Dems in the House did some good stuff this week.

3. SOCIAL SECURITY PRIVATIZATION (HR 3043): Voting 231-199, the House moved to block salary payments to Andrew Biggs, the new deputy commissioner of Social Security and an advocate of privatizing Social Security. President Bush installed Biggs with a recess appointment to avert Senate confirmation hearings that would examine his views on privatization. This amendment would nullify Biggs’s salary until he receives Senate confirmation. A yes vote backed the amendment.

1. POLICE, FIREFIGHTER UNIONS (HR 980): Voting 314-97, the House sent the Senate a bill granting limited union rights to police, firefighters, corrections officers and other public-safety personnel. At least 20 states now deny collective-bargaining rights to public employees. The bill empowers state and local first responders to bargain over wages, benefits and working conditions but prohibits strikes and lockouts. A yes vote was to pass the bill.

2. PLANNED PARENTHOOD FUNDS (HR 3043): Voting 189-231, the House refused to block funding for Planned Parenthood in the 2008 Department of Health and Human services budget because the organization supports abortion. A yes vote backed the amendment.