Rep. Robert Andrews has helped lead Democrats’ efforts to force issues procedurally.
Turner spokesman Trey Stapleton was unmoved, asserting that Democrats "attempt to force an issue on a procedural vote in order to divert attention away from the fact that they have no plan to fix our economy and get Americans back to work."
Democrats were successful in getting another New York Republican, Rep. Peter King, to cross party lines and vote for an MTR in June that would have increased funding for transportation security in the Homeland Security appropriations bill.
King, who is chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, said he voted for the MTR "to send a message to Republicans about how important this issue was."
King noted that Republican leaders "were not happy about it." But he also pointed out that it was the only MTR he's voted for this year and that "I understand their position and why they want to keep everybody in line."
"I think it's good that [Speaker John] Boehner and [Majority Leader Eric] Cantor are trying to keep people in line on motions to recommit, and I'd be surprised if they hurt anyone at all next year," King said.
Republicans had a much better record in winning MTR votes on the floor while they were in the minority. Twenty-one of their MTRs passed by the end of the first session of the 110th Congress in 2007. One of those procedural motions, an MTR meant for the D.C. voting rights bill that would have lifted the District's ban on handguns, was so threatening to the Democratic majority that it was never brought up for a vote.
Just as Republicans set an early tone on MTRs when they were in the minority, scoring a few wins early and then splintering the Democratic Caucus with several more motions later on, the GOP quickly laid down a marker to vote against all procedural motions this year. By voting en bloc against every Democratic motion, GOP aides contend, Members can uphold the argument back home that procedural votes are irrelevant.
Freshman Rep. Trey Gowdy said, "I've yet to be asked about a motion to recommit" back home. He acknowledged the proposals "can be alluring," and that as a member of the Whip team he has had to work with his colleagues to defeat the last-minute proposals.
Still, the South Carolinian added, "I do give [Democrats] high marks for ingenuity; they do come up with some interesting MTRs."
Rep. Bill Cassidy has his blood drawn by Alesha Barbour during a free hepatitis screening in the Rayburn House Office Building hosted by the Congressional Viral Hepatitis Caucus to recognize "National Viral Hepatitis Testing Day."
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