WASHINGTON -- The Red River Valley's congressmen -- Earl Pomeroy of North Dakota and Collin Peterson of Minnesota -- cast ballots today the same way they did on the first House bailout vote.
Peterson voted against; Pomeroy voted in favor.
Both are Democrats.
Five of Minnesota's eight House members voted for the $700 billion financial bailout bill that passed the House today, with just one member changing his vote from Monday.
Republican Representative Jim Ramstad made the switch after the Senate made several changes to the bill, including mental health parity legislation he has long championed. Also voting for the bill were Democrats Keith Ellison, Betty McCollum and Jim Oberstar, and Republican John Kline.
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Two other Minnesotans, Democrat Tim Walz and Republican Michele Bachmann, voted against a bailout again.
The legislation passed the House 263-171.
Pomeroy's Republican opponent in November, Duane Sand, said today he would have voted against the financial industry rescue bill because it "doesn't solve the basic problems of liquidity and oversight."
"Since Monday, Congress changed a $700 billion bailout bill into an $805 billion bailout bill. The bill gives hundreds of billions to unaccountable, unelected officials. And in order to get it passed, Congress added millions in logrolling -- special projects designed to buy the votes of House members," Sand said in a news conference.
Pomeroy said earlier this week that he supported the bill only after it included some protections for taxpayers. Pomeroy said that the lack of a financial rescue plan would lead to worse economic problems for the nation.
