Arlen Specter has switched teams in mid-season.  He says he's ready to play the game as a true progressive, but after years of being the guy that George W. Bush called his "firm ally when it mattered most," a lot of us are waiting to see if he's ready to knock it out of the park on progressive issues or whether he'll  strikeout when his vote really matters for the progressive team.

Specter Scorecard will do two things:

  1. We'll keep you informed about key upcoming votes where Sen. Specter's vote will be vital to the success of the progressive position.  We'll give you accurate information about the issue and we'll provide you with the opportunity to take action to help persuade Arlen to do the right thing.
  2. We'll let you know how Sen. Specter has voted on important progressive issues since he made the switch.  We'll display his "progressive batting average" and keep it updated when he takes votes on those issues. If you'd like us to send you updates, click here. table 1

 

Date

Bill

Specter'sVote

ProgressiveVote

Result

04/28/2009

Kathleen Sebelius Confirmation 
PN 188.  This was a vote to confirm Sebelius as Secretary of Health and Human Services.

Y

Y

Nomination Confirmed - Senate 
(65 - 31)

04/29/2009

2010 Concurrent Budget Resolution S Con Res 13.  This vote was a non-binding resolution that is used as a guideline for the actual budget vote.

N

Y

Conference Report Adopted - Senate 
(53 - 43)

07/17/2009

Card Check Provision of Employee Free Choice Act  No vote was taken, but some key senators, including Specter,  killed this provision in negotiations.

N*

Y

Full bill still to be voted on.

07/22/2009

Thune Amendment to Supersede State Laws that Limit Carrying Concealed Weapons. Senate Vote 237 - S.139. Vote killed an amendment to defense authorization bill that would have implemented S. 845.

N

N

Amendment failed to get 60 votes needed to pass.  (58-39)

 

Specter's Progressive Batting Average

.500

 

 

 

Bill

Description

Specter'sCurrent Position

ProgressiveVote

Take Action or Get More Information

Employee Free Choice Act

Employee Free Choice will allow workers to determine whether or not they want a union, without undue intimidation and interference from the employer.

?

Y

Support the Employee Free Choice Act (Keystone Progress)

Fiscal 09/10 Budget

President Obama has presented a transformational budget that will support working families and create a greener, healthier economy.

?

Y

Support a progressive federal budget.(Keystone Progress)

Public Option in Healthcare Reform

The key to any successful healthcare reform will be the inclusion of a public plan to compete with the private insurance companies.

?

Y

Support a public option in any healthcare reform.(Democracy for America)

Clean Water Restoration Act 

S. 787

The Clean Water Restoration Act (S. 787) restates and clarifies the original intent of the Clean Water Act - to protect all waters of the United States. Please take a moment to e-mail your Senators and urge them to send the Clean Water Restoration Act to President Obama's desk this year.

?

Y

Support the Clean Water Restoration Act. (Clean Water Action)

Include Healthcare "Down payment" in Federal Budget

President Obama has said again and again that to fix our economy, we must fix health care, and we must do it in 2009.  And the budget President Obama has proposed does just that, making a $634 billion down payment on health care reform, a significant upfront investment that signals his historic commitment to quality, affordable health care for all.

?

Y

Support the down payment on real healthcare reform in the federal budget.(Healthcare for America Now)

Panama "Free" Trade Agreement

Panama's economy thrives on banking secrecy and money laundering.  Its "comparative advantage" comes from the ease with which U.S. companies can create subsidiaries there to evade paying taxes in America.  Passing the Panama FTA will only make offshoring our jobs easier.

?

N

Oppose the Panama "Free" Trade Agreement. (Citizens Trade Campaign)

Oppose Superseding State Laws that Limit Carrying Concealed Weapons

S. 845

Conservative Republicans have introduced legislation that will supersede state laws that restrict carrying concealed weapons.  If passed, this legislation will eviscerate state standards regarding who can carry a concealed or hidden gun, and replace them with a new, "lowest common denominator" standard allowing people with a permit from any state to carry their concealed firearm anywhere in the country.

?

N

Oppose Superseding State Laws that Limit Carrying Concealed Weapons (Keystone Progress)

 

Specter Scorecard is a project of Keystone Progress, PennAction, ProgressNow and True Majority.

The information on this page is not intended to support or oppose the election of any candidate for public office. The sponsoring organizations encourage you to use this page to support or oppose the issues we have included on this site.