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. Medicare veto override

The House voted 383-41 on Tuesday to override the president's veto of the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act, averting a 10.6 percent pay cut for doctors treating Medicare patients. The bill offsets the cost of restoring the payments to doctors by taking money from the Medicare Advantage program, which consists of private health plans serving the elderly and disabled.

Hawai'i votes:

Neil Abercrombie (D) YEA

Mazie K. Hirono (D) YEA

2. Responsible Drilling Act

A bill that would have required energy companies to forfeit undeveloped oil and gas leases before gaining access to areas now off-limits to exploration fell 34 votes short of the two-thirds majority it needed to pass on Thursday. The vote was 244-173.

Hawai'i votes:

Neil Abercrombie (D) NAY

Mazie K. Hirono (D) YEA

KEY SENATE VOTES

1. Medicare veto override

The Senate voted 70-26 on Tuesday to override the president's veto of the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act, averting a 10.6 percent pay cut for doctors treating Medicare patients. The bill offsets the cost of restoring the payments to doctors by taking money from the Medicare Advantage program, which consists of private health plans serving the elderly and disabled. The measure also postpones, for 18 months, a program designed to save Medicare money by having makers of medical devices bid for Medicare's business rather than receive prices set by the program.

Hawai'i Votes:

Daniel Akaka (D) YEA

Daniel K. Inouye (D) YEA

WHAT'S AHEAD

The Senate will try to move ahead on a Democratic bill to tighten regulation of trading in energy futures markets. Headline items in the House include the National Highway Bridge and Reconstruction Act, a reauthorization bill to help fight AIDS and other diseases globally and legislation to address the mortgage crisis. The housing bill includes provisions to bolster the quasi-governmental mortgage companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, as well as establish a strong regulator to police the companies, their mortgage portfolios and their capital requirements.