The First 100 Hours: How Maryland Voted

The New York Times has a handy webtool showing how members of the House of Representatives voted on the six bills that made up Speaker Pelosi's "First 100 Hours" agenda. One of the remarkable things about these bills was how many Republicans voted for them, including 82 (!) who signed on to a minimum wage increase. How did Maryland's delegation vote? Well, naturally, all six Democrats voted for all six bills. As for the Republicans, Roscoe Bartlett and Wayne Gilchrest, let's take a look:

1. Implementing the 9/11 Commission Recommendations Act: Bartlett and Gilchrest both voted no.
2. Fair Minimum Wage Act: Bartlett no, Gilchrest yes.
3. Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act: Bartlett no, Gilchrest abstaining.
4. Medicare Prescription Drug Price Negotiation Act: Bartlett and Gilchrest both voted no.
5. College Student Relief Act: Bartlett and Gilchrest both voted yes.
6. Creating Long-Term Energy Alternatives for the Nation Act: Bartlett and Gilchrest both voted yes.

So all in all, Bartlett didn't deviate from the GOP line much, except on student loans and energy policy, which Bartlett, to his credit, is rather forward-thinking on. Gilchrest, as might be expected, was less of an ideologue (the minimum wage vote was a surprise). This doesn't mean they'll be voting Democratic, but it does mean the lockstep voting behavior of the past Republican Congresses masked a lot of differences of opinion among the GOP rank and file.

Tags: maryland republicans house of representatives