Dave Reichert says he’s “on board” with President Barack Obama’s new agenda for America. And during his campaign, Reichert claimed to be an independent with an open mind who’s not afraid to cross party lines.
But is he really?
The purpose of The Reichert Resource is to track Dave’s voting record to see whether Dave walks his talk, or whether he just does what John Boehner and House Republican leadership tells him to.
Votes in blue are positive votes that will benefit the 8th District. Votes in red are negative votes against the values of the people of Washington State and the 8th District.
So far, Dave Reichert’s record doesn’t look very encouraging.
2009-2010 Voting Record: Major Votes in the 111th Congress
Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act (H.R. 2). January 14th, 2009. The House of Representatives passed a bill to reauthorize federal funding for health insurance to states through 2013, by a vote of 289-139. Previous SCHIP legislation had been vetoed by George W. Bush. Dave Reichert voted YES. See Roll Call #16.
Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act (S. 181). January 27th, 2009. The House of Representatives passed a bill to ensure women receive fair pay in the workplace by a vote of 250-177, later signed into law by President Barack Obama. Dave Reichert voted NO. See Roll Call #37.
Amtrak funding (H. Amndt. 18 to H.R. 1). January 28th, 2009. The House of Representatives defeated a Republican amendment (offered by Jeff Flake of Arizona) to remove $800 million in capital funding for Amtrak, America’s passenger rail system, by a vote of 116-320. Dave Reichert voted YES in favor of gutting the Amtrak money. See Roll Call #43.
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (H.R. 1). January 28th, 2009. The House of Representatives passed an economic stimulus package requested by President Barack Obama by a vote of 244-188. All Republicans, including Dave Reichert, voted NO. See Roll Call #46.
Digital Television Delay Act (S. 352). February 4th, 2009. The House of Representatives passed a Senate bill to delay the government mandated shutoff of analog broadcasts until June 12th, 2009 by a vote of 264-158. This legislation, requested by President Obama, will give consumers extra time to get their TV sets ready for digital only broadcasts if they do not have cable or satellite. Dave Reichert voted NO. See Roll Call #52.
Final Passage of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (H.R. 1). February 13th, 2009. The House of Representatives passed the final version of an $787 billion economic stimulus package requested by President Barack Obama by a vote of 246-183. All Republicans, including Dave Reichert, voted NO. See Roll Call #70 .
Omnibus Appropriations Act (H.R. 1105). February 25th, 2009. The House of Representatives passed an $410 billion emergency appropriations bill to rescue federal agencies that are running out of money by a vote of 245-176. H.R. 1105 would strengthen oversight by the independent Government Accountability Office, temporarily freeze Congressional salaries and increase funding for the Securities & Exchange Commission, public schools, healthcare, scientific research, renewable energy, efforts to fight air and water pollution, worker retraining, and food safety. It would also make it easier for Americans to travel to Cuba. Dave Reichert voted YES. See Roll Call #86.
Bankruptcy and mortgage protection for homeowners (H.R. 1106). February 26th, 2009. The House of Representatives agreed to debate rules for a bill that would allow bankruptcy court judges to relax the terms of a mortgage if a household files for Chapter 13 bankruptcy protection by a vote of 224-198. The bill would also permanently raises the level of deposits protected by the FDIC and NCUA from $100,000 to $250,000 in savings, checking, and certificate of deposit accounts. Dave Reichert voted NO to prevent the bill from advancing. See Roll Call #89.
Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act (S. 386). May 6th, 2009. The House of Representatives, by a vote of 367 to 59, passed a bill to give the Department of Justice new powers to combat fraud in the use of Troubled Assets Relief Program funds, force Wall Street to be more accountable for mortgage and corporate fraud, and creates a Financial Markets Inquiry Commission to find out what caused the financial crisis. Dave Reichert voted YES. See Roll Call #235.