Legislative Traps Archives

Because the legislative process is a complicated one, the meaning of votes is easily misrepresented. Some, for example, are cast on preliminary versions of legislation to “clean up the bill.” And budget bills often contain thousands of expenditures from research projects to bridge repair. Because they have to vote on the whole catchall budget bill, members lack the option to oppose or support any single provision (see Miscasting Omnibus Bills). Vote against the bill and risk being attacked for opposing the popular provisions. Vote for it and risk attack for favoring the unpopular ones. The party in power also can call for votes designed to create no-win situations for those in the minority (see Bills to Sabotage Minority Party).

Miscasting Bills: Bush vs. McCain on Breast Cancer Research

The 2000 primary campaign of Texas Governor George W. Bush mischaracterized a vote by his primary opponent Sen. John McCain (R., Ariz.) against a defense bill that contained funding for breast cancer research.

Sabotaging Minority Party: Thompson vs. Baldwin on 9/11

In a 2012 Senate race in Wisconsin, former Gov. Tommy Thompson (R) attacks Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D) for voting against a resolution that commemorated the 9/11 anniversary but also contained provisions that Baldwin opposed.

Sabotaging Minority Party: NRCC vs. McIntyre

An ad from the National Republican Congressional Committee misleads when it attacks Rep. Mike McIntyre (D., N.C.) for a vote on a nonbinding House GOP budget resolution.

Legislative Traps: SEIU vs. Halvorson

A radio ad from the Service Employees International Union distorts a vote by former Rep. Debbie Halvorson’s (D., Ill.) on jobless benefits.

Miscasting Omnibus Bills: ‘Bridge to Nowhere’

In a web video, former Sen. George Lemieux (R., Fla.) attacks Sen. Ben Nelson (D., Fla.) for voting for Alaska’s “bridge to nowhere” when he wasn’t voting specifically on it but rather on a complex omnibus highway bill that included it.