House Republicans block passage of symbolic anti-shutdown resolution
WASHINGTON – Illustrating the deep partisan divisions that remain following the 35-day partial government shutdown that ended Friday, the House on Wednesday rejected a symbolic resolution expressing disapproval of shutdowns as a negotiating tactic.
The resolution fell short, 249-163, because most Republicans opposed it, despite Democrats amending it Tuesday to drop language the GOP found objectionable.
Typically, minority votes wouldn’t determine the outcome of measure passing the House, but Democrats brought the resolution up under suspension of the rules, which requires two-thirds support for passage.
Meanwhile, Democrats on Tuesday did pass a bill to raise federal employees’ pay, although most Republicans opposed that, too. It passed 259-161, as it was brought to the floor under the normal rule process and only required a simple-majority vote.
The Republicans who voted against the anti-shutdown resolution may have come as a surprise given that Democrats agreed to amend the measure Tuesday after the GOP complained about language blaming President Donald Trump for the shutdown. They even used procedural floor tactics, like calling for a motion to adjourn, to voice their objection.
That language blaming the president – along with quotes from House Minority Leader Kevin Mccarthy of California and Idaho Republican Rep. Mike Simpson expressing disapproval for shutdowns – was removed from the amended version.
“Yesterday members of the Freedom Caucus basically tried to shut down the House of Representatives because they objected to a sentence,” freshman Virginia Democratic Rep. Jennifer Wexton, the measure’s sponsor, said during floor debate on the resolution. “The offending clause has been removed from this resolution, and it should not be a problem anymore.”