The House

School Prayer

By a vote of 269 to 135, the House adopted an amendment denying federal vocational training funds to schools that ban student prayer. This occurred as the House passed on a near-unanimous vote, and sent to the Senate, a bill (HR 7) overhauling the major federal law to further vocational education. The amendment seeks to counter U.S. Supreme Court rulings against organized school prayer.

Sponsor William E. Dannemeyer (R-Fullerton) said school prayer “is not a partisan issue. It is something the American public wants to happen overwhelmingly.”

Opponent Don Edwards (D-San Jose) said “the First Amendment of the Constitution is very clear about” keeping government from requiring religion in public schools.

Members voting yes supported the pro-school-prayer amendment.

How They Voted Yea Nay No vote Rep. Beilenson (D) x Rep. Berman (D) x Rep. Gallegly (R) x Rep. Moorhead (R) x Rep. Waxman (D) x

Minimum Wage

By a vote of 247 to 172, the House approved and sent to the Senate the conference report on legislation (HR 2) gradually raising the minimum wage from its present level of $3.35 an hour to $4.55 by October, 1991. President Bush promises to veto any hike to above $4.25, and this vote shows that the House probably cannot muster the two-thirds majority it needs to override a veto.

Supporter James Traficant (D-Ohio) said “our American workers should ride the elevator today, because they’ve been getting the shaft too long.”

Opponent Thomas Petri (R-Wis.) called the conference report “a futile exercise in politics” by lawmakers seeking confrontation with Bush.

Members voting yes want a $4.55 hourly minimum wage.

How They Voted Yea Nay No vote Rep. Beilenson (D) x Rep. Berman (D) x Rep. Gallegly (R) x Rep. Moorhead (R) x Rep. Waxman (D) x

King Holiday Commission

By a vote of 359 to 42, the House sent to President Bush the conference report on legislation (HR 1385) to begin federal funding of the commission that promotes the Martin Luther King Jr. national holiday.

The bill sets an annual budget of $300,000 for the five-year-old agency, $200,000 less than the House authorized last month when it gave the bill initial approval by a vote of 305 to 84.

Members voting yes wanted to begin taxpayer support of the Martin Luther King Jr. Federal Holiday Commission.

How They Voted Yea Nay No vote Rep. Beilenson (D) x Rep. Berman (D) x Rep. Gallegly (R) x Rep. Moorhead (R) x Rep. Waxman (D) x

To Impeach Judge Nixon

By a vote of 417 to 0, the House approved three articles of impeachment against U.S. District Judge Walter L. Nixon Jr. of the Southern District of Mississippi. He will lose his lifetime federal judgeship if the Senate finds him guilty of at least one article.

He is now imprisoned, after being convicted of perjury in 1986 after his was accused of attempting to influence a state criminal case.

Members voting yes voted for impeachment.

How They Voted Yea Nay No vote Rep. Beilenson (D) x Rep. Berman (D) x Rep. Gallegly (R) x Rep. Moorhead (R) x Rep. Waxman (D) x