Here’s how members of Congress from Arizona voted on major issues in the week ending March 3.
HOUSE
Review of Presidential Tax Returns: The House on Feb. 27 killed, 229-185, a Democratic push for the Ways and Means Committee to review President Trump’s tax returns for 2006 through 2015 and report its findings to the full House, in a check for any information on financial conflicts of interest and ties to Russians. A yes vote was to kill the motion.
Voting yes: Martha McSally, R-Congressional District 2, Paul Gosar, R-CD4, Andy Biggs, R-CD5, David Schweikert, R-CD 6, Trent Franks, R-CD 8.
Voting no: Tom O’Halleran, D-CD1, Ruben Gallego, D-CD7, Kyrsten Sinema, D-CD9.
Not voting: Raul Grijalva, D-CD3.
Commission to Prune Regulations: The House on March 1 voted, 240-185, to set up a commission with subpoena powers and a $6 million annual budget to review federal regulations and target for repeal those seen as outdated and too costly. A yes vote was to pass a GOP bill (HR 998) aimed mainly at repealing federal regulations on U.S. companies.
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Yes: O’Halleran, McSally, Gosar, Schweikert, Franks, Sinema.
No: Grijalva, Biggs, Gallego.
Presidential Conflicts of Interest: The House on March 1 refused, 190-235, to exempt from the reach of HR 998 (above) any regulations aimed at preventing financial conflicts of interest by employees and officials of the executive branch, including President Trump. A yes vote was to adopt the Democratic motion.
Yes: O’Halleran, Grijalva, Gallego, Sinema.
No: McSally, Gosar, Biggs, Schweikert, Franks.
Oversight of Independent Agencies: The House on March 1 voted, 241-184, to require independent federal agencies, for the first time, to submit proposed regulations to review by the White House’s Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs. A yes vote was to send HR 1009 to the Senate.
Yes: McSally, Gosar, Biggs, Schweikert, Franks, Sinema.
No: O’Halleran, Grijalva, Gallego.
Office of Government Ethics: The House on March 1 defeated, 193-234, a Democratic bid to exempt the Office of Government Ethics, an independent agency, from the reach of HR 1009. The office was created in 1978 in response to the Watergate scandal. A yes vote backed the motion.
Yes: O’Halleran, Grijalva, Gallego, Sinema.
No: McSally, Gosar, Biggs, Schweikert, Franks.
Worker Injury Records: The House on March 1 killed, 231-191, a rule on the length of time firms must keep updated worker injury records for review by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. A yes vote backed retention for six months rather than the five years set by the rule. (HJ Res 83)
Yes: McSally, Gosar, Biggs, Schweikert, Franks, Sinema.
No: O’Halleran, Grijalva, Gallego.
Clampdown on Regulations: The House on March 2 voted, 246-176, to impose new transparency and disclosure obligations, including internet postings, on federal agencies as they gather public comments on proposed new regulations. A yes vote was to send the bill (HR 1004) to the Senate.
Yes: O’Halleran, McSally, Gosar, Biggs, Schweikert, Franks, Sinema.
No: Grijalva, Gallego.
Transparency for Presidential Finances: The House on March 2 defeated, 189-232, an attempt by Democrats to hold President Trump to the same transparency and disclosure standards in his personal finances as HR 1004 would require of federal agencies as they develop new regulations. A yes vote was to adopt the Democratic motion.
Yes: O’Halleran, Grijalva, Gallego, Sinema.
No: McSally, Gosar, Biggs, Schweikert, Franks.
Senate
Wilbur Ross Confirmation: The Senate on Feb. 27 confirmed, 72-27, Wilbur L. Ross as the 40th U.S. secretary of commerce. Ross, 79, became a billionaire by restructuring troubled firms in fields such as textiles and coal, often sending jobs abroad and utilizing foreign trade deals he now will help to rewrite. A yes vote was to confirm.
Voting yes: John McCain, R, Jeff Flake, R.
Ryan Zinke Confirmation: The Senate on March 1 confirmed, 68-31, Ryan Zinke, 55, a GOP congressman from Montana, as the 52nd U.S. secretary of the interior. A yes vote backed Zinke over criticism of his anti-environment voting record and support of expanded oil and gas drilling on federal land.
Yes: McCain, Flake.
Ben Carson Confirmation: The Senate on March 2 confirmed, 58-41, Ben Carson, 65, a retired neurosurgeon and former GOP presidential candidate, as secretary of housing and urban development. A yes vote backed Carson over objections to putting a newcomer to government who questions the social safety-net in charge of HUD’s $47 billion annual budget and 8,300 employees.
Yes: McCain, Flake.
Rick Perry Confirmation: The Senate on March 2 voted, 62-37, to confirm Rick Perry, a former Texas governor, as secretary of the Department of Energy. Perry, 67, now leads a department he wanted to eliminate when he ran for president in 2012. A yes vote was to confirm Perry.
Yes: McCain, Flake
