To amend H.R. 17550 so as to finance automatic increases in social benefits by increasing the tax base according to rises in average taxable earnings.

On Dec 28, 1970, the Senate voted 28–39 (HR 17550). Result: failed. By party: Democrats 20–16, Republicans 10–26. It was a split vote: the parties took opposite sides, with some members crossing over. 26 members voted against their own party.

During the 91st Congress (1969–1970), Richard Nixon was president, and Democrats held majorities in both the House and Senate.

Yes: 28
No: 39
Did not vote: 30
Date: Dec 28, 1970

By party

Democrats20 yes · 16 no · 22 didn’t vote
Republicans10 yes · 26 no · 8 didn’t vote

Who broke with their party

James Browning Allen D-AL voted no
John Jackson Sparkman D-AL voted no
Spessard Lindsey Holland D-FL voted no
Herman Eugene Talmadge D-GA voted no
Allen Joseph Ellender D-LA voted no
Russell Billiu Long D-LA voted no
Edward William Brooke III R-MA voted yes
Charles McCurdy Mathias Jr. R-MD voted yes
John Cornelius Stennis D-MS voted no
Benjamin Everett Jordan D-NC voted no
Samuel James Ervin Jr. D-NC voted no
Clifford Philip Case R-NJ voted yes
Alan Harvey Bible D-NV voted no
Howard Walter Cannon D-NV voted no
Charles Ellsworth Goodell R-NY voted yes
Jacob Koppel Javits R-NY voted yes
Mark Odom Hatfield R-OR voted yes
Hugh Doggett Scott Jr. R-PA voted yes
Richard Schultz Schweiker R-PA voted yes
John Orlando Pastore D-RI voted no
Howard Henry Baker Jr. R-TN voted yes
Harry Flood Byrd Jr. D-VA voted no
William Belser Spong Jr. D-VA voted no
Winston Lewis Prouty R-VT voted yes
Jennings Randolph D-WV voted no
Robert Carlyle Byrd D-WV voted no

How each senator voted: Yes

How each senator voted: No

Did not vote

Other votes

From Voteview roll call records.

Cite or embed this page

Capitol Receipts, “To amend H.R. 17550 so as to finance…: Senate Vote, Dec 28, 1970,” https://www.capitolreceipts.com/vote/91-S-653/to-amend-h-r-17550-so-as-to-finance (accessed 2026-10-17).