December 21, 2015
In this MegaVote for Hawaii's 1st & 2nd Congressional Districts:
Recent Congressional Votes
- Senate: Tax Extenders and Omnibus Appropriations -- Passage
- House: Tax Extenders -- Adoption
- House: Omnibus Appropriations -- Adoption
Editor's Note: The First Session of the 114th Congress adjourned sine die. The Second Session is scheduled to convene on January 4, 2016.
Recent Senate Votes
Tax Extenders and Omnibus Appropriations -- Passage - Vote Agreed to (65-33, 2 Not Voting)
The Senate cleared legislation that retroactively renews for the current 2015 tax year most of the expired provisions and further extends them for varying periods, including by making more than a dozen permanent and extending most others for two years (2015 and 2016). Those made permanent include taxpayers being able to deduct state and local sales taxes in lieu of state and local income taxes, the research and development tax credit, Section 179 capital expensing for businesses, and expanded versions of the child tax credit, Earned Income Tax Credit and American Opportunity Tax Credit for college expenses. It also includes a two-year moratorium on the medical device tax created by the 2010 health care overhaul law. The chamber adopted an amendment that funds government operations through September 30, 2016, at about $1.149 trillion in discretionary spending. It also ends the U.S. ban on crude oil exports; reauthorizes the 9/11 first-responder health care and victim compensation programs; reauthorizes U.S. intelligence programs and provides for a voluntary cybersecurity information-sharing process between the government and the private sector; requires individuals who have been in certain nations, such as Syria and Iraq, to get regular visas that involve in-person interviews with U.S. officials in order to enter the United States. It also includes several other tax provisions, including delaying for two years the health care law's tax on certain high-value employer-sponsored health insurance plans and phaseouts of wind and solar energy tax credits.
Sen. Brian Schatz voted YES
Sen. Mazie Hirono voted YES
Recent House Votes
Tax Extenders -- Adoption - Vote Passed (318-109, 6 Not Voting)
The House adopted an amendment that retroactively renews for the current 2015 tax year most of the expired provisions and further extends them for varying periods, including by making more than a dozen permanent and extending most others for two years (2015 and 2016). Those made permanent include taxpayers being able to deduct state and local sales taxes in lieu of state and local income taxes, the research and development tax credit, Section 179 capital expensing for businesses, and expanded versions of the child tax credit, Earned Income Tax Credit and American Opportunity Tax Credit for college expenses. It also includes a two-year moratorium on the medical device tax created by the 2010 health care overhaul law.
Rep. Mark Takai voted YES
Rep. Tulsi Gabbard voted YES
Omnibus Appropriations -- Adoption - Vote Passed (316-113, 5 Not Voting)
The chamber adopted an amendment that funds government operations through September 30, 2016, at about $1.149 trillion in discretionary spending, with $1.067 trillion subject to discretionary spending caps, $73.7 billion designated as Overseas Contingency Operations funds, $7.1 billion designated as disaster spending, $698 million designated as emergency spending and $1.5 billion designated as program integrity initiatives. It also ends the U.S. ban on crude oil exports; reauthorizes the 9/11 first-responder health care and victim compensation programs; reauthorizes U.S. intelligence programs and provides for a voluntary cybersecurity information-sharing process between the government and the private sector; requires individuals who have been in certain nations, such as Syria and Iraq, to get regular visas that involve in-person interviews with U.S. officials in order to enter the United States; and reauthorizes the Land and Water Conservation Fund. It also includes several other tax provisions, including delaying for two years the health care law's tax on certain high-value employer-sponsored health insurance plans and phaseouts of wind and solar energy tax credits.
Rep. Mark Takai voted YES
Rep. Tulsi Gabbard voted YES
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