Do We Have a New “Dr. No” in Congress?

I get this email newsletter from Roll Call, a website by Congress.org. It’s called MegaVote. What I get are the votes on substantive issues by my two Republican Senators and my one Republican Congressman. I’ve mentioned one or two of these before, but today I paused to note that my Republican Congressman, Pete Olson, appears to have a stuck voting button.

I don’t think I have ever seen him cast a Yes vote yet.

But that could be an illusion, who knows.

Today, this is what the MegaVote message told me:

Recent House Votes:

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Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education (GIVE) Act
http://capwiz.com/congressorg/issues/votes/?votenum=169&chamber=H&congress=1111
Vote Passed (274-149, 8 Not Voting)

The House agreed to the Senate amendments to this national service bill, sending it to the president.

Rep. Pete Olson voted
NO

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To amend the executive compensation provisions of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008
http://capwiz.com/congressorg/issues/votes/?votenum=182&chamber=H&congress=1111
Vote Passed (247-171, 1 Present, 12 Not Voting)

On Wednesday, the House passed this bill intended to curb bonuses of executives at financial institutions that receive Troubled Asset Relief Program money.

Rep. Pete Olson voted
NO

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Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act
http://capwiz.com/congressorg/issues/votes/?votenum=187&chamber=H&congress=1111
Vote Passed (298-112, 21 Not Voting)

The House passed this bill that would give the FDA regulatory authority over tobacco, but would not allow the agency to ban cigarettes or other tobacco products.

Rep. Pete Olson voted
NO

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Congressional Budget for Fiscal Year 2010
http://capwiz.com/congressorg/issues/votes/?votenum=192&chamber=H&congress=1111
Vote Passed (233-196, 3 Not Voting)

The House passed their version of the national budget for fiscal year 2010.

Rep. Pete Olson voted
NO

Now I know that Rep. Olson is serving his first year with a Democratically controlled House, Senate, and Executive Branch, so you have to expect a lot of this. But smoking Congressman? You voted in favor of smoking?

Reasoning? Are you defending your constituents right to suicide by inhalation?

Guess who else voted NO on the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act? That’s right, “Dr. No” himself, Dr. Ron Paul.

Now I am starting to wonder if the Republicans in TX-22 have bit off a bit more conservatively than they can chew. Where on the spectrum do we place Pete Olson now that he has voted for cancer in Texas families?