Pete Sessions votes against public transportation

Once again, Pete Sessions found himself among the minority in Congress who voted against H.R.6052, "To promote increased public transportation use, to promote increased use of alternative fuels in providing public transportation, and for other purposes." The bill passed 322 - 98 (See Roll Call No. 467)

Pete Sessions votes "no" on Medicare bill

Yesterday, the House passed H.R. 6331 by a veto-proof majority, "To amend titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act to extend expiring provisions under the Medicare Program, to improve beneficiary access to preventive and mental health services, to enhance low-income benefit programs, and to maintain access to care in rural areas, including pharmacy access, and for other purposes." What this bill does is block further cuts to Medicare reimbursements. The bill is supported by just about everybody but insurance company lobbyists who want to eviscerate Medicare in favor of more privatization.

The bill passed 355 - 59, Pete Sessions being one of the 59 who voted against it.

The bill is supported by the American Medical Association; in this op-ed, AMA President Nancy H. Nielsen, MD urges the Senate to follow suit by passing a veto-proof bill:

"Today, we stand at the brink of a Medicare meltdown. On July 1 — just five days from now — the government will slash Medicare physician payments by 10.6 percent.

"This cut would force 60 percent of doctors to limit the number of new Medicare patients they treat. More than half of doctors say they'd need to cut staff, and 14 percent say they'd quit patient care altogether...

..."The House made this critical issue a top priority. On Tuesday, the House of Representatives acted decisively to pass this legislation — H.R. 6331 — by an overwhelming, veto-proof, bipartisan margin of 355 to 59.

"Now, it's the Senate's turn to consider this same legislation. We urge the Senate to act today - before their Fourth of July recess — to stop these cuts and allow Medicare to keep its promise to America's seniors.

"We can't put patients into limbo —where their physicians are forced to make no-win decisions just to keep their office doors open. Medicare patients deserve better from Washington! And frankly, so do those who care for Medicare patients.

"We've made a diagnosis. The treatment is clear. The House has prepped the patient. Now the Senate needs to administer the cure.

"Access to Medicare for our patients — among them some of the most vulnerable of our family, friends and neighbors — hangs in the balance. There's a lot at stake, and today the physicians of America call on the Senate to do the right thing for the Greatest Generation."

Pete Sessions: "...the energy companies are our friends."

Just saw this, from Think Progress--it's Pete Sessions speaking on the House floor on behalf of his friends in the oil industry:

SESSIONS: "What do we hear back from Washington, DC? … “Let’s stick it to Big Oil!” Well, in fact, what we ought to be saying is that energy companies are our friends. … What are the energy companies saying? They’re saying please give us the opportunity to go where there is oil or the perception that there’s oil and go looking for it and provide it to the American public."

The energy companies are certainly friends of Pete Sessions. Since 2004, Sessions has received over $330,000 from the oil and gas industry. In return, Sessions is aggressively promoting greater oil drilling. But as the Energy Information Administration states, increased drilling in the outer continental shelf will have an “insignificant” impact on oil prices.

Video at this link.

House votes to override Bush veto of farm bill--Pete Sessions votes "no"

Yesterday, the House voted to override Bush's veto of H.R. 6124, "To provide for the continuation of agricultural and other programs of the Department of Agriculture through fiscal year 2012, and for other purposes." Even our two pro-Bush Senators, Kay Bailey Hutchison and John Cornyn voted in favor of overriding Bush's veto of their Senate bill. The slim minority who voted against this bill is illustrated by this map, by Congress.org. Notice that Texas voted against President Bush, putting us with the majority of the country. Only Utah, Wyoming and Wisconsin are in the president's column, along with Pete Sessions and a handful of Texas congressmen. (See Roll Call 417).

Pete Sessions clinging to McCain's coattails

From Dallas Morning News:

Dallas-area Republicans need Mr. McCain, the presumptive GOP nominee, to be a powerful draw at the top of their ticket...

..."He's going to bring us all together," Rep. Pete Sessions , R-Dallas, said of Mr. McCain. "He will win Texas."

The question for Mr. Sessions and others who attended the fundraiser is: Can Mr. McCain win Dallas County?

... Every county Republican's chances hinge on whether Mr. McCain can be competitive here.

In 2006, straight-ticket voting, among other things, helped doom Republicans such as former County Judge Margaret Keliher. She was swept out of office by little-known Democrat Jim Foster.

George W. Bush narrowly carried Dallas County in the last two presidential contests. And he was a Texan running in years when the Republican brand was not tarnished.

And only now are Texas Republicans rallying around Mr. McCain in earnest, with most saying Mr. Obama would be a worse alternative.

The primary contest, though, showed Mr. Obama is most dominant in areas like Dallas and Harris counties.

The Democratic, independent and new voters he brings to the polls could wash away any McCain momentum...

At the beginning, Pete Sessions supported Giulianni, which caused quite a stir among right-wing purists who asked why a staunch pro-life congressman would support a left-of-center candidate. This blog post from the right-wing Human Events Online indicate that hard-R voters in this district are getting tired of Pete Sessions:

Pete Session[s] is my Congressman, and believe me, he'll sell out the social conservatives at the drop of a hat for personal gain. Rudy Giuliani must have offered him a top job in exchange for delivering the pro-life vote. After he wins, Rudy will do his usual pro-choice thing, Pete Sessions will get a top appointment, and both will hope the social conservatives forget all the campaign promises...

Now, Pete Sessions is counting on McCain's popularity in Dallas County to carry him back to the Congress, a county that went Democratic in 2006 and is increasingly turning away from anybody connected with Bush.

Pete Sessions chickens out on impeachment vote

In a previous blog post, Pete Sessions was quoted as saying, "Everybody hates George Bush," but apparently, "hating" him only goes so far. Pete Sessions was given an opportunity to cast a vote on impeachment, but chickened out. He was one of only 16 House members who declined to go on record one way or the other. (H. Res. 1258, Roll No. 401. The resolution passed 251-166, to send it on to the Judiciary Committee.

Pete Sessions votes 'no' to Amtrak

Yesterday, the House passed H.R. 6003, Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008 by a veto-proof majority of 311 yeas to 104 nays, with Pete Sessions, of course, being one of the nay-sayers. (See Roll No. 400. From Southern Mississippi's Sun-Herald:

The House on Wednesday approved a large investment in passenger rail service by re-authorizing Amtrak with $14.9 billion for capital and operating grants, state intercity passenger grants, and high-speed rail over the next five years, including proposed corridors in Texas and Mississippi...

...Unlike past battles, the House debate was overwhelmingly positive as members cited the high cost of gasoline and the need to provide national rail service in support of the bill.

"Given this energy and congestion crisis, Americans need transportation solutions that are affordable, accessible and environmentally sustainable - and that is what Amtrak and high-speed rail can offer," said House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman James Oberstar, D-Minn. "One full passenger train can take 250 to 350 cars off the road."

...Rep. Pete Sessions, R-Dallas, proposed eliminating the Sunset Limited altogether - which now connects Los Angeles to New Orleans - because of its high costs but the amendment was soundly defeated with 150 in favor and 275 against.