Afternoon Roundup: House Republican Leaders Strong-arm Their Members to Vote Against LGBT Equality
During today’s vote series, House Republicans held open a two minute vote open for nearly eight minutes in order to make their Members change their votes to defeat an amendment introduced by Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney that would ban discrimination against LGBT Americans. Needless to say, their antics didn’t go unnoticed:
CBS News: House erupts into chaos after LGBT protection amendment narrowly fails
“Maloney's amendment narrowly failed Thursday 212-213 after it looked like it was going to pass 217-206 a few seconds earlier. Republican leaders held open the vote and Democrats say Republicans twisted arms, pressuring members of their conference to switch their votes so that it would fail.”
NBC News: Vote on House Floor Over LGBT Rights Turns Ugly
“House Democrats could be heard chanting "shame, shame, shame" on the floor as the measure went from garnering up to 217 votes at one point down to just 212 when the vote was gaveled. Boos erupted from the House floor as the measure failed.”
The Hill: Chaos in House after GOP votes down LGBT measure
“Initially, it appeared Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney's (D-N.Y.) amendment had passed, as 217 "yes" votes piled up over 206 "no" votes when the clock ran out. The measure needed 213 votes to pass. But it eventually failed on a 212-213 vote after a number of Republican lawmakers changed their votes from "yes" to "no" after the clock had expired.”
Politico: House erupts in chaos after LGBT vote
“At one point, a monitor in the House gallery showed there were 217 votes supporting the legislation, eliciting cheers of joy from Democrats who thought the measure might actually pass. But over the course of about 10 minutes, those votes suddenly dropped one by one to 212 — and the amendment failed.”
“A number of lawmakers from western states, who originally voted yes, changed their votes. According to a list tweeted out an hour after the vote by House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer’s (D-Md.) office, they included: Reps. Darrell Issa (Calif.), David Valadao (Calif.), Jeff Denham (Calif.), Greg Walden (Ore.), Mimi Walters (Calif.), David Yong (Iowa) and Bruce Poliquin (Maine).”
Huffington Post: Dem Lawmakers Shout ‘Shame!’ As GOP Scrambles To Save Anti-LGBT Provision
“As the votes came in, it became clear Maloney had the support to pass his amendment... But the vote isn’t official until the gavel comes down, and the Republican lawmaker in the speaker’s chair held the vote open for several more minutes — a sign that GOP leaders were working on flipping some of their members from yes to no.”
USA Today: House Dems accuse GOP of dirty tricks over failed LGBT amendment
“The House floor dissolved into partisan yelling Thursday after multiple Republicans changed their votes on an amendment intended to protect the LGBT community from discrimination.”
Talking Points Memo: House Dems Outraged After GOPers Switch Votes To Defeat LGBT Measure
“Shouts erupted in the House gallery Thursday morning after several Republican members switched their votes, defeating an amendment that would have preserved anti-discrimination protections for LGBT employees of federal contractors.”
Washington Post: House turns into battleground over LGBT rights
“The House floor is turning into an emotional, and at times ugly, battleground over LGBT rights, as Democrats accuse Republicans of promoting bigotry and discrimination over proposals GOP leaders say are intended to protect freedom of religion from government overreach.”