CONGRESSIONAL SCORECARD 2011-12
More so than other states, California's congressional delegation has supported marijuana reform. In a major test vote, Congress rejected an amendment sponsored by Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (Huntington Beach) and Rep. Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) to cut off DOJ funding for federal raids on medical marijuana. The amendment was co-sponsored by CA Democrat Sam Farr (Monterey) and Republican Tom McClintock (Granite Bay). Though Congress voted down the Rohrabacher-Hinchey amendment by 163-262, California's delegation voted in favor by 34-18. Nationally, Democrats voted 113-50 in favor, while Republicans voted 28-234 against. In California, Democrats voted 30-4 in favor and Republicans 4-14 against.
The following table records how California's Congress members voted on marijuana in 2012. Pro-reform positions are indicated in green; anti-reform in red.
Column A: Vote on Rohrabacher-Hinchey amendment to end Dept. of Justice raids on medical cannabis in states where it is legal. Y = Yes, end federal raids; N= No, continue the war on California's medical marijuana law.
Column B: Pro-Reform Bills Sponsored: Seven good bills were introduced this year, none of which reached a hearing, but all of which picked up co-sponsors from California. These bills are listed by number as follows in Column B alongside their co-sponsors.
(1) The Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act (HR 2306) by Rep. Barney Frank, which would give states the authority to legalize and regulate marijuana like alcohol within their borders.
(2) The Medical Marijuana Patient Protection Act (HR 1983) by Rep. Barney Frank, allowing states to legally regulate medical marijuana as they please;
(3) The Truth In Sentencing Act (HR 6134) by Rep. Sam Farr, allowing federal defendants to present evidence in court that they were following state medical marijuana laws;
(4) The Industrial Hemp Farming Act (HR1831) by Rep. Ron Paul, which would legalize hemp production.
(5) The Small Business Banking Improvement Act (HR 1984), which would allow banks and financial institutions to provide accounts to medical cannabis businesses.
(6) The Small Business Tax Equity Act (HR 1985) by Rep. Pete Stark, which would allow medical cannabis businesses to claim normal business expense deductions on their taxes.
(7) The States' Medical Marijuana Property Rights Protection Act (HR6335) by Rep. Barbara Lee, to protect landlords of medical cannabis facilities from federal forfeiture.
| Representative | Party | District | (A) |
(B) |
| Baca | D | San Bernardino | N |
|
| Becerra | D | Los Angeles | Y |
|
| Berman | D | Mission Hills | Y |
|
| Bilbray | R | Solana Beach | N |
|
| Bono Mack | R | Palm Springs | N |
|
| Calvert | R | Riverside | N |
|
| Campbell | R | Newport Beach | Y |
4 |
| Capps | D | Santa Barbara | Y |
|
| Cardoza | D | Merced | N |
|
| Chu | D | El Monte | Y |
|
| Costa | D | Fresno | N |
|
| Davis | D | San Diego | Y |
3 |
| Denham | R | Fresno | N |
|
| Dreier | R | Covina | N |
|
| Eshoo | D | Palo Alto | Y |
|
| Farr | D | Carmel | Y |
1,2,3,4,6,7 |
| Filner | D | San Diego | absent |
2,3,4,6 |
| Gallegly | R | Simi Valley | N |
|
| Garamendi | D | Walnut Creek | Y |
|
| Hahn | D | El Segundo | Y |
|
| Herger | R | Chico | N |
|
| Honda | D | Campbell | Y |
1,2,4,7 |
| Hunter | R | El Cajon | N |
|
| Issa | R | Vista | N |
|
| Lee | D | Oakland | Y |
1,2,3,5,6,7 |
| Lewis | R | Redlands | N |
|
| Lofgren | D | San Jose | Y |
2,6 |
| Lungren | R | Gold River | N |
|
| Matsui | D | Sacramento | Y |
|
| McCarthy | R | Bakersfield | N |
|
| McClintock | R | Granite Bay | Y |
4 |
| Mckeon | R | Canyon Country | N |
|
| McNerney | D | Pleasanton | Y |
|
| Miller | R | Diamond Bar | N |
|
| Miller | D | Concord | Y |
4 |
| Napolitano | D | Norwalk | Y |
|
| Nunes | R | Visalia | N |
|
| Pelosi | D | San Francisco | Y |
|
| Richardson | D | Long Beach | Y |
|
| Rohrabacher | R | Huntg'tn Beach | Y |
1,2,3,4,6 |
| Roybal-Allard | D | Bell Gardens | Y |
|
| Royce | R | Orange | Y |
|
| Sanchez, Linda | D | Cerritos | Y |
6 |
| Sanchez, Loretta | D | Garden Grove | Y |
|
| Schiff | D | Pasadena | Y |
|
| Sherman | D | Woodland Hills | Y |
6 |
| Speier | D | San Mateo | Y |
|
| Stark | D | Fremont | Y |
1,2,4,5,6,7 |
| Thompson | D | St. Helena | Y |
2 |
| Waters | D | Los Angeles | N |
|
| Watson | D | Los Angeles | Y |
|
| Waxman | D | Beverly Hills | Y |
3 |
| Woolsey | D | Petaluma | Y |
2,3,4,6 |
Also see: Election Guide November 2012