110th Congressial Legislative Scorecard: Obama 59, McCain 23

Democratic Presidential nominee Illinois Senator Barack Obama has been a much more active legislator in the Senate over the past year than has Republican Presidential nominee Arizona Senator John McCain. A search of the Library of Congress , reveals Obama sponsored 126 bills, amendments and resolutions in the 110th Congress compared to 38 bills, amendments and resolutions offered by McCain in the same period between 2007 and 2008. Obama is the primary sponsor 57- new bills and 58-amendments to existing bills and offered 9-resolutions, By contrast McCain is the primary sponsor of 23- new bills and 15-amendments to existing bills. McCain also introduced one resolution. By that measure, Obama more than twice as active as McCain in introducing new legislation in the 110^th Congress.

The following article analyzes the 77-bills directly sponsored by the two Senators for the 2007-2008 period of the 110^th Congress up to July 1, 2008. The bills in each category are show in ascending order according to the Senate bill number. The categories are defense, education, energy, environment, health, homeland security & crime, housing, immigration and other. While I had hoped to provide links to each bill individually that effort has met with some difficulty as it appears that most of the links have timed out in revisiting them.

100^th Congress 2007-2008 Legislative Score Card: Obama versus McCain

Defense : Obama (9), McCain (2)

Economy: Obama (2), McCain (1)

Education: Obama (9), McCain (0)

Elections: Obama (5), McCain (4)

Energy: Obama (5), McCain (1)

Environment: Obama (9), McCain (1)

Health: Obama (11), McCain (0)

Housing Obama (3), McCain (0)

Homeland Obama (0), McCain (5)

Housing Obama (3), McCain (0)

Government Obama (5), McCain (1)

Immigration Obama (5), McCain (1)

Other Obama (0), McCain (8)

Total Obama (59), McCain (23)

Defense

Senator Obama has sponsored 9-bills related to defense while McCain has offered two.

McCain introduced S.32: A bill to reform the acquisition process of the Department of Defense.

Obama introduced S.117: A bill to amend titles 10 and 38, United States Code, to improve benefits and services for members of the Armed Forces, veterans of the Global War on Terrorism, and other veterans. It also requires reports on the effects of the Global War on Terrorism.

Obama introduced S.713: A bill to ensure dignity in care for members of the Armed Forces recovering from injuries.

Obama introduced S.433: A bill to state United States policy for Iraq.

McCain introduced S.663: A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to repeal the statutory designation of beneficiaries of the $100,000 death gratuity under section 1477 of title 10, United States Code, and to permit members of the Armed Forces to designate in writing their beneficiaries of choice in the event of their death while serving on active duty.

Obama introduced S.692: A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to establish a Hospital Quality Report Card Initiative to report on health care quality in Veterans Affairs hospitals.

Obama introduced S.1271: A bill to provide for a comprehensive national research effort on the physical and mental health and other readjustment needs of the members of the Armed Forces and veterans who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom and their families.

Obama introduced S.1977: A bill to provide for sustained United States leadership in a cooperative global effort to prevent nuclear terrorism, reduce global nuclear arsenals, stop the spread of nuclear weapons and related material and technology, and support the responsible and peaceful use of nuclear technology.

Obama introduced S.2330: A bill to authorize a pilot program within the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development with the goal of preventing at-risk veterans and veteran families from falling into homelessness.

Obama introduced S.1817: A bill to ensure proper administration of the discharge of members of the Armed Forces for personality disorder.

Obama introduced S.1885: A bill to provide certain employment protections for family members who are caring for members of the Armed Forces recovering from illnesses and injuries incurred on active duty.

Economy

McCain introduced S.166: A bill to restrict any State from imposing a new discriminatory tax on cell phone services

Obama introduced S.1430: A bill to authorize State and local governments to direct divestiture from, and prevent investment in, companies with investments of $20,000,000 or more in Iran's energy sector.

Obama introducedS.2433 : A bill to require the President to develop and implement a comprehensive strategy to further the United States foreign policy objective of promoting the reduction of global poverty, the elimination of extreme global poverty, and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goal of reducing by one-half the proportion of people worldwide, between 1990 and 2015, who live on less than $1 per day.

Education

Obama is the chief sponsor of nine bills relating to education compared to zero for McCain.

Obama introduced S.114: A bill to authorize resources for a grant program for local educational agencies to create innovation districts.

Obama introduced S.116: A bill to authorize resources to provide students with opportunities for summer learning through summer learning grants.

Obama introduced S.1513 : A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to authorize grant programs to enhance the access of low-income African-American students to higher education.

Obama introduced S.1574 : A bill to establish Teaching Residency Programs for preparation and induction of teachers.

Obama introduced S.1513 : A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to authorize grant programs to enhance the access of low-income African-American students to higher education

Obama introduced S.2066 : A bill to establish nutrition and physical education standards for schools.

Obama introduced S.2111 : A bill to amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to allow State educational agencies, local educational agencies, and schools to increase implementation of early intervention services, particularly school-wide positive behavior supports.

Obama introduced S.2227 : A bill to provide grants to States to ensure that all students in the middle grades are taught an academically rigorous curriculum with effective supports so that students complete the middle grades prepared for success in high school and postsecondary endeavors, to improve State and district policies and programs relating to the academic achievement of students in the middle grades, to develop and implement effective middle school models for struggling students.

Obama introduced S.2392: A bill to direct the Secretary of Education to establish and maintain a public website through which individuals may find a complete database of available scholarships, fellowships, and other programs of financial assistance in the study of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

Obama introduced S.2428: A bill to direct the Secretary of Education to establish and maintain a public website through which individuals may find a complete database of available scholarships, fellowships, and other programs of financial assistance in the study of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

Obama introduced S.3047: A bill to provide for the coordination of the Nation's science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education initiatives.

Elections & Civil Rights

McCain has sponsored three bills related to elections and civil rights compared to 5 by Obama.

McCain introduced S.327: A bill to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resource study of sites associated with the life of Cesar Estrada Chavez and the farm labor movement.

McCain introduced S.478: A bill to amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to replace the Federal Election Commission with a Federal Election Administration.

Obama introduced S.453: A bill to prohibit deceptive practices in Federal elections.

McCain introduced S.463: A bill to amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to clarify when organizations described in section 527 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 must register as political committees

Obama introduced S.737: A bill to amend the Help America Vote Act of 2002 in order to measure, compare, and improve the quality of voter access to polls and voter services in the administration of Federal elections in the States.

Obama introduced S.1713: A bill to provide for the issuance of a commemorative postage stamp in honor of Rosa Parks.

Obama introduced S.1989: A bill to provide a mechanism for the determination on the merits of the claims of claimants who met the class criteria in a civil action relating to racial discrimination by the Department of Agriculture but who were denied that determination.

Obama introduced S.2030: A bill to amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to require reporting relating to bundled contributions made by persons other than registered lobbyists.

Energy

Obama sponsored 5-energy related to bills to compared to one for McCain.

Obama introduced S.133: A bill to promote the national security and stability of the economy of the United States by reducing the dependence of the United States on oil through the use of alternative fuels and new technology.

Obama introduced S.115: A bill to suspend royalty relief, to repeal certain provisions of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, and to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal certain tax incentives for the oil and gas industry.

Obama introduced S.767: A bill to increase fuel economy standards for automobiles and S.768: which is another bill to increase fuel economy standards for automobiles

Obama introduced S.1151: A bill to provide incentives to the auto industry to accelerate efforts to develop more energy-efficient vehicles to lessen dependence on oil.

McCain introduced S.2890: A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide for a highway fuel tax holiday

Environment

Obama sponsored 9-environment related bills compared to one for McCain.

Obama introduced S.2202: A bill to amend the Clean Air Act to increase the renewable content of gasoline, and for other purposes.

Obama introduced S.906: A bill to prohibit the sale, distribution, transfer, and export of elemental mercury,

Obama introduced S.1306: A bill to direct the Consumer Product Safety Commission to classify certain children's products containing lead to be banned hazardous substances.

Obama introduced S.1818: A bill to amend the Toxic Substances Control Act to phase out the use of mercury in the manufacture of chlorine and caustic soda

Obama introduced S.1324: A bill to amend the Clean Air Act to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transportation fuel sold in the United States.

Obama introduced S.1389: A bill to authorize the National Science Foundation to establish a Climate Change Education Program.

Obama introduced S.1818: A bill to amend the Toxic Substances Control Act to phase out the use of mercury in the manufacture of chlorine and caustic soda.

McCain introduced S.1900: A bill to authorize appropriations for the United States Institute for Environmental Conflict Resolution.

Obama introduced S.2202: A bill to amend the Clean Air Act to increase the renewable content of gasoline, and for other purposes

Obama introduced S.2224: A bill to require a licensee to notify the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and the State and county in which a facility is located, whenever there is an unplanned release of radioactive substances.

Health

Obama sponsored 10 bills related to the health of the nation compared to zero for McCain.

Obama introduced S.823 : A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act with respect to facilitating the development of microbicides for preventing transmission of HIV/AIDS and other diseases, and for other purposes.

Obama introduced S.976 : A bill to secure the promise of personalized medicine for all Americans by expanding and accelerating genomics research and initiatives to improve the accuracy of disease diagnosis, increase the safety of drugs, and identify novel treatments

Obama introduced S.1873 : A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to establish demonstration programs on regionalized systems for emergency care, to support emergency medicine research.

Obama introduced S.1067 : A bill to require Federal agencies to support health impact assessments and take other actions to improve health and the environmental quality of communities, and for other purposes.

Obama introduced S.1068: A bill to promote healthy communities.

Obama introduced S.1790: A bill to make grants to carry out activities to prevent the incidence of unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections among teens in racial or ethnic minority or immigrant communities, and for other purposes.

Obama introduced S.1824: A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to establish a Hospital Quality Report Card Initiative under the Medicare program to assess and report on health care quality in hospitals.

Obama introduced S.1873: A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to establish demonstration programs on regionalized systems for emergency care, to support emergency medicine research

Obama introduced S.2132: A bill to prohibit the introduction or delivery for introduction into interstate commerce of children's products that contain lead.

Obama introduced S.2347: A bill to restore and protect access to discount drug prices for university-based and safety-net clinics.

Homeland Security/Crime

McCain sponsored 5-bills dealing with Homeland Security and Crime compared to zero for Obama.

McCain Introduced S.83: A bill to provide increased rail transportation security.

McCain introduced S.85 : A bill to amend the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to clarify that territories and Indian tribes are eligible to receive grants for confronting the use of methamphetamine

McCain introduced S.519 : A bill to modernize and expand the reporting requirements relating to child pornography, to expand cooperation in combating child pornography,

McCain introduced S. 744 : A bill to provide greater public safety by making more spectrum available to public safety, to establish the Public Safety Interoperable Communications Working Group to provide standards for public safety spectrum needs, and for other purposes.

Housing

Obama sponsored 3-bills related to housing compared to zero for McCain.

Obama introduced S.1222: A bill to stop mortgage transactions which operate to promote fraud, risk, abuse, and under-development, and for other purposes

Obama introduced S.1084: A bill to provide housing assistance for very low-income veterans.

Obama introduced S.2330: A bill to authorize a pilot program within the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development with the goal of preventing at-risk veterans and veteran families from falling into homelessness.

Government Transparency & Accountability

With regard to bills dealing with government accountability and transparency, Obama introduced 5-bills compared to one for McCain.

McCain introduced S.192: A bill providing greater transparency with respect to lobbying activities, and for other purposes

Obama introduced S.674: A bill to require accountability and enhanced congressional oversight for personnel performing private security functions under Federal contracts

Obama introduced S.2044: A bill to provide procedures for the proper classification of employees and independent contractors, and for other purposes.

Obama introduced S.2147: A bill to require accountability for contractors and contract personnel under Federal contracts, and for other purposes.

Obama introduced S.2519: A bill to prohibit the awarding of a contract or grant in excess of the simplified acquisition threshold unless the prospective contractor or grantee certifies in writing to the agency awarding the contract or grant that the contractor or grantee has no seriously delinquent tax debts.

Obama introduced S.3077: A bill to strengthen transparency and accountability in Federal spending.

Immigration

Obama introduced S.795: A bill to assist aliens who have been lawfully admitted in becoming citizens of the United States, and for other purposes. McCain has offered an amendment to Senate bill 1348 that would require illegal aliens to pay back takes if they are legalized. S.1348 To require undocumented immigrants receiving legal status to pay owed back taxes.

Other

McCain introduced S.84: A bill to establish a United States Boxing Commission to administer the Act,

McCain introduced S.86 : A bill to designate segments of Fossil Creek, a tributary to the Verde River in the State of Arizona, as wild and scenic river.

McCain introduced S.1255 : A bill to protect Indian arts and crafts through the improvement of applicable criminal proceedings, and for other purposes.

McCain introduced S.1304: A bill to amend the National Trails System Act to designate the Arizona National Scenic Trail.

McCain introduced S.531: A bill to repeal section 10(f) of Public Law 93-531, commonly known as the "Bennett Freeze".

McCain introduced S.722: A bill to direct the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture to jointly conduct a study of certain land adjacent to the Walnut Canyon National Monument in the State of Arizona.

McCain introduced S.952: A bill to amend the Morris K. Udall Scholarship and Excellence in National Environmental and Native American Public Policy Act of 1992 to provide funds for training in tribal leadership, management, and policy, and for other purposes.

McCain introduced S.2172: A bill to impose sanctions on officials of the State Peace and Development Council in Burma, to prohibit the importation of gems and hardwoods from Burma, to support democracy in Burma.