Obama votes cast him left of his own party

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By Jerry Seper and Joseph Curl

The legislation was reintroduced and passed the House on March 12, 2002, by a voice vote, On July 18, 2002, it cleared the Senate by unanimous consent. President Bush signed the bill into law on Aug. 5, 2002.

"This important legislation ensures that every infant born alive - including an infant who survives an abortion procedure - is considered a person under federal law," Mr. Bush said at the time. "Today, through sonograms and other technology, we can see clearly that unborn children are members of the human family, as well."

Billing himself on the 2008 presidential campaign trail as the law-and-order candidate who consistently supported and voted for bills aimed at strengthening the nation's criminal justice system, Mr. Obama doesn't mention several votes from his eight years in the Illinois state Senate that Republicans are determined to use to paint a different picture.

On numerous occasions, according to a compilation of his state legislative votes, Mr. Obama voted "present," "no" or not at all when several major crime bills were offered. For instance, Mr. Obama was the only member of the Illinois Senate who:

cDid not support a bill permitting the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services to report suspected child abuse while protecting the identity of the facility or person providing the information. The bill, SB-853, was approved by the Senate by a vote of 54-0-1, with Mr. Obama voting "present," and 117-0-0 in the House. Known as the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act, it was signed into law by Illinois Gov. James Edgar in July 1997.

cVoted "present" on a bill in committee requiring criminals to serve consecutive sentences for separate crimes involving convictions for severe bodily harm or sexual assault but didn't vote at all when the measure came to the floor. The bill, HB-1558, was passed in the Senate by a 54-0-0 vote and the House by a 118-0-0 vote. Mr. Edgar signed the bill into law in July 1997.

cVoted "present" on a bill making it harder for abusive and neglectful parents to regain custody of their children. The bill, HB-1298, passed in the Senate by a vote of 57-0-1 and the House by a vote of 99-4-22. Gov. George H. Ryan signed the bill into law in January 2000.

cDid not vote on legislation to prohibit convicted sex offenders from serving on school boards. The bill, HB-338, was approved by the Senate by a 58-0-0 vote and the House by a 106-0-0 vote. Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich signed the bill into law in May 2003.

The records also show Mr. Obama voted "no" on a bill allowing police officers to execute warrants and enter buildings without knocking if there was a reasonable belief a weapon would be used against them; voted "present" on legislation requiring that minors who commit gun crimes on or near a school be prosecuted as adults; and did not vote on a bill requiring fingerprint background checks on school bus drivers.

Mr. Obama was the only member of the state Senate to vote against a bill to prohibit the early release of convicted criminal sexual abusers; and was among only four who voted against bills to toughen criminal sentences, increase penalties for criminals whose offenses were committed in the furtherance of gang activities, and increase penalties for the delivery of Ecstasy and other designer drugs.