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. Mental Healthcare Equity

The House voted 268-148 on Wednesday to require health insurance companies to offer benefits for mental-health coverage equal to surgical or other medical benefits. The measure also would increase the number of mental health conditions that would be covered and prohibit larger copayments for mental-health treatment. The White House prefers the more narrow Senate-passed version.

Hawai'i votes:

Neil Abercrombie (D) YEA

Mazie K. Hirono (D) YEA

KEY SENATE VOTES

1. Consumer Product Safety Commission Regulation

The Senate voted 79-13 on Thursday to increase funding and staffing at the Consumer Product Safety Commission, which sets product-safety standards. The bill would require a toy-safety standard and would increase penalties for selling unsafe products.

Hawai'i Votes:

Daniel Akaka (D) YEA

Daniel K. Inouye (D) YEA

WHAT'S AHEAD

Both the Senate and House will begin work on the 2009 budget proposal, both of which propose billions more than the president requested, before heading out for the spring recess. The House also may take up a resolution to add an independent panel to the internal ethics review process as well as electronic surveillance legislation.

Source: Gannett News Service