WASHINGTON — Here’s a look at how Maine’s senators and representatives voted in the last week.
Not just school kids had the last week off, Congress also went into recess this week, so few votes were had. There was, however, one key vote Friday, Feb. 13, and three roll call votes in the House of Representatives. No votes were held in the Senate.
Both the House and Senate reconvene next week.
House votes
House vote 1
DEPRECIATION ALLOWANCE FOR BUSINESSES: The House has passed the America’s Small Business Tax Relief Act, sponsored by Rep. Patrick J. Tiberi, R-Ohio. The bill would make permanent, and index for inflation, the $500,000 depreciation allowance for businesses purchasing depreciable assets, software and qualified land.
Tiberi said making the allowance permanent would “give our small business owners and farmers the type of certainty they need that will help our economy grow” by investing in their operations.
Rep. Bruce Poliquin, R-2nd District, praised the passage of the bill as a key step towards “fixing our broken tax code,” which will benefit small business owners.
“By making this expensing level more predictable, our hard-working small businesses and job creators will have the stability and confidence they need from Washington to better plan for the future,” Poliquin said. “I urge the Senate to take action on this bill as it will help our businesses grow and create more jobs in the Second District and beyond.”
A bill opponent, Rep. Sander M. Levin, D-Michigan, said it would add about $80 billion to the deficit, and should be taken up as part of a broad bill to reform the tax code.
The vote was 272 yeas to 142 nays. Rep. Chellie Pingree, D-1st District, gave a nay vote, and Rep. Bruce Poliquin, R-2nd District, gave a yea vote.