WASHINGTON _ The House passed a continuing resolution that would reopen nine Cabinet departments through Feb. 28 on a voice vote, a result that devolved into partisan sparring on the floor as Republicans sought to vacate the vote and Democrats said, in effect, too bad.
Rep. Morgan Griffith, R-Va., raised an initial parliamentary inquiry about why the House chose to voice vote the joint resolution.
In a series of responses and subsequent parliamentary inquiries, the chair, Rep. G. K. Butterfield, D-N.C., ultimately ruled that the vote had been decided by voice vote, and that the motion to reconsider had been laid on the table.
As a result, Minority Whip Steve Scalise, R-La., has asked unanimous consent that the House reconsider the vote on which the joint resolution passed.
Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer, D-Md., said, "I'm not sure what's going on, but I object."
In objecting, Scalise's request, Hoyer said many members have already departed the Capitol to catch their planes home. Scalise responded by noting they can tell the members to return or to delay a recorded vote until next week.
"The majority does have it within their purview to work with us to agree by unanimous content to make it a previous vote," Scalise said.
Hoyer declined, saying he does not have the ability to do that by unanimous consent.
"I regret, Mr. Speaker, that I am not in a position to try cure the failure in my view, because I didn't hear it ... the (chair) obviously did not hear it either," he said, referring to Republicans saying they requested a recorded vote. Had the chair heard it he would have honored it, Hoyer said.
After the Democrats ruled against Republicans' request, the members on their side of the aisle _ dozens had stayed behind while most Democrats had cleared out of the chamber _ started booing.
Several Republicans shouted at the chair or across the aisle with comments like: "You heard him and you walked away." "We want to be heard." "Is this how it's going to be?"
Texas GOP Rep. Louie Gohmert added: "Where was the vote on the motion to adjourn? There was none."
One member concluded the shouting with an ever harsher insult, saying, "Go back to Puerto Rico," a reference to several Democratic members who spent the early part of the week at a political summit in Puerto Rico while the government is shut down.
Republicans lingered behind on the floor, first huddling around Scalise and then breaking off and chatting in smaller groups about their frustration on what just happened.
The White House has issued a veto threat against the temporary funding bill and Senate Republican leaders aren't expected to take it up. President Donald Trump and Democratic leaders remain in a stalemate over border security funds with no signs of progress yet.
The partial government shutdown, now in its record-setting 27th day, is likely to drag into next week. Both chambers are planning to stay in session for a holiday-shortened week, instead of taking a previously-scheduled recess.
