WASHINGTON -- With the clock ticking toward a midnight funding stoppage for the Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. House failed to pass a three-week funding bill Friday, with Georgia Republicans Barry Loudermilk and Jody Hice objecting.
Loudermilk, of Cassville, and Hice, of Monroe, were among 52 Republicans who voted against a three-week bill to keep the department open. House leaders are now discussing an attempt to push through a one-week bill before the midnight shutdown, but it's unclear if that would swing any votes.
The final vote was 203-224, as almost all House Democrats lined up against the short-term bill, insisting the House swallow the Senate-passed "clean" funding bill through September. House Republicans had tied DHS funding to blocking President Barack Obama's immigration actions that could remove the threat of deportation for up to 5 million people now here illegally, setting up this showdown months ago.
But Democrats remained united against it. After the vote, Rep. Hank Johnson, D-Lithonia, said "we are at the precipice. We should do this now" rather than postpone things a week or three. In Democrats' view, Republicans sooner or later will have to fund the department without immigration preconditions, especially since Senate Republicans have already caved.
Rep. David Scott, D-Atlanta, was the only Georgia Democrat to vote to keep the department open.
It was a remarkable scene on the House floor as Republican leaders scurried about, trying to cajole members into voting for the bill. Many conservatives saw even a short-term "clean" vote for DHS as a capitulation to Obama on immigration and a violation of the Constitution, while others argued that a recent decision by a Texas judge to block the deportation relief gave the Republicans an out.
Hice and Loudermilk waited a long time before casting their "no" votes. Hice ended up standing next to Rep. Lynn Westmoreland, R-Coweta County, a member of the leadership's "whip team," and a staff member tracking votes on a computer.
Hice squinted up at the wall showing how every member had voted and grimaced. Westmoreland put his arm around the freshman and laughed. The 15-minute vote was held open for more than 45 minutes as the no's piled up.
Finally, chief deputy whip Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., came by and whispered in Hice's ear. Hice then cast his "no" vote. Later, Hice and Loudermilk were summoned into the Republican cloakroom. But no Republicans flipped their votes.
After the vote, Rep. Austin Scott, R-Tifton, blamed the other party.
But why couldn't 20 more Republicans vote to keep it open?
"That's why we're here, right? Because Democrats in the Senate shut down the debate and wouldn't allow that on the floor. And now the Democrats in the House have effectively done the same thing. So I think our leadership did the best they could to keep DHS funded."
David Scott got an earful from House Democratic colleagues for his vote. He was sitting in his usual spot by the fire in the Speaker's Lobby, in full view of reporters. National Journal captured the scene:
"I'm not voting with them," Scott said, meaning Republicans. "I'm voting for my district." Butterfield countered: "You've been here 16 years. You can explain."
About the Author
