Republicans whine about Democrats immigration motion

August 3, 2007

Washington, DC - Angry Republicans walked off the floor of the House of Representatives Friday as a group of Republicans complained that the Democratic leadership Thursday night overrode a vote to deny welfare benefits to illegal immigrants, prompting Republicans to leave the chamber.

The House was working on a series of votes related to an agriculture appropriations bill and a motion was up for a vote that would send the bill back to the appropriations committee. Republicans wanted to do just that, so that the bill could be rewritten to include a prohibition on using money to pay for housing or employment of illegal immigrants.

As the vote was winding down, Rep. Michael McNulty, D-New York, ruled that the motion had failed even though the current vote tally showed the motion had passed by a vote of 215 to 213. Republicans immediately began to shout "fraud" at what they saw as a power play by Democrats.

But, House Democrats say McNulty just made a mistake in ending the vote too early. A Democratic leadership aide says that McNulty called the vote closed when it became tied at 214 to 214, even as seven members tried to vote. After a number of vote switches, Democrats say the final tally was 212 to 216, with the motion failing.

McNulty feels badly and apologized for the vote today, a Democratic aide said Friday.

On Friday morning, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D.-Maryland, offered to bring the matter to the House Ethics Committee but withdrew his offer after Republican House Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, dismissed the idea.

Hoyer and Boehner had a private meeting to discuss the situation but couldn't resolve the Republicans' concerns.

On Friday morning, House Republicans had an impromptu caucus meeting and the House floor remains shut down.

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