To amend S. 566, target fiscal assistance, by raising the general unemployment trigger for local jurisdictions from 6 to 7 percent. (motion failed)

On Aug 3, 1979, the Senate voted 31–61 (S 566). Result: failed. By party: Democrats 7–44, Republicans 23–17, Independents 1–0. It was a split vote: the parties took opposite sides, with some members crossing over. 24 members voted against their own party.

During the 96th Congress (1979–1980), Jimmy Carter was president, and Democrats held majorities in both the House and Senate.

Yes: 31
No: 61
Did not vote: 9
Date: Aug 3, 1979

By party

Democrats7 yes · 44 no · 8 didn’t vote
Republicans23 yes · 17 no · 1 didn’t vote
Independents1 yes · 0 no

Who broke with their party

Theodore Fulton (Ted) Stevens R-AK voted no
Howell Thomas Heflin D-AL voted yes
Dale Bumpers D-AR voted yes
David Hampton Pryor D-AR voted yes
Samuel Ichiye Hayakawa R-CA voted no
Lowell Palmer Weicker Jr. R-CT voted no
Charles Harting Percy R-IL voted no
Robert Joseph (Bob) Dole R-KS voted no
Charles McCurdy Mathias Jr. R-MD voted no
William Sebastian Cohen R-ME voted no
David Ferdinand Durenberger R-MN voted no
John Claggett Danforth R-MO voted no
Edward Zorinsky D-NE voted yes
Howard Walter Cannon D-NV voted yes
Jacob Koppel Javits R-NY voted no
David Lyle Boren D-OK voted yes
Mark Odom Hatfield R-OR voted no
Robert William Packwood R-OR voted no
Henry John Heinz III R-PA voted no
John Hubbard Chafee R-RI voted no
Larry Lee Pressler R-SD voted no
Howard Henry Baker Jr. R-TN voted no
Robert Theodore Stafford R-VT voted no
William Proxmire D-WI voted yes

How each senator voted: Yes

How each senator voted: No

Did not vote

Other votes

From Voteview roll call records.

Cite or embed this page

Capitol Receipts, “To amend S. 566, target fiscal assistance…: Senate Vote, Aug 3, 1979,” https://www.capitolreceipts.com/vote/96-S-250/to-amend-s-566-target-fiscal-assistance-by-raising (accessed 2026-10-17).