First, both voted for the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act which expands the time frame in which workers can sue for sex or race discrimination. Rep. Don Young was among only four House Republicans to do so.
He was actually invited to the White House to witness Obama sign the bill. Apparently, they talked about exercising.
Then on Thursday, Sen. Lisa Murkowski was one of only four Senate Republicans who voted against an amendment to reinstate a policy--the Mexico City Policy--that would prohibit U.S. funds to foreign clinics that counsel women on birth control and abortions. First instituted by Regan, reversed by Clinton, and then revived by Bush, pro-choicers dubbed it the "global gag rule."
The policy doesn't allow funds to be used for abortions, but it's been spun that way by the Republicans. In fact, the policy is part of the GOP's platform, which reads:
"We strongly support the long-held policy of the Republican Party known as the 'Mexico City policy,' which prohibits federal monies from being given to non-governmental organizations that provide abortions or actively promote abortion as a method of family planning in other countries. We reject any treaty or agreement that would violate those values."
The three other Republicans who voted against the amendment were Olympia J. Snowe and Susan Collins of Maine, and Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania.
But fear not. They haven't suddenly turned into southpaws. Both of them voted against the stimulus package. Young said it contained funding for "questionable" items, like the arts, healthcare and STD prevention. Murkowski said that it was rushed and that there wasn't enough money in the bill for development of "traditional" energy reserves.
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