To table melcher appeal on the ruling of the chair concerning filing of a cloture petition. (motion passed)

On Aug 20, 1980, the Senate voted 74–15. Result: passed. By party: Democrats 40–8, Republicans 33–7, Independents 1–0. It was a bipartisan vote: majorities of both parties voted yes. 15 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: 74
No: 15
Did not vote: 12
Date: Aug 20, 1980

By party

Democrats40 yes · 8 no · 11 didn’t vote
Republicans33 yes · 7 no · 1 didn’t vote
Independents1 yes · 0 no

Who broke with their party

Dale Bumpers D-AR voted no
Gary Warren Hart D-CO voted no
Lowell Palmer Weicker Jr. R-CT voted no
Richard Bernard Stone D-FL voted no
James Albertus Mcclure R-ID voted no
David Ferdinand Durenberger R-MN voted no
John Melcher D-MT voted no
Max Sieben Baucus D-MT voted no
Jesse Helms R-NC voted no
Gordon John Humphrey R-NH voted no
Howard Morton Metzenbaum D-OH voted no
John Hubbard Chafee R-RI voted no
Orrin Grant Hatch R-UT voted no
Henry Martin (Scoop) Jackson D-WA voted no
William Proxmire D-WI voted no

How each senator voted: Yes

How each senator voted: No

Did not vote

Other votes

From Voteview roll call records.

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Capitol Receipts, “To table melcher appeal on the ruling of the…: Senate Vote, Aug 20…,” https://www.capitolreceipts.com/vote/96-S-869/to-table-melcher-appeal-on-the-ruling-of-the (accessed 2026-10-17).