She shaped defense policy on the defense and military construction subcommittees of the Senate Appropriations Committee. She also served the Senate Commerce Committee, chairing the Subcommittee on Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine. In that position, she drafted and passed the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 1998. Hutchison led senate fights for legislation preventing states' tobacco settlement funds from federal seizure, and a bill strengthening health-care benefits for veterans and military retirees. During 1999-2000, Ms. Hutchison was a deputy majority whip.
Small companies pay royalties on the market price of crude.
That lowers their royalty payment, saving them millions. John McCain, Republican presidential candidate in the 2000 campaign, co-sponsored Feingold's campaign finance legislation, but that did not stop him from casting the sixtieth vote required to end the filibuster and protect the oil subsidy. She also expressed no interest in a Cabinet position or presidential appointment in any Republican White House in 2001. Her editorials on tax and defense issues have been published in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, and every Texas daily newspaper.