This vote was on an amendment by Geoff Davis, R-Ky., that would prohibit funds in the bill from being used for performance-based bonuses or cash awards to any Social Security Administration (SSA) or Medicare/Medicaid (CMS) employee who are senior executives.  The amendment was offered to the bill that funds the Labor, Health and Education departments in fiscal 2008.

"The premise is simple. Bonus pay is for exemplary work. It is my opinion that the American people are not getting exemplary work from the SSA and the CMS. Therefore, the management of the agency, as in the private sector, should not be eligible for bonus pay and should be accountable for their performance," Davis said.

David Obey, D-Wis., said he could not understand why it would be necessary to deny employees in good standing, who have achieved exemplary personal work records, from receiving bonuses that they are due.

"The gentleman’s amendment would overturn the entire personnel policy of the agencies," Obey said.  "I’m sure that many Members have frustrations with the performance of many agencies from time to time, and I’m sure sometimes we’re pulling our hair, but that doesn’t mean that we ought to have an across-the-board policy that penalizes people across the board because someone didn’t perform up to someone else’s standards."

By a vote of 185-238, the amendment was rejected.  Of Republicans present, 165 voted for the amendment and 32 voted against it.  Of Democrats present, 20 voted for the amendment and 206 voted against it.  The end result is that the amendment that would have stopped bonuses and cash awards for performance at the senior executive levels in the Social Security Administration and Medicare/Medicaid organization was defeated.