Please make a personal response to the following below…..
For this discussion post I selected to look up the Senators for California since I was fairly with who they were but did not specifically know how they have voted on particular topics. Since they are both democrats I figured that their ideals would be like mine. I picked five topics for which each voted on and compared their votes. They voted the same across the board except for one area. I am a resident of California so looked up Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA). I knew a little more about Senator Harris and how she would vote on particular issues since I followed her when she was the Attorney General of California. I did not have much information on Senator Feinstein, so this assignment was interesting, and I got to know her a little better. The votes I selected to compare are the following:
1. National Defense Authorization Act FY 2019 (military spending budget);
2. Nomination of Gina Haspel to Director of CIA;
3. Joint resolution that nullifies the rule submitted by the FCC entitled “Restoring Internet Freedom” (net neutrality);
4. Obamacare Repeal Reconciliation Act of 2017; and
5. Immigration Security and Opportunity Act (residency for undocumented immigrants whom entered under 18 years of age, prohibits those who obtain residency from sponsoring their parents for legal status, and prohibits residency to undocumented immigrants who have been convicted of felonies and violent crimes).
Senators Feinstein and Harris both voted yes for the National Defense Authorization Act which I can agree because it authorizes the spending budget for the military. They both voted nay approving the nomination of Gina Haspel to Director of CIA, which did not come as a surprise to me since it was a republican party nomination. I would have to do more research on the nominee in order to decide if I agree. They both voted yes to approve a joint resolution that would restore internet freedom. I agree with both of them as the internet is a form of free speech. They both voted nay on the act repealing Obamacare. After reading the highlights of the act I would also agree against approving it since it would restrict federal funding to states, and also infringes on women’s reproductive rights regarding abortion. I am not surprised by their vote as they are both pro-choice advocates. I find it interesting that they disagreed on the topic of Immigration Security and Opportunity Act as Senator Feinstein voted yes and Senator Harris voted nay. I would have thought that Senator Harris would have voted yes as she is for immigration reform, but after reading more into the bill I see why she would disagree. I think it may have been with the statutory language of the act. I would also disagree with the portion that prohibits those who obtain residency from sponsoring their parents for legal status. As a child of immigrants, this topic is very important to me. I believe that undocumented immigrants should be given the opportunity to seek citizenship. Most immigrants spend more than half their lifetime in a country they did not originate from. It soon becomes all that they know. If they have positively contributed to the advancement of the country, why shouldn’t they be given an opportunity to gain citizenship.
Additionally, I looked up a local state representative who I was familiar with since he had previously been council member in the city I live in. I was very surprised by the way he had voted on certain topics and did not know he had done so. I was surprised by State Assembly Member Rocky Chavez’ voting track record. There was only one thing he voted on that I agreed with. He voted against legislation that would prohibit the firing of employees for obtaining abortions and voted against legislation that would provide Medicaid benefits to undocumented children. I strongly oppose those two votes and find it unexpected of him. This was great exercise to learn about the people whom you vote for to represent your interests.
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