HOUSE
Family leave. Voting 258-154, the House passed a bill (HR 626) providing federal employees with additional benefits under the Family and Medical Leave Act. The bill would entitle civil servants to four to eight weeks of paid leave to care for a newly born, adopted, or fostered child. Such leave is now available to civil servants without pay. The bill awaits Senate action. A yes vote was to pass the bill. Mike Castle voted yes.
GOP leave plan. Voting 157-258, the House defeated a Republican amendment to strip HR 626 (above) of its new category of paid leave. Instead, federal workers could use accrued sick leave to care for new family members.
A yes vote backed the GOP plan. Mike Castle voted yes. So Mike Castle voted yes on both bills. How is that possible? Flip flop much?
Transportation security. Voting 397-25, the House approved a two-year budget of $15.7 billion for the Transportation Security Administration. The bill (HR 2200) awaits Senate action. Mike Castle voted to pass the bill.
SENATE
Federal tobacco regulation. Voting 84-11, the Senate agreed to take up a House-passed bill (HR 1256) that would begin federal regulation of tobacco products. Under the bill, the Food and Drug Administration would regulate cigarette ingredients; require public disclosure of those ingredients; restrain cigarette marketing to children; require health warnings to cover at least half of each side of a cigarette package; and require manufacturers to verify health claims. A yes vote was to begin debate. Tom Carper and Ted Kaufman voted yes.