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How Tampa Bay House Members Voted

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By Billy House

The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 29, 2008

WASHINGTON - Freshman Rep. Kathy Castor was among 95 House Democrats to buck Speaker Nancy Pelosi Monday by joining with 133 Republicans to defeat a $700 billion financial rescue bill.

Rep. Adam Putnam, the third-ranking House Republican, was the only Tampa Bay area lawmaker to vote for the measure. The House may return this week to Washington to take up the issue again. But here's a rundown of what Castor, Putnam are the other area representatives said in voting they way they did Monday.

FOR

Adam Putnam of Bartow: "One bank after another failing, rolling out of New York, rolling out of Brussels, out of London, out of these places that seem so foreign into our Main Streets, into our merchant associations, into our farmer cooperatives," said Putnam. "You're watching this happen, so how could you as a member of Congress in seeing that roll across the countryside, not do everything in your power to prevent it?"

AGAINST

Kathy Castor of Tampa: Normally a sure Democratic vote on items pushed by Pelosi, she called the bill "the Bush plan." and said "it does not provide sufficient help to middle-class families in the housing squeeze or taxpayer protections." She said Congress should go back to the drawing board as soon as possible this week.

Ginny Brown-Waite of Brooksville, a Republican, said, "This isn't legislation. This is extortion." She also said, "Make no mistake, a vote for this bailout is a vote to ratify business as usual in Washington."

Gus Bilirakis of Palm Harbor, a freshman Republican, said the legislation "was not subject to the committee process which allows for full public revision and expert scrutiny. I could not support this plan because American taxpayers should not be forced to bail out our financial institutions. Congress and the Administration must act to produce a prudent solution that restores financial security to all Americans while maintaining our faith in a free enterprise system. "

C.W. Bill Young of Indian Shores, a Republican, believes that on an issue of critical importance, Congress should take more time, get more information and hear more viewpoints to make sure it comes up with the right solution, said his spokesman, Harry Glenn.

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