To table the motion to reconsider the bentsen amendment (see RC 332) to S. 1952.

On Aug 4, 1977, the Senate voted 51–45. Result: passed. By party: Democrats 38–21, Republicans 13–24, Independents 0–1. It was a split vote: the parties took opposite sides, with some members crossing over. 34 members voted against their own party.

During the 95th Congress (1977–1978), Jimmy Carter was president, and Democrats held majorities in both the House and Senate.

Yes: 51
No: 45
Did not vote: 7
Date: Aug 4, 1977

By party

Democrats38 yes · 21 no · 6 didn’t vote
Republicans13 yes · 24 no · 1 didn’t vote
Independents0 yes · 1 no

Who broke with their party

Maurice Robert (Mike) Gravel D-AK voted no
James Browning Allen D-AL voted no
John Little Mcclellan D-AR voted no
Lowell Palmer Weicker Jr. R-CT voted yes
William Victor Roth Jr. R-DE voted yes
Herman Eugene Talmadge D-GA voted no
Samuel Augustus Nunn D-GA voted no
Spark Masayuki Matsunaga D-HI voted no
Frank Forrester Church D-ID voted no
Wendell Hampton Ford D-KY voted no
John Bennett Johnston Jr. 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
Robert Paul Griffin R-MI voted yes
James Oliver Eastland D-MS voted no
John Cornelius Stennis D-MS voted no
John Melcher D-MT voted no
Robert Burren Morgan D-NC voted no
Edward Zorinsky D-NE voted no
Clifford Philip Case R-NJ voted yes
Howard Walter Cannon D-NV voted no
Jacob Koppel Javits R-NY voted yes
Mark Odom Hatfield R-OR voted yes
Henry John Heinz III R-PA voted yes
Richard Schultz Schweiker R-PA voted yes
John Hubbard Chafee R-RI voted yes
Ernest Frederick (Fritz) Hollings D-SC voted no
George Stanley Mcgovern D-SD voted no
Howard Henry Baker Jr. R-TN voted yes
James Ralph Sasser D-TN voted no
Lloyd Millard Bentsen Jr. D-TX voted no
Robert Theodore Stafford R-VT voted yes
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 table the motion to reconsider the…: Senate Vote, Aug 4, 1977,” https://www.capitolreceipts.com/vote/95-S-333/to-table-the-motion-to-reconsider-the-bentsen-amendment (accessed 2026-10-17).