House Democrats on Thursday agreed to vote again on legislation to open up the government through February after Republicans complained that the bill passed without a recorded vote.
Republicans were caught off-guard when the bill, which would reopen the government through Feb. 28, sailed through the House on a voice vote. GOP lawmakers were eager to register their opposition to the bill, since it doesn’t include any funding for President Trump’s proposed border wall.
As soon as it passed in a voice vote, Republicans complained that they were not given a chance to request a roll-call vote from Democrats, who run the floor.
“I was awaiting a request for a recorded vote and did not have one,” said Rep. G.K. Butterfield, D-N.C., the presiding officer, after Republicans complained. “And if there was one, it was not timely.”
Republicans said Butterfield did not provide the opportunity for the opponents of the measure to call for a recorded vote, which typically happens. Republicans tried to order a revote and asked the parliamentarian how they could order a vote, but they were denied repeatedly.
“What’s the deal here?” Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., asked at one point during the confusion. “It’s done. We told people to go home.”
“I don’t think any games were played,” Hoyer said. “I’m going to look at the tape. I understand most of you were not for the resolution that passed. I was surprised it went without a vote.”
After the House was adjourned, Hoyer returned and said Democrats would agree to vacate the vote and allow for a recorded vote next week, once lawmakers have all returned from the weekend.
The measure provides the money to re-open nine departments and dozens of agencies until Feb. 28. The chamber passed a measure Wednesday to provide funding until Feb. 8.
But like the bills passed previously this month, it includes none of the wall funding President Trump said he needs in order to agree to sign new spending bills into law.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said he won’t take up any of the House-passed measures because President Trump won’t sign them.
Trump wants up to $5 billion for border security and a wall. Democrats say they will not agree to any border wall money.
Democrats have introduced measures almost daily that would reopen all of parts of the closed government agencies and departments, hoping to increasingly attract support from Republicans.
But the GOP has largely stuck together, and the exercise and its outcome has become so routine that on Thursday, the measure passed by voice vote without any recorded vote that would show whether more Republicans or fewer support the bill.
Democrats next week plan to introduce measures that related to border security, perhaps pairing the provisions will spending bills, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., suggested Thursday, without providing further details.
