Lawmakers Clash Ahead of Congressional Recess
By Jonathan Weisman and Michael Abramowitz
Washington Post
The House was in disarray this morning after angry Republicans marched off the floor late last night over manuvering by Democratic leaders that cost them a parlimentary victory on legislation involving agricultural spending.
GOP lawmakers marched out about 11 p.m. last night and have not returned since, throwing into uncertainty an agenda that today was to include important votes on a massive energy bill, a defense spending bill and terrorist surveillance legislation before Congress leaves on its summer recess tomorrow.
It was unclear by midday when, or if, Republicans would return. Rep. Patrick McHenry (N.C.), a Republican insurgent, this morning called Democrats "cheaters," prompting a new eruption.
Late last night, GOP lawmakers had moved to send the 2008 agriculture spending bill back to the House Appropriations Committee to add an explicit prohibition on illegal immigrants receiving food stamps.
Democrats appeared to have won, but with seconds left, GOP leaders persuaded three Latino Republicans who had voted with the Democrats to change their votes. With two of the votes changed, Democrats gaveled the vote shut, 214-214, and declared they had won the motion. But the clerk had already recorded the third vote switch, and the public tally gave the GOP the win though Democrats said the gavel had already come down.
In raucous protest, Republicans walked out of the House en masse.
(Continued here.)
Washington Post
The House was in disarray this morning after angry Republicans marched off the floor late last night over manuvering by Democratic leaders that cost them a parlimentary victory on legislation involving agricultural spending.
GOP lawmakers marched out about 11 p.m. last night and have not returned since, throwing into uncertainty an agenda that today was to include important votes on a massive energy bill, a defense spending bill and terrorist surveillance legislation before Congress leaves on its summer recess tomorrow.
It was unclear by midday when, or if, Republicans would return. Rep. Patrick McHenry (N.C.), a Republican insurgent, this morning called Democrats "cheaters," prompting a new eruption.
Late last night, GOP lawmakers had moved to send the 2008 agriculture spending bill back to the House Appropriations Committee to add an explicit prohibition on illegal immigrants receiving food stamps.
Democrats appeared to have won, but with seconds left, GOP leaders persuaded three Latino Republicans who had voted with the Democrats to change their votes. With two of the votes changed, Democrats gaveled the vote shut, 214-214, and declared they had won the motion. But the clerk had already recorded the third vote switch, and the public tally gave the GOP the win though Democrats said the gavel had already come down.
In raucous protest, Republicans walked out of the House en masse.
(Continued here.)
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