I thought I'd recycle this from Hillary's Senatorial days. If it's an interesting read or you can learn something from it, then read it. If not, don't. We're pretty far removed from her voting days now, of course, but it remains true that there existed some inconsistencies in her record back then. Was she lobbied to vote in these ways? Probably. Does it matter? Can she be bought? IMO the fact that she can is a problem we can afford to examine in the primaries.
We have been told a lot that Hillary has a great voting record. Percentage-wise, according to vote-smart she votes in favor of democratic special interest groups.
But what does she really believe? The significant votes for Hillary - the ones that will really tell us how she would vote as President are the ones where she abandoned her party and voted with the republicans. Many times her vote would be one of the deciding ones since some republicans tend to vote with the democrats. Where have the republicans needed her for a bill and where has she come through?
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How Green is Hillary?
Hillary voted with the majority of republicans and against the majority of democrats to erase ethonol requirements for the east and west coast.
http://projects.washingtonpost.com/....
Hillary voted no with Lieberman and the majority of republicans against eliminating methyl tertiary butyl ether from the US fuel supply.
What is methyl tertiary butyl ether?
Wikki :
Methyl tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE) is a chemical compound with molecular formula C5H12O. MTBE is a volatile, flammable and colorless liquid that is highly soluble in water. MTBE has a minty odour vaguely reminiscent of diethyl ether, leading to unpleasant taste and odour in water. MTBE is a gasoline additive, used as an oxygenate and to raise the octane number, although its use has declined in the United States in response to environmental and health concerns. It has been found to easily pollute large quantities of groundwater when gasoline with MTBE is spilled or leaked at gas stations.
In fact, in three seperate bills, Hillary broke with democrats to vote in favor of the use of this chemical in US fuel.
http://projects.washingtonpost.com/....
Hillary broke with Democrats against ensuring the workers at the Rocky Flats Environmental Technology Site would not receive life insurance, health and life insurance benefits when their environmental work was terminated by the republican majority.
http://projects.washingtonpost.com/....
Hillary broke ranks with the democrats and voted with the majority of republicans to eliminate the requirement of reusable fuel in US gasoline in 2004.
http://projects.washingtonpost.com/....
Hillary voted with republicans for oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico.
http://projects.washingtonpost.com/....
To authorize the State of Virginia to petition for authorization to conduct natural gas exploration and drilling activities in the coastal zone of the State.
Hillary didn't vote
http://projects.washingtonpost.com/....
Is Hillary pro- NAFTA?
Yes, Hillary has made some luke-warm speeches about changing NAFTA. She also voted against the Highly publicized CAFTA bill. But she quietly broke with the majority of democrats in less publicized NAFTA-like bills three times.
United States-Singapore Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act
http://projects.washingtonpost.com/....
United States-Chile Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act
http://projects.washingtonpost.com/....
Free trade - Oman agreement
http://projects.washingtonpost.com/....
Hillary voted in favor of Guatanamo
Hillary voted against the Byrd ammendment and against a large majority of democrats to reduce Guatanamo funding by $36,000,000. She joined the republican majority against the majority of democrats in supporting Guantanamo.
http://projects.washingtonpost.com/....
Hillary is Pro- Plan Columbia Hillary broke with the dems to vote against the Byrd ammendment to modify the number of military personnel and civilians who may be assigned or retained in connection with Plan Colombia.
http://projects.washingtonpost.com/....
(from Wikki)
The most controversial element of the anti-narcotic strategy is aerial fumigation to eradicate coca. This activity has come under fire because it damages legal crops and has adverse health effects upon those exposed to the herbicides. Critics of the initiative also claim that elements within the Colombian security forces, which receive aid and training from it, are involved in supporting or tolerating abuses by right-wing paramilitary forces against the population and left-wing organizations.
Iran again
Hillary voted against the majority of democrats who wanted to limit waiver authority of the president to exempt himself from certain requirements of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 of nuclear materials from India to Iran
http://projects.washingtonpost.com/....
Hillary voted against Special Education Funding
Hillary broke rank with the dems to vote with the republicans against an increase of funding for part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
http://projects.washingtonpost.com/....
Hillary voted against reducing the tax cut to the rich
http://projects.washingtonpost.com/....
Immigration
Hillary broke with the dems to vote in favor of the much derided 700 foot fence
http://projects.washingtonpost.com/....
Bankrupcy bill
While the vote for this bill has probably been the single reason why dems are not supporting Biden, Hillary didn't show up to vote either way.
http://projects.washingtonpost.com/....
How Pro-Choice is Hillary???
We all assume she is pro-choice because she's a woman. But Hillary's absences on Pro-Choice legislation is significant. She was only absent for 6% of her votes but was conspicuously absent when the pro-choice movement could've used her leadership. What she states and whether these statement translate into votes is problematic.
Brownback Amdt. No. 2708; To prevent contributions to organizations that perform or promote abortion as a method of family planning. Hillary NOT VOTING
http://projects.washingtonpost.com/....
Brownback Amdt. No. 2707; To prohibit funding of organizations that support coercive abortion. Hillary NOT VOTING
http://projects.washingtonpost.com/....
These votes are significant in that Hillary voted with the majority of republicans or didn't vote in each of these cases. This is the only record that Hillary has allowed open to the public. We can only look at her Senate record to discern how she will be in Public. The important votes that show how she really stands are the ones where she voted against her party to side with the majority of republicans.
This is only a 'hit diary' if you consider shedding light on a Senator's voting record a 'hit'. I believe we have substantial information about Obama and Edwards' voting records, but very little is said about Hillary's. Since she has been annointed the 'inevitable candidate' and is receiving more lobbyist and PAC money than any other candidate, including the republicans, it is especially important that we know how she will in fact vote.