Al Franken has now cast three votes, all of them on amendments to HR2892 (Making appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security). The first was cast yesterday, and it was a vote against a McCain amendment to slash funding for Over-the-Road Bus Security Assistance. The amendment failed, receiving only 47 votes (including Feingold and 11 other Democrats).

The two votes today are interesting because Franken and Klobuchar cancelled each other out. The first vote was on a motion to table an amendment introduced by Jeff Sessions "to make the pilot program for employment eligibility confirmation for aliens permanent and to improve verification of immigration status of employees." It was basically a Latino harassment amendment. Franken voted to table it, while Klobuchar voted to keep it alive. Other Democrats who supported Sessions were: Baucus (D-MT), Conrad (D-ND), Dorgan (D-ND), Hagan (D-NC), Landrieu (D-LA), Lieberman (ID-CT), Lincoln (D-AR), McCaskill (D-MO), Nelson (D-NE), Pryor (D-AR), Rockefeller (D-WV), and Tester (D-MT). The amendment was not tabled.

The second vote was on an amendment introduced by Jim DeMint (R-SC) "to require the completion of at least 700 miles of reinforced fencing along the southwest border by December 31, 2010." Again, this was a stupid amendment meant to waste taxpayer dollars to provide the illusion that we can prevent illegal immigration with fencing. Franken voted against it. Klobuchar voted for it. So did the following Democrats: Baucus (D-MT), Bayh (D-IN), Boxer (D-CA), Conrad (D-ND), Dorgan (D-ND), Feinstein (D-CA), Landrieu (D-LA), Lincoln (D-AR), McCaskill (D-MO), Merkley (D-OR), Nelson (D-FL), Nelson (D-NE), Pryor (D-AR), Rockefeller (D-WV), Schumer (D-NY), Specter (D-PA), Stabenow (D-MI), Tester (D-MT), Webb (D-VA), and Wyden (D-OR). The stupid fencing amendment passed with only fifty-four votes because sane Republicans voted against it, including: Cochran (R-MS), Collins (R-ME), Ensign (R-NV), Lugar (R-IN) Martinez (R-FL), Murkowski (R-AK), and Voinovich (R-OH).

I continue to be depressed about how frequently senators vote out of fear rather than on the merits. Klobuchar should know better. It's great to see that Franken is casting his first votes on the merits.