House GOP blocks vote on poison pill LGBT amendment

Rules Committee Republicans blocked a vote on a Democratic-offered proposal that would strip federal contracts from companies that discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity, in order to ensure that the larger spending bill could pass the House.

Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass., asked the committee Wednesday evening to allow the amendment, which was originally offered by New York Democrat Sean Patrick Maloney, to receive a vote Thursday when the House takes up the bill that appropriates money to fund Congress. It was a pro forma request, however — only two Democrats were present for the vote, which failed 8-2.