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U.S. House Erupts Over Stolen Vote
House Democrats apologized Friday for wrestling what appeared to be a winning vote tally away from Republicans on Thursday night. Republicans continued to steam, however, over the episode in which they appeared to be the winners by a 215-213 tally on a procedural motion designed to make sure illegal immigrants would not get certain benefits from an agriculture spending bill. Instead, with several lawmakers milling in the well of the House registering votes, Rep. Michael McNulty, D-N.Y., quickly gaveled the vote to a close, saying the GOP measure had failed on a 214-214 tie vote. Republicans erupted, chanting "shame, shame, shame," and then walked out in protest after McNulty permitted further Democrats to switch their votes to prevail on a 216-212 tally. Despite winning that tally, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., moved for a revote as permitted under the rules and Democrats subsequently prevailed.
Story Continues Below On Friday, Hoyer apologized. "The minority was understandably angry," Hoyer said. The heavy-handed tactics capped a partisan week in the chamber and Hoyer and Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, promised to try to work out some accommodation. Still, rank and file Republicans remained furious and the House recessed Friday morning as its leaders pondered what to do. Democrats changed House rules in January to disallow the practice of holding votes open to affect the outcome. The new rule came after Republicans routinely held open votes to twist arms, including a 2003 episode on the Medicare prescription drug bill in which Republicans held a vote open for three hours until finally prevailing. "Never once did we in the majority attempt to steal a vote," Rep. Eric Cantor, R-Va., said Friday. The stakes on the issue involved Thursday were far smaller. Democrats had routinely accepted comparable language on illegal immigrants on other spending bills, but the agriculture measure was being debated under fast-track conditions denying Republicans a chance to offer the provision.
© 2007 Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Editor's note:
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