Baumgartner's Voting Record - 2026
Time to Elect a Representative, That Represents His Communities
Here’s a little bonus treat for you this week.
Normally, Saturday mornings are reserved for Michael Baumgartner and His Ongoing Struggle with Facts, but today we’re cracking open his voting record, just since January 1, 2026. Consider it light weekend reading, if your idea of light is watching someone goose-step in perfect Project 2025 formation.
If you’ve ever wondered whether Michael Baumgartner has any actual consideration for his constituents—or just how far his head is lodged up Trump’s orifice—wonder no more. His voting record answers all of it with the subtlety of a foghorn. Page after page, it reads like a love letter to MAGA politics and a warm, enthusiastic nod to Project 2025, with everyday voters left somewhere in the footnotes. Turns out you don’t need speculation when the receipts are public.
From methodically chipping away at reproductive rights to shoveling more money at ICE - because apparently ICE needed a bigger budget to purchase more ammo to shoot people in the head, or to abduct 5-year-olds and use them as bait, or to insist that what we all saw on video wasn’t actually what we saw.
Oh, wait there’ more: his votes clearly say his constituents don’t deserve affordable healthcare. That’s right, he voted against healthcare affordability for the very people in Eastern Washington who are already choosing between insulin and groceries. Baumgartner’s legislative legacy is less “independent thinker” and more “loyal foot soldier.” It’s almost impressive, really, how consistently he manages to choose the worst possible option, screw his own constituents in the process, and then call it leadership.
Baumgartner’s voting record screams one thing loud and clear: Eastern Washington might as well not exist, but MAGA and Project 2025 get a full VIP pass.
Warning: All Cap Sentences. - We yelled so you don’t have to.
We are running late this week with Michael Baumgartner and His Ongoing Struggle with Facts - Volume (4) but coming to your email box soon.
Michael Baumgartner’s Voting Record, 2026
01/22/2026. H Con Res 68 - To direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from Venezuela that have not been authorized by Congress.
A Concurrent Resolution is a non-binding congressional action passed by both chambers, used primarily for budget planning and internal congressional decisions, not for making law.
MB voted NO. Bill did not pass. 215 Yes. 215 No.
01/22/2026. HR 6359 - Pregnant Students Rights Act
(Project 2025 in full swing here)
MB Voted Yes.
Bill Passed. 217 Yes. 211 No.
Highlights:
Requires each institution of higher education (IHE) that participates in federal student aid programs to provide certain information to prospective and enrolled students on the rights and resources for pregnant students to carry a baby to term or students who may become pregnant while enrolled at the IHE to carry a baby to term (Sec. 2). (Note: seems like if they don’t comply, their federal student aid is at risk).
Specifies that the required information must include the following (Sec. 2):
List of community and on-campus resources that exist to help a pregnant student in carrying the baby to term and caring for the baby after birth; no information about the accommodations available to help a pregnant student carry the baby to term and parent the baby after birth; and no information on how to file a discrimination complaint related to the student determination to carry a baby to term.
01/22/2026. HR 7147 Making further consolidated appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026, and for other purposes.
MB Voted Yes. Bill passed. 220 Yes. 207 No.
Seven Dems caved and voted for this bill that contains billions for DHS to terrorize and kill American citizens. Those who voted for this bill, both R and D, knew full well the violent tactics of ICE and CBP and what they were doing in our neighborhoods and yet they voted for billions of dollars of ADDITIONAL FUNDING for ICE ($10B) and CBP ($18B). Through the BBB, these agencies already received multi-year mandatory funding through 2029 including $30B for ICE enforcement and deportation operations and $45B for detention capacity expansion with other provisions increasing that amount to OVER $100B for ICE by 2029; and $46B for CBP for border infrastructure, $5B for facilities improvements, $6B for inspection and surveillance equipment, and over $12B for personnel, bonuses, facilities and fleet vehicles.
Sooooo the BBB provided ICE with over $100B and CPB with nearly $70B in multi-year MANDATORY SPENDING through 2029; and the House passed ANOTHER bill that included nearly $20B in additional funding – TWO WEEKS AFTER RENEE NICOLE GOOD WAS EXECUTED BY ICE IN BROAD DAYLIGHT ON A NEIGHBORHOOD STREET IN AMERICA – and TWO DAYS BEFORE THE EXECUTION BY CPB OF ALEX PRETTI IN BROAD DAYLIGHT ON A CITY STREET IN AMERICA. These Members of Congress KNEW what they were voting for in HR 7147 and they can’t put that Nazi genie back in the bottle now that the entire nation has turned against DHS.
And we thought Noem shooting her dog in the face was bad!
Highlights:
Appropriates funds to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for Departmental
Management, Intelligence, Situational Awareness, and Oversight, including (Sec. 1):
Office of the Secretary and Executive Management.
Management Directorate.
Intelligence, Analysis, and Situational Awareness
Office of Inspector General.
Appropriates funds to DHS for Security, Enforcement, and Investigations, including (Sec. 2):
U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Transportation Security Administration.
U.S. Coast Guard; and
U.S. Secret Service.
Appropriates funds to DHS for Protection, Preparedness, Response, and Recovery, including (Sec. 3):
Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency; and
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Appropriates funds to DHS for Research, Development, Training, and Services, including (Sec.4):
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers; and
Science and Technology Directorate.
Establishes requirements and restrictions for using funds provided by this and other appropriations acts (Sec. 5).
01/22/2026. HR 7148 - Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026
MB Voted Yes. Bill Passed. 341 yes. 88 no.
Highlights:
Appropriates funds to the following departments and agencies for fiscal year 2026 (Sec. 5):
Department of Defense.
Department of Labor.
Department of Health and Human Services.
Department of Education.
Department of Transportation.
Department of Housing and Urban Development; and related agencies.
Extends several expiring programs and authorities, including (Sec. 5):
U.S. Grain Standards Act.
Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s whistleblower program.
National Flood Insurance Program.
Forest Service; participation in the Agriculture Conservation Experienced Services
Programs:
Transportation Security Administration’s Reimbursable Screening Services Program.
Motor Carrier Safety Advisory Committee.
Several authorities and programs related to cybersecurity.
Technology modernization fund and board.
U.S. Parole Commission.
Special assessment on nonindigent persons or entities convicted of certain offenses involving sexual abuse or human trafficking.
Several immigration-related programs and authorities.
Authority for the U.S. Sentencing Commission to promulgate certain guidelines or amendments related to the use of unmanned aircraft.
Certain bankruptcy fees.
Trade preferences for Haiti and countries in sub-Saharan Africa.
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program.
Several health care authorities and programs.
01/21/2026. H J Res 140 - Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5,
United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Bureau of Land Management relating to Public Land Order No. 7917 for Withdrawal of Federal Lands; Cook, Lake, and Saint Louis Counties, MN
MB Voted yes. Bill passed. 214 Yes. 208 No.
A House Joint Resolution is a legislative vehicle that can become law, commonly used for continuing resolutions, constitutional amendments, and narrow or time-limited actions.
Vote to adopt a joint resolution that repeals Public Land Order 7917, which protected approximately 225,504 acres of National Forest System lands in Minnesota from mineral and geothermal leasing for 20 years.
HR 6945 - Supporting Pregnant and Parenting Women and Families Act
MB Voted Yes. Bill Passed. 215 Yes. 209 No.
Establishes statutory authority for states to use Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds for pregnancy centers that (Sec. 2):
Support protecting the life of the mother and the unborn child.
Offer resources and services to mothers, fathers, and families, including relationship counseling, prenatal and pregnancy education, pregnancy testing, diapers, baby clothes, and material supports.
These are the statements provided by the R’s for support of this bill (OMG).
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) is a key federal program in the fight against poverty and provides $16.5 billion annually in federal funding to states to advance four purposes:
1. Provide assistance to needy families so that children can be cared for in their own home or in the home of relatives.
2. End the dependence of needy parents on government benefits by promoting job preparation, work, and marriage.
3. Prevent and reduce incidence out-of-wedlock pregnancies.
4. Encourage the formation of two-parent families.
The bill is endorsed by March for Life Action, Americans United for Life, Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life
America, Heritage Foundation, and Concerned Women for America.
Rebuttal from Dems:
Opposition comes primarily from House Democrats and advocacy groups concerned about TANF oversight.
1. Pregnancy Centers Often Provide Limited or Biased Services
Critics argue that many pregnancy resource centers are not medical clinics, are religiously affiliated, and may provide misleading or incomplete information about reproductive options.
They argue TANF funds should go to evidence-based programs, not centers with ideological missions. (This criticism is widely documented in public debates, including during committee discussions.)
2. TANF Funds Should Prioritize Proven Antipoverty Programs
Opponents say TANF dollars are limited and should be directed toward:
Cash assistance
Job training
Childcare
Housing support
They argue pregnancy centers do not directly reduce poverty, which is TANF’s core mission.
3. Lack of Oversight and Accountability
During the Rules Committee debate, opponents raised concerns that pregnancy centers often have minimal reporting requirements, making it difficult to ensure TANF funds are used effectively.
4. Could Undermine Access to Comprehensive Reproductive Healthcare
Critics argue that directing TANF funds to centers that do not provide contraception or abortion referrals may limit access to full-spectrum reproductive care for low-income women.
01/20/26 HR 5763 - Main Street Parity Act
MB Voted yes. Bill Passed. 383 Yes. 8 No
Reduces the amount of equity a borrower must provide for certain Small Business Administration loans for plant acquisition, construction, conversion, or expansion, including the acquisition of land, by 5% of the total cost for loans for limited or single-use properties (Sec. 2)
01/20/2026. HR 5764 - AI for Main Street Act
MB Voted Yes. Bill Passed. 395 Yes. 14 No.
Requires Small Business Development Centers to assist small businesses in evaluating artificial intelligence, including by providing best practices for using artificial intelligence and guidance about using artificial intelligence to plan for unexpected circumstances (Sec. 2).
01/15/2026 HR 2988 - Protecting Prudent Investment of Retirement Savings Act
MB Voted Yes. Bill Passed. 213 Yes. 205 No.
Highlights:
Requires a fiduciary of an employer-sponsored retirement plan to make investment decisions based solely on pecuniary factors (i.e., factors that a fiduciary prudently determines are expected to have a material effect on the risk or return of an investment based on appropriate investment horizons consistent with the plan policies and objectives) (Sec. 1).
Authorizes nonpecuniary factors to be considered in certain situations, such as when selecting investment options for certain participant-directed retirement plans or if the fiduciary is unable to distinguish between investment alternatives on the basis of pecuniary factors alone (Sec. 1).
Prohibits a plan fiduciary from discriminating when selecting, monitoring, and retaining any fiduciary, counsel, employee, or service provider of the plan (Sec. 2).
Requires a plan fiduciary to act solely and prudently in accordance with the interests of the plan participants and beneficiaries when exercising a shareholder right (e.g., voting of proxies)
Specifies that the fiduciary duty to manage shareholder rights does not require the voting of every proxy or the exercise of every shareholder right (Sec. 3).
Requires a plan fiduciary to provide specified notices with respect to a pension plan that provides a participant or beneficiary the opportunity to select from designated investment alternatives (Sec.4).
01/14/2026. HR 7006 -
Financial Services and General Government and National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2026
MB Voted Yes. Bill Passed. 341 Yes. 79 No.
Highlights:
Appropriates funds to several federal departments and agencies for activities and programs related to financial services, general government, national security, the administration of foreign affairs, and foreign assistance by passing the following regular fiscal year 2026 appropriations bills (Sec. 5):
Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, 2026;
National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2026.
Appropriates funds to the following departments, agencies, and activities (Sec. 5):
Department of the Treasury.
Executive Office of the President.
The judiciary.
District of Columbia.
Department of State and related programs.
Administration and oversight of foreign assistance programs.
Bilateral economic assistance.
International security assistance.
Multilateral assistance.
Export and investment assistance
Several related and independent agencies.
Establishes requirements and restrictions for using funds provided by this and other appropriations acts (Sec. 5).
HR 2262 - Flexibility for Workers Education Act.
MB Voted Yes. Bill failed with 6 R’s voting NO.
Amends the definition of “hours worked” under the Fair Labor Standards Act to exclude certain voluntary training that occurs outside an employee regular working hours. (Sec. 2).
Specifies that such training does not count as hours worked even if it is offered by the employer, provided that an employee working conditions are not adversely affected by choosing not to participate and the employee does not perform any work for the employer during the training (Sec. 2).
01/13/2026. HR 4593 - Saving Homeowners from Overregulation with Exceptional Rinsing (SHOWER) Act (Really??)
MB Voted Yes. Bill Passed. 226 Yes. 197 No.
Highlights:
Amends the definition of “showerhead” for the purpose of federal water efficiency regulations to align with the definition established by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) (Sec. 2).
Requires the Department of Energy (DOE) to revise existing regulations to reflect the new definition (Sec. 2).
Specifies that this bill provides statutory authority for a new definition of “showerhead” to replace the regulatory definition directed to be rescinded by the DOE through Executive Order 14264 (Sec. 2).
01/12/2026. HR 2683 - Remote Access Security Act
MB Voted Yes. Bill Passed. 396 Yes. 22 No.
Highlights:
Expands the scope of the U.S. export control system to include remote access of items (Sec. 2).
Defines “remote access” as either of the following (Sec. 2):
Access to an item subject to the jurisdiction of the United States by a foreign person through a network connection, including the internet or a cloud computing service, from a location other than where the item is physically located; or
Any other form of access specified in regulations promulgated by the Department of Commerce.
Extends the application of export controls under the Export Control Reform Act of 2018 (ECRA) to remote access of items, thereby allowing Commerce Bureau of Industry and Security to issue licenses and impose penalties related to remote access of controlled items (Sec. 2).
01/12/2026. HR 6500 - African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Extension Act
MB Voted Yes. Bill Passed. 340 Yes. 54 No.
Highlights:
Extends, through December 31, 2028, trade preferences that provide duty-free access to the U.S. market for most exports from eligible countries in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) (Sec. 2).
Specifies that this extension applies to the duty-free treatment of the products of beneficiary SSA countries under the Trade Act of 1974 (specifically, the Generalized System of Preferences) and the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) (Sec. 2).
Specifies that the extended period applies to the following provisions of AGOA (Sec. 2):
The duty-free treatment of certain apparel articles from beneficiary SSA countries.
The third-country fabric provision, which allows limited amounts of apparel articles from lesser developed beneficiary SSA countries to qualify for duty-free treatment, even if the yarns and fabrics used in their production are imported from non-AGOA countries (e.g., apparel assembled in Kenya with Chinese fabrics).
Authorizes the refund of duties (i.e., liquidation or reliquidation of entries) on articles from eligible SSA countries that entered into the United States after September 30, 2025, and before the date of this bill enactment (Sec. 2).
Extends, through December 31, 2031, customs user fees and merchandise processing fees (Sec.3).
01/12/2026. HR 6504 - Haiti Economic Lift Program Extension Act
MB Voted Yes. Bill Passed. 345 Yes. 45 No.
Highlights:
Extends, through December 31, 2028, the special duty-free rules for various apparel products imported from Haiti, including the duty-free treatment provided for a limited amount (referred to as tariff preference levels) of certain apparel products assembled in and imported from Haiti (Sec.2).
Requires the President to proclaim such modifications to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTS) that may be necessary to restore preferential treatment to articles that became ineligible for such treatment due to prior revisions to the HTS (Sec. 3).
Specifies that this Act also provides for the refund of duties (i.e., liquidation or reliquidation of entries) on covered articles from Haiti that entered into the United States on or after September 30, 2025, and before the date of this bill enactment (Sec. 3).
01/09/2026. HR 5184 - To authorize the Secretary of Energy to transmit to the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development recommendations for changes to preemptive energy conservation standards applicable to manufactured homes.
MB Voted Yes. Bill Passed. 263 Yes. 147 No.
Highlights:
Repeals Department of Energy (DOE) energy efficiency regulations applicable to manufactured housing and eliminates DOE’s authority to issue similar regulations (Sec. 2).
Repeals the DOE final rule titled Energy Conservation Program: Energy Conservation Standards or Manufactured Housing and published on May 31, 2022 (Sec. 2).
Authorizes the DOE to provide recommendations to the Department of Housing and Urban Development for revisions to energy conservation standards applicable to manufactured housing (Sec. 2).
Requires recommendation made by the DOE to comply with criteria established by the bill, including by being based on the determination of the cost-effectiveness of such revision (Sec. 2).
01/08/2026. H Res 780 - Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 1834) to advance policy priorities that will break the gridlock.
MB Voted NO. Resolution Passed. 224 Yes (all Ds + 22 Rs). 202 No.
In this vote, MB voted against his own constituents, denying them enhanced ACA subsidies.
01/01/2026. HR 1834 – Breaking the Gridlock Act
MB Voted NO. Bill Passed. 230 Yes (all Ds; 17 Rs). 196 No.
Reinstates enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies for three years. MB voted NO. Being considered in the Senate.
01/08/2026. HR 131 - Finish the Arkansas Valley Conduit Act
MB Voted NO. Bill Passed. 248 Yes (213 Ds; 35 Rs).
Highlights:
Reduces payments that communities within the Arkansas River Valley must pay to the Bureau of Reclamation for the construction of the Arkansas Valley Conduit, a pipeline in Colorado for delivering water from the Pueblo Reservoir to such communities (Sec. 2).
Specifies that the provisions of this bill remove interest payments (Sec. 2).
Extends the repayment period to 100 years (Sec. 2).
01/08/2026. HR 504 – Miccosukee Reserved Area Amendments Act
MB Voted No. House Bill Passed. Senate Bill Passed. Executive Vetoed (because of course). House Veto Override Failed.
Highlights:
Expands the Miccosukee Reserved Area to include a portion of Everglades National Park in Florida that is known as Osceola Camp (Sec. 2).
Requires the Department of the Interior, in consultation with the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians, to take appropriate actions to protect structures within the Osceola Camp from flooding (Sec. 3).
01/08/2026. HR 6938 - Commerce, Justice, Science; Energy and Water Development; and Interior and Environment Appropriations Act, 2026
MB Voted Yes. Bill Passed both House and Senate and was signed into law on Jan 23, 2026 by DJT.
PL 199-74
Highlights:
Appropriates funds for fiscal year 2026 to several federal departments and agencies for activities and programs related to commerce, law enforcement, science, energy and water development, public lands, and the environment (Sec. 5).
Authorizes the appropriations made in the following regular fiscal year 2026 appropriations bills (Sec. 5):
Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026.
Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026.
Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026.
Specifies that the departments, agencies, and activities funded in the bill include (Sec.5):
Department of Commerce.
Department of Justice.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA);
National Science Foundation.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers civil works projects.
Department of Energy.
Department of the Interior.
Environmental Protection Agency.
Forest Service.
Indian Health Service; and several related and independent agencies.
Establishes requirements and restrictions for using funds provided by this and other appropriations acts (Sec. 5).
Trump (Voight and Project 2025) proposed steep cuts to science, energy, environment, and research agencies (NASA, DOE Office of Science, EPA an others). PL 119-74 largely funds agencies at levels much higher than what Trump requested, though not necessarily at full FY 2025 enacted levels in every case. Appropriators across the Justice, Commerce, Science, Energy, Water, and Interior/Environment titles generally set budgets that preserve core agency functions and prevent the drastic reductions sought in Trump’s budget request.
Importantly, the law also includes anti-reorganization and anti-reprogramming guardrails. This provision limits executive power to implement cuts unilaterally.
We the People have somehow elected officials who want absolutely nothing to do with helping everyday people. That didn’t happen by accident—and it won’t fix itself. We need to change that. Midterm elections are in nine months… tick-tock.
We have the power!
Breathe. Resist. Rest. Repeat & VOTE
Sami and Sylvia,
Spokane Indivisible Team
Thank you for a thorough reporting!
Yeah, all I have to say is Baumgartner can eat a giant pile of fat and hairy pig dicks.