Morning Roundup: House Votes Overwhelmingly to Reopen the Ex-Im Bank
Just in case Senator McConnell missed it last night, we thought we’d be helpful and round up this morning’s headlines that show the majority of Republicans voted with nearly every Democrat to pass legislation to reopen the Export-Import Bank – the same legislation that passed the Senate with 64 votes. So, the question for him is: will he take it up so we can restore certainty to businesses or will he stand in the way of the will of bipartisan majorities in both of the House and the Senate?
NY Times: House Votes Overwhelmingly to Reopen the Ex-Im Bank
“The House acted with rare bipartisanship on Tuesday to approve legislation that would reopen the federal Export-Import Bank, after a debate that underscored the split between the party’s traditional pro-business members and ascendant free-market conservatives who are suspicious of big corporations.”
“The lopsided final vote of 313 to 118 belied that split, as a majority of Republicans allied with all but one Democrat to reauthorize the 81-year-old bank agency, but only once the bill’s passage was assured. Late Monday, just a quarter of Republicans supported an earlier vote — and an unusual legislative move — that made the final vote possible over the opposition of most party leaders.”
“The result, a victory for an alliance of business and organized labor, was a big step toward reversing a triumph for hard-line conservatives when they blocked the reauthorization of the small agency four months ago.”
WSJ: House Votes to Reauthorize U.S. Export-Import Bank
“The House Tuesday approved the reauthorization of the U.S. Export-Import Bank, with a majority of Republicans joining almost all Democrats to demonstrate a broad bipartisan coalition to revive the export-finance agency.”
“More than half of the House’s 247 Republicans—127 in all—voted to renew the bank’s charter. Three years ago, 147 out of 242 backed it.”
“Passage had already been assured after Republicans had joined most Democrats on Monday in calling up a so-called discharge petition, a rarely effective procedural tool that allows a majority of lawmakers to dislodge legislation that has been held back by party leaders.”
“The House bill copied language in a Senate amendment that passed with 64 votes in July.”
AP: House Bill Revives Ex-Im Bank Over Conservative Opposition
“A strong coalition of establishment-backed Republicans and House Democrats voted overwhelmingly Tuesday to revive the Export-Import Bank, dealing a defeat to tea party conservatives and Speaker-to-be Paul Ryan.”
“The House approved the measure 313-118 as 127 Republicans joined with virtually every Democrat to support the bank, whose charter expired June 30. Since then, the bank has been unable to approve new applications to fulfill its mission of helping overseas buyers get financing to purchase U.S. exports like airplanes and heavy equipment. Supporters say the bank helps sustain tens of thousands of manufacturing jobs.”
The Hill: House Approves Ex-Im Renewal
“A majority of House Republicans joined all but one Democrat Tuesday in voting to reauthorize the Export-Import Bank, whose charter expired in June.”
“After a rare procedural move brought Export-Import to the House floor against the wishes of GOP leaders, the bank saw surprising support in the 313-118 vote to renew, including from 127 Republicans.”
“Forty-two Republicans signed the petition earlier this month, which led to a vote on discharging the measure from the House Rules Committee. Sixty-two Republicans voted Monday in favor of discharging the bill, though a majority of Republicans then voted for the underlying legislation.”
Politico: House votes to revive Ex-Im Bank
“Led by rebellious Republican moderates, the House voted overwhelmingly Tuesday to revive the Export-Import Bank in a major setback for conservatives who wanted to kill an institution they say epitomizes corporate welfare.”
“The 313-118 vote sends the legislation to the Senate, where supporters are attempting to craft a plan to bring an Ex-Im bill to the president's desk. A majority of House Republicans and a third of the House Financial Services Committee Republicans voted for the measure.”
Roll Call: House Votes to Revive Ex-Im Bank
“… [T]he support of nearly every Democrat made it possible for 127 Republicans to circumvent GOP leadership and pass legislation to reopen the Export-Import Bank.”
“The bipartisan, 313-118 victory was made possible through successful execution of a “discharge petition,” a quirky procedural maneuver that forces floor consideration of any bill within a certain window of time, provided enough members sign on in support.”
CQ: House Votes to Renew Ex-Im Bank, Using Rare Discharge Motion
“The majority of House Republicans helped deliver passage by a 313-118 vote in a move seen as a rebuke to party leaders who repeatedly refused to call up the reauthorization and to conservatives who have long sought to kill the bank. The measure had 127 Republicans and 186 Democrats voting for it.”
McClatchy: House Defies GOP Right Wing, Revives Ex-Im Bank
“An unlikely coalition of conservative and moderate House Republicans and all House Democrats joined forces Tuesday to resuscitate the Export-Import Bank of the United States.”
“In a 313-118 vote, the House of Representatives authorized the bank in the face of conservative opposition, which says the bank distorts the free market. Of the 244 Republicans who voted, 127 joined all but one Democrat, Rep. Alan Grayson of Florida, in approving the measure.”
Washington Times: House Uses Rare Move In Vote to Reauthorize Ex-Im Bank
“The House voted Tuesday to revive the federal Export-Import Bank, capping an unusual end-run around GOP leaders and vexing conservatives who say the lapsed credit agency corrupted the free market and should fade away.”
“A majority of Republicans teamed with all but one Democrat to reauthorize the bank known as “Ex-Im,” 313 votes to 118, after centrists in the House GOP conference circulated a discharge petition this month to force the issue onto the floor.”