Marylanders votes on Obama budget
I just got a phone call from a reader wondering how Maryland's congressmen voted on Obama's budget last week. We reported it in the paper and on the Web at the time, but in case anyone else is wondering:
Voting yes:
Cummings
Edwards
Hoyer
Ruppersberger
Sarbanes
VanHollen
Voting no:
Bartlett
Kratovil
Paul West from our D.C. bureau reported at the time:
Bartlett and Kratovil were the only House members from Maryland to vote against Obama's budget. Both criticized it as too expensive.In defending his vote, Kratovil said that hard-pressed American families are "sacrificing some of the things they have become accustomed to" and criticized the president for failing to make tough choices that reflect similar sacrifices.
Comments
So Frank Kratovil voted for the bailout, but against the budget? Aye carumba. Make up your mind, Congressman.
Posted by: Wowsers | April 13, 2009 3:17 PM
Wowsers, there's a lot more to the budget deficit than bailout money. I'm no fan of Kratovil, but at least the TARP money was structured so that the government would get its money back.
Posted by: Paul | April 13, 2009 5:48 PM
Good for you Frank! Good for you! Thanks for a legitimate vote not a partisan one!
Posted by: Melissa | April 13, 2009 10:43 PM
Wowsers: you are confused. Bailout = TARP = $ for banks. Kratovil wasn't around at the end of last Congress to vote for the bailout. He did vote AGAINST the release of the second wave of $350 billion for TARP.
I think you mean the stimulus - not bailout.
Either way it would be interesting to hear you explain how these votes indicate to you that he "can't make up his mind." Those bills all do different things.
Posted by: Johnny | April 14, 2009 7:31 AM