantees for the construction of nuclear power plants in China. The amendment would block federal assistance to the British-owned nuclear division of Westinghouse to build such plants. The Senate rejected Coburn’s amendment on July 19, 2005 by a vote of 37-62 (Roll Call 192). Obama voted against this bill.  Foreign aid programs are unconstitutional. 

Foreign Aid. The Senate version of the foreign aid appropriations bill (H.R. 3057) would provide $31.8 billion in fiscal 2006 for U.S. foreign aid programs. The Senate passed this appropriations bill on July 20, 2005 by a vote of 98-1 (Roll Call 197). Obama voted for this bill.  Foreign aid is unconstitutional.  

Interior-Environment Appropriations. The final version (conference report) of this appropriations bill (H.R. 2361) would provide $26.2 billion in fiscal 2006 for the Interior Department, the Environmental Protection Agency, and related agencies, including $7.7 billion for the EPA. All but roughly $50 million provided in H.R. 2361 is deemed “discretionary” funds. The Senate passed this appropriations bill on July 29, 2005 by a vote of 99-1 (Roll Call 210). Obama voted for this bill.  This bill’s provisions include both unnecessary and unconstitutional spending.  

Surface Transportation. The final version (conference report) of this bill (H.R. 3) would authorize $286.5 billion for federal highway, mass transit, and safety and research programs through fiscal 2009. The bill is laden with thousands of “pork barrel” transportation projects requested by individual lawmakers. The House adopted the final version of this legislation on July 29, 2005 by a vote of 412-8 (Roll Call 453). The Senate adopted the conference report on July 29, 2005 by a vote of 91-4 (Roll Call 220). Obama voted for this bill.  The bill increases transportation spending and is fiscally irresponsible.  

Katrina Hurricane-relief Appropriations.  In the wake of the devastating hurricane disaster in the Gulf Coast, Congress quickly passed legislation that would appropriate $51.8 billion in emergency supplemental funding for fiscal 2005 (H.R. 3673) to be used for relief in the areas affected by Hurricane Katrina. Commenting on how the tragic images of Katrina were used to justify more federal welfare and interventionism, as opposed to private charity and initiatives, Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) noted on September 15, after the House and Senate votes: “These scenes prompted two emotional reactions. One side claims Katrina proved there was not enough government welfare…. The other side claims we need to pump billions of new dollars into the very federal agency that failed (FEMA)…. Both sides support more authoritarianism, more centralization, and even the imposition of martial law in times of natural disasters.” The House passed the Katrina appropriations bill on September 8, 2005 by a vote of 410-11 (Roll Call 460). The Senate passed their versions of H.R. 3673 on the same day. The Senate passed this supplemental appropriations bill on September 8, 2005 by a vote of 97-0 (Roll Call 223). Obama voted for this bill.  Federally financing disaster relief is unconstitutional. 

Funding Law Enforcement. During consideration of the Fiscal 2006 Commerce-Justice-Science appropriations bill (H.R. 2862), Sen. Joseph Biden (D-Del.) offered this amendment to increase funding for the Community Oriented Policing Services program by $1 billion, to increase funding for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children by $10 million, to increase funding for the Office of Violence Against Women by $9 million, and to designate these increases as emergency spending. A point of order was made against the emergency designation based on the Budget Act, and the Senate effectively killed the Biden amendment when it rejected a motion to waive the Budget Act. The vote was 41-56 on September 13, 2005 (Roll Call 226). Obama  voted for this bill.  Providing federal aid to law enforcement programs is not only unconstitutional, but it also further federalizes the police system.   

Agriculture Appropriations. This bill (H.R. 2744) would provide $100.7 billion in fiscal 2006 for the Agriculture Department, the Food and Drug Administration, and related agencies. The funding includes $40.7 billion for the food stamp program, $12.4 billion for school meal programs, and $25.7 billion for the Commodity Credit Corporation, which aids farmers. The Senate passed the Agriculture appropriations bill on September 22, 2005 by a vote of 97-2 (Roll Call 241). Obama voted for this bill.  Federal aid to farmers and federal food aid to individuals are not authorized in the Constitution.  

Minimum Wage Increase. During consideration of the Transportation-Treasury-Housing appropriations bill (H.R. 3058), Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.) offered an amendment to raise the minimum wage from $5.15 an hour to $5.70 an hour six months after the bill’s enactment, and then to $6.25 an hour one year after the bill’s enactment. While raising the minimum wage may sound appealing to some unskilled workers, it would actually make many of them too expensive to hire, and it would also make starting up new companies more expensive. The Senate rejected Kennedy’s amendment on October 19, 2005 by a vote of 47-51 (Roll Call 257). Obama voted for this bill.  It is unconstitutional for the government to prohibit American citizens from working for less than a federally mandated minimum wage.  

Labor-HHS-Education. The Senate version of this mammoth social welfare appropriations bill (H.R. 3010) would provide a total of $604.4 billion in fiscal 2006 for the Labor Department ($15 billion), the Education Department ($63.7 billion), the Health and Human Services Department ($476.2 billion), and related agencies. The Senate passed this massive social welfare bill on October 27, 2005 by a vote of 94-3 (Roll Call 281). Obama voted for this bill.   Social-welfare programs are unconstitutional.  

ANWR Oil and Gas Leasing. During consideration of the budget reconciliation bill (S. 1932), Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) offered an amendment that would delete from the underlying bill language allowing for “the establishment of an oil and gas leasing program in the Coastal Plain” of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) in Alaska. Cantwell’s intent was to keep in place the present ban against drilling for oil and natural gas in the energy-rich ANWR. The Senate rejected the Cantwell amendment on November 3, 2005 by a vote of 48-51 (Roll Call 288). Obama voted for this bill.  The United States should reduce its dependence on foreign oil and develop its own energy resources.   

Following documentation from The New American Magazine 07/10/06  

Agriculture Appropriations. The final version (conference report) of this bill (H.R. 2744) would provide $101 billion in fiscal 2006 for the Department of Agriculture, the Food and Drug Adminis­tration, and related agencies. The funding includes $40.7 billion for the food-stamp program and $25.7 billion for the Com­modity Credit Corporation, a federally funded program that aids farmers. The Senate passed the final version of H.R. 2744 on November 3, 2005 by a vote of 81-18 (Roll Call 282). Obama voted for this bill.   Federal aid to farmers and federal food aid to individuals are not authorized by the Constitution. 

Foreign Aid. The final version (conference report) of this appro­priations bill (H.R. 3057) would provide $21 billion for U.S. foreign aid programs in fiscal 2006. The House passed the final version of this legislation on November 4, 2005 by a vote of 358-39 (Roll Call 569). The Senate passed this appropriations bill on November 10, 2005 by a unanimous vote of 91-0 (Roll Call 320). Obama voted for this bill.   For­eign aid programs are not authorized by the Constitution.  

Patriot Act Reauthorization. This is the final version (confer­ence report) of the Patriot Act reauthori­zation (H.R. 3199). In the weeks follow­ing the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Congress quickly passed the so-called Patriot Act, which gave law enforcement and intelli­gence agencies vast new powers to combat terrorism. The act increased the ability of law enforcement to secretly search home and business records, expanded the FBI’s wiretapping and surveillance authority, and expanded the list of crimes deemed terrorist acts. When passed in 2001 the bill included a “sunset” provision under which the new surveillance powers “shall cease to have effect on December 21, 2005.” The Patriot Act reauthorization bill (H.R. 3199) considered by Congress last year would make permanent 14 of the 16 pro­visions included in the bill, and extend for four years the two remaining provisions. The House passed the final version of the bill to reauthorize the Patriot Act on December 14, 2005 by a vote of 251-174 (Roll Call 627).  The Senate adopted the conference re­port for H.R. 3199 on March 2, 2006 by a vote of 89-10 (Roll Call 29). Obama voted for this bill.   The Patriot Act tramples on the constitution­ally protected rights of U.S. citizens.  

National Debt Limit. This legis­lation (House Joint Resolution 47) would increase the national debt limit, also known as the federal debt limit, to $8.97 trillion, a $781 billion increase in what the federal government is allowed to borrow. The Senate adopted the measure to in­crease the national debt limit on March 16, 2006 by a vote of 52-48 (Roll Call 54). Obama voted for this bill.   Raising the public debt limit by $781 bil­lion facilitates a steady increase of gross fiscal irresponsibility.  

Health and Education Programs. During consideration of the Fiscal 2007 Budget Resolution, Sen. Arlen Spec­ter (R-Pa.) introduced this amendment that would provide for a $7 billion increase in funding for health, education and training, and poverty programs. The Senate passed Specter’s amend­ment on March 16, 2006 by a vote 73-27 (Roll Call 58). Obama voted for this bill.   Federal social-welfare programs are unconstitutional.  

Supplemental Appropriations. This House legislation (H.R. 4939) would appropriate a whopping $91.9 billion for emergency supple­mental funding in fiscal 2006, including $67.6 billion for the wars in Iraq and Af­ghanistan, $4.3 billion for foreign aid, and $19.2 billion for Hurricane Katrina relief. Congressional Quarterly noted that the funding in the bill “for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan would push to more than $390 billion the war-related supplemental funds appropriated since Sept. 11. It would be the sixth major emergency spending measure for the Bush administration.” The House passed H.R. 4939 on March 16, 2006 by a vote of 348-71 (Roll Call 65). The Senate version of H.R. 4939 would appropriate $108.9 billion in emergency supplemental funding in fis­cal 2006, about $17 billion more than the House-passed version. Most of this funding difference is due to the additional Katrina aid the Sen­ate version would provide, $28.9 billion as opposed to $19.2 billion. The Senate passed its version of H.R. 4939 by a vote of 77-21 on May 4, 2006 (Roll Call 112). Obama voted for this bill.   If the spending were constitutional — the funding should be attached to the regular appropriations process and not introduced after the fact as “emergency” spending, ignoring fiscal responsibility.   

Secure Borders Certification. During consideration of the im­migration “reform” legislation (S. 2611), Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.) introduced this amendment that would require the Department of Homeland Security to cer­tify that the U.S. borders are secure and additional detention facilities for illegal aliens are functional before any guest-worker and legalization programs can take effect. The Senate rejected Isakson’s amend­ment on May 16, 2006 by a vote of 40-55 (Roll Call 121). Obama voted against this amendment.  It would have made border security a higher prior­ity than amnesty, but would make it more difficult for the administration to imple­ment amnesty.  

Guest-worker/Amnesty Immi­gration “Reform.” The Senate version of immigration “reform” (S. 2611) would effectively grant amnesty to the 12 million illegal immigrants who already reside in the United States and create a guest-worker program for up to 200,000 immigrants a year. Although S. 2611 may provide additional security at the border, it would also reward those who have broken the law by granting them legal status and establish an immigrant verification system managed by the Department of Homeland Security. The Senate passed S. 2611 on May 25, 2006 by a vote of 62-36 (Roll Call 157). Obama voted for this bill.   The bill would reward those who have unlawfully entered the country with legal status and greatly increase the level of legal immigra­tion through guest-worker programs. The Senate-passed bill is very differ­ent from the House-passed version.  

 Following documentation from The New American Magazine 10/30/06

Minimum Wage. Senator Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.) offered this amendment to the Defense authorization bill (S. 2766). If implemented, the amendment would increase the national minimum wage from $5.15 to $7.25/hour within the next two years. Although a minimum wage increase sounds like an easy way to alleviate poverty in this country, it actually raises poverty. This is true because companies can not afford to hire entry-level workers and train them for careers; companies are forced to lay off workers they presently have on staff; and additional people are added to the welfare roles. The Senate rejected Kennedy’s amendment on June 21, 2006 by a vote of 52-46 (Roll Call 179). Obama voted for this bill.   It is unconstitutional for the government to prohibit citizens from working for less than a government set price.    

Iraq Troop Withdrawal. Senator John Kerry (D-Mass.) attached this amendment to the Defense authorization bill (S. 2766) that would require the president to have a complete withdrawal of U.S. troops by July 2007, with the exception of those needed to train Iraqi troops, target terrorists, and protect American citizens. The Senate rejected Kerry’s amendment on June 22, 2006 by a vote of 13-86 (Roll Call 181). Obama voted against this bill.   Our troops should only be sent to war when necessary to defend the United States and her citizens, and only when declared by Congress.  

First Responder Grants. D u ring consideration for the Homeland Security Appropriations bill (H.R. 5441) Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) proposed an amendment to increase funding for police, firefighters, and other local and state personnel by $16.5 billion. A point of order was raised against Dodd’s amendment based on the Budget Act, and the Senate effectively killed the amendment when it rejected the motion to wave the Budget Act. The vote was 38-62 on July 13, 2006 (Roll Call 197). Obama voted for this bill.   Federal funding of local law enforcement will lead to more federal control of law enforcement. Stem-cell Research. The embryonic stem-cell research bill (H.R. 810) would allow federal funds to be used for research on embryonic stem-cell lines derived from surplus embryos at in vitro fertilization clinics. Such research would be done only by cannibalizing and destroying human embryos. Proponents contend that the research is needed to combat various diseases, but stem cells derived from sources other than embryos may be used to achieve the same results. The Senate passed H.R. 810 by a vote of 63-37 on July 18, 2006 (Roll Call 206). It prompted President Bush to use his veto power for the first time in his presidency. Obama voted for this bill.   Such research would violate the right to life for millions of unborn children.  

Parental Notification. The Child Custody Protection Act (S. 403) would make it a federal crime for a person to transport a minor across state lines for an abortion in order to bypass state laws requiring parental notification. The Senate passed S. 403 by a vote of 65-34 on July 25, 2006 (Roll Call 216). Obama voted against this bill.   Congress can and should use its power to regulate interstate commerce to restrict abortion.   

Offshore Drilling. Sen. Pete Domenici (R-N.M.) sponsored a bill (S. 3711) that would authorize oil drilling in the 8.3 million acres of the eastern Gulf of Mexico. The Senate would allow much less offshore drilling than the House-passed legislation, however, it would still be a step in the right direction. The Senate passed S. 3711 on August 1, 2006 by a vote of 71-25 (Roll Call 219). Obama voted against this bill.   The United States should reduce its dependency on foreign oil and utilize its own energy resources.  

Oman Trade Pact. Although the Senate voted on the Oman free trade agreement (H.R. 5684) in June, it had to clear identical legislation that originated in the House. The Senate passed H.R. 5684 on September 19 by a vote of 62-32 (Roll Call 250). Obama voted for this bill.   Such trade agreements damage the U.S. economy and threaten U.S. sovereignty by the imposition of international regulations.  

Following documentation from The New American Magazine 07/23/07

Grass-roots Lobbying. During consideration of the ethics and lobbying overhaul bill (S. 1), Senator Robert Bennett (R-Utah) offered this amendment that would strike Section 220, a provision that would subject grass-roots lobbying groups to strict disclosure requirements, from the bill. The bill caused a firestorm of controversy from grass-roots activists who saw this bill as a threat to the freedom of speech. Commenting on Section 220, LifeNews.com reported, “If this provision is enacted, many ordinary citizens will get less and less information from pro-life groups and other issue-oriented organizations about what is going on in Congress.” The Senate adopted the Bennett amendment by a vote of 55-43 (Roll Call 17) on January 18, 2007 Obama voted against this bill.   It would preserve the right of free speech for grass-roots organizations to inform the public about events on Capitol Hill without subjecting them to repressive regulatory controls.  

Minimum Wage. The minimum wage bill (H.R. 2) would raise the federal minimum wage from $5.15 to $7.25 an hour over the course of two years. The bill would also provide $8.3 billion in small-business tax incentives. The House passed its version of H.R. 2 on January 10. The Senate passed the minimum-wage increase by a vote of 94-3 (Roll Call 42) on February 1, 2007. Obama voted for this bill.   It is unconstitutional to prohibit citizens from working for less than a government-set wage.  

Repeal Estate Tax. During consideration of the fiscal 2008 budget resolution (Senate Concurrent Resolution 21), Senator Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) offered an amendment that would make the phased out repeal of the estate tax (also known as the “death tax”) permanent. Under current law, the death tax will be phased out by 2010, but because of a “sunset” provision the tax will only be eliminated for a single year before being reinstituted. The tax has forced many asset rich but cash-poor individuals to liquidate family farms, small businesses, and private property rather than bequeath those assets to loved ones. The Senate rejected the De-Mint amendment by a vote of 44-55 (Roll Call 109) on March 23, 2007. Obama voted against this bill.   Repealing the estate tax would be a constitutional tax cut that would benefit all Americans who would be subject to estate taxes again in 2011 and all subsequent years according to current tax law.  

COPS Funding. Joseph Biden (D-Del.) offered an amendment to the fiscal 2008 budget resolution (Senate Concurrent Resolution 21) that would authorize a $1.2 billion increase in federal funds to support the Community-Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program. The Senate passed the Biden amendment by a vote of 65-33 (Roll Call 110) on March 23, 2007. Obama voted for this bill.   Providing federal aid to local law enforcement programs is not only unconstitutional, but it also further federalizes the police system.  

Budget Resolution. The 2008 budget resolution (House Concurrent Resolution 21) would authorize nearly $2.9 TRILLON for fiscal 2008, a nearly $150 billion increase from fiscal 2007. The Senate adopted the fiscal 2008 budget resolution by a vote of 52-47 (Roll Call 114) on March 23, 2007. Obama voted for this bill.   Congress must not continue to support massive amounts of irresponsible and unconstitutional spending. 

Embryonic Stem-cell Research. The stem-cell research bill (S. 5), introduced by Senator Harry Reid (D-Nev.), would overturn the 2001 ban on federally funding embryonic stem-cell research with federal dollars. S. 5 would fund the research, experimentation, and destruction of human embryos donated from in vitro fertilization clinics. The Senate passed Reid’s stem-cell research bill by a vote of 63-34 (Roll Call 127) on April 11, 2007. Obama voted for this bill.   The bill violates the right to life for millions of unborn babies.  

Supplemental Spending — Conference Report.   The final version (conference report) of this supplemental appropriations bill (H.R. 1591) would provide an additional $124.2 billion for the previous fiscal year (fiscal 2007), over and above previous appropriations. Although the bill would set a timetable for the withdrawal of American troops in Iraq, it would also authorize an additional $95.5 billion to carry out military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Additionally, this seemingly catchall bill also would raise the federal minimum wage to $7.25 an hour and provide nearly $5 billion in small-business incentives. Even if the spending in this supplemental bill were constitutional, it should have been added to the federal budget in the annual appropriations process. The House passed H.R. 1591 on April 25, 2007, by a vote of 218-208 (Roll Call 265). It contains an enormous amount of unconstitutional spending, raised the federal minimum wage, and authorized money for the Iraq War, which itself was never authorized by Congress under Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution. The Senate passed the same legislation the next day and President Bush, who wanted the war funding, vetoed it because of the troop-withdrawal provision. The Senate passed the final version of H.R. 1591 by a vote of 51-46 (Roll Call 147) on April 26, 2007. Obama voted for this bill.      

Amnesty for Illegal Immigrants. David Vitter (R-La.) offered this amendment to Ted Kennedy’s substitute amendment (S. Amdt. #1150) for the immigration reform bill of 2007 (S. 1348). The Vitter amendment would drastically alter the scope of the immigration bill by striking an amnesty provision from the bill that would establish the Z visa, which would be issued to millions of illegal immigrants, placing them on a path toward citizenship. The Senate rejected the Vitter amendment by a vote of 29-66 (Roll Call 180) on May 24, 2007 Obama voted against this bill.   The Vitter amendment would prevent those who have entered the United States unlawfully from gaining legal status, also known as amnesty.

 Immigration Reform — Cloture. Attempting to end debate and force a final vote on so-called immigration reform, Senator Harry Reid (D-Nev.) invoked a motion for cloture on Ted Kennedy’s Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007 (S. 1639). Kennedy’s bill, also known as the “grand compromise” on immigration reform, was arrived at through negotiation between the Bush administration and Senate leaders. The Kennedy bill would, among other things, create an enhanced guest-worker program, call for the acceleration of the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America, and establish the Z visa, which would grant amnesty by placing illegal immigrants on a path toward citizenship. The vote on cloture would reveal whether or not the Senate had enough votes to force a vote on final passage of S. 1639. The Senate rejected the motion to invoke cloture by a vote of 46-53 (Roll Call 235) on June 28, 2007 (60 votes are required to invoke cloture). Obama voted for this bill.     Cloture would have ended floor debate on the Kennedy bill and enabled a vote by the full Senate on this dangerous piece of legislation.

 Following documentation from The New American Magazine 12/10/07

Funding the REAL ID Act (National ID). During consideration of the Homeland Security appropriations bill, Representative Brian Bilbray (R-Calif.) offered an amendment to reallocate $150 million of the bill’s funding to provide grant money for assisting states in conforming to the REAL ID Act of 2005. The REAL ID Act requires all states to issue standardized driver’s licenses that would serve as national ID cards. It was supposed to go into effect three years after the enactment of the act, but because of resistance from the states, the deadline has been extended to 2010 for states that request an extension. Once enacted, a federal agency would not be allowed to accept for any official purpose a driver’s license or ID card issued by a state that fails to meet the act’s requirements. The House rejected the Bilbray amendment by a vote of 155-268 (Roll Call 479) on June 15, 2007. Obama voted for this bill.     The act would effectively create a national ID card. 

Foreign Intelligence Surveillance. This bill (S. 1927) would allow warrantless electronic surveillance (eavesdropping) of targets outside the United States regardless of whether they are communicating with someone within the United States. This surveillance had been conducted illegally by the CIA. Under this legislation, communications companies would be required to comply with surveillance requests and would be provided lawsuit protections. The House passed S. 1927 by a vote of 227-183 (Roll Call 836) on August 4, 2007. Obama voted for this bill.     Warrantless surveillance of American citizens is a violation of the Fourth Amendment provision against “unreasonable searches and seizures.” Although the bill includes a sunset provision causing it to expire after six months, President Bush has already called for making the bill permanent.