How Hawai'i Reps. Neil Abercrombie and Mazie K. Hirono and Sens. Daniel Akaka and Daniel K. Inouye voted in key legislation last week.

KEY HOUSE VOTES

1. State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP)

By a vote of, 273-156, the House fell 13 votes short Thursday of overriding President Bush's veto of a measure to reauthorize and expand the State Children's Health Insurance Program. The program currently covers 6 million children at a cost of $5 billion a year. The bill would have increased enrollment by 4 million children and raised costs by $7 billion a year.

Hawai'i votes:

Neil Abercrombie (D) YEA
Mazie K. Hirono (D) YEA

2. Media shield legislation

The House voted 398-21 on Tuesday to pass legislation to protect reporters from having to reveal confidential sources or information in federal court cases unless specific exceptions are met. President Bush has threatened to veto the measure, citing national security and terrorism investigation concerns. The bill now goes to the Senate, where it is not expected to pass by a veto-proof margin.

Hawai'i votes:

Neil Abercrombie (D) NAY
Mazie K. Hirono (D) YEA

KEY SENATE VOTES

1. Commerce-Justice-Science spending bill

The Senate voted 75-19 on Tuesday to pass the $56 billion measure that finances the Commerce and Justice departments along with some other agencies, including the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. The bill would restore millions for the Community Oriented Policing Services program that has experienced sharp cutbacks in recent years. The president has threatened to veto the bill, saying it's too expensive.

Hawai'i Votes:

Daniel Akaka (D) YEA
Daniel K. Inouye (D) DID NOT VOTE

WHAT'S AHEAD

The House will start off with a bill that would ban consideration of sexual orientation in hiring. Lawmakers then will move on to a measure to allow Native Hawaiians to organize into a government entity with negotiating powers. Also on the House schedule are bills to streamline the Small Business Administration's contracting program and to provide grant money for national heritage and wilderness areas.

The Senate continues work on spending bills, starting with the $606 billion measure to finance the departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education. That is expected to take up most of the week.