Bipartisanship in the House

BIPARTISANSHIP IN THE HOUSE -- (House of Representatives - May 18, 2005)

(Mr. SHIMKUS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, yesterday we passed the first of 10 appropriation bills by a large bipartisan majority. It was nice to see and has become somewhat of a common practice this year.

The energy bill was passed by this House by a vote of 249 to 183 with 41 Democrats supporting. The highway bill passed with a vote of 417 to 9 with 198 Democrats supporting. The class action reform passed this House with a vote of 279 to 149 with 50 Democrats supporting. The death tax repeal passed, 272 to 162 with 42 Democrats supporting. Bankruptcy reform passed this House by a vote of 302 to 146 with 73 Democrats supporting. And the continuation of government passed by a vote of 329 to 68 with 122 Democrats supporting.

The public needs to know that this is a very impassioned body, and we should really appreciate that; but the true test of how we work together is when we count the votes.

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