The U.S. House of Representatives was the site of a bizarre and unprecedented event late Wednesday evening, when House Democrats refused to relinquish a staged “sit in” on gun control, shouting over House Speaker Paul Ryan as he House into session for a vote.
“No bill, no break!” Democrats shouted as Ryan called a vote on a resolution to override President Obama’s veto of a GOP bill to block a new Labor Department rule on financial advisers. Ryan called on members to respect the rules and the process, but was only met with more chanting as he quickly moved the House to the vote.
Ryan gaveled the vote, beginning 15 minutes of consideration on the override resolution. As expected, the resolution failed — members voted 239-180 in favor of the resolution, but it failed, as it needed a two-thirds majority to pass and Democrats refused to support it.
Meanwhile, the scene on the House floor was chaotic.
Democrats thrust pieces of paper into the air showing the names of victims of gun violence, then broke into the civil rights protest song, “We Shall Overcome”
The shouted through the chair announcing the votes and shouted “Shame, shame, shame,” when Republicans hastily gaveled the House back into recess after the votes concluded. The GOP quickly processed the vote and left the chamber as soon as it was over.
The chaotic vote capped the end of a day that was marked by a constant protest by Democrats on the floor. They began by taking control of the floor around 11:30 a.m., chanting and embarking on speeches demanding votes on gun control measures before lawmakers depart for a week-long recess.
Shouts of “No bill, no break” where heard throughout the day.
Republicans tried to gavel in the House at noon but quickly gave up when Democrats talked over the opening prayer. Technically, the House was in recess all day as Democrats lined up to speak, without any official coverage on C-SPAN. Instead, video shot by Democrats was broadcast through the Periscope mobile app.
Republicans met in the basement of the Capitol earlier in the evening, deciding then to restart legislative business and hold a vote on the veto override measure.
The plan, they said, would be to simply conduct business, even if Democrats refused to relinquish the floor. While Republicans have the authority to forcibly remove uncooperative Democrats, many agreed that this would only add to the spectacle.
Some Republicans said they are working on legislation that would stop terrorists from being able to buy guns but Republican leaders say there is no plan to work out a deal with Democrats.
