1998 Scorecard Vote
47
52
1
The 1997 balanced budget agreement proposed decreasing overall environmental spending every year until at least 2003–an action with serious implications for efforts to protect natural resources and reduce pollution. During consideration of the 1999 budget resolution, which sets the framework for making annual appropriation and tax cut decisions, the Senate proposed even deeper cuts in future environmental spending.
Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) countered with an amendment that would restore funding in the Fiscal Year 1999 budget for President Clinton’s proposed Environmental Resources Fund for America, a major spending initiative designed to fund a wide array of environment and natural resource programs. The Lautenberg amendment would provide room in the overall federal budget for several environmental initiatives, including:
On April 2, 1998, the Lautenberg amendment was defeated, 47 – 52. YES is the pro-environment vote.