House Republicans lost their first vote of the year this week on a measure to extend the USA Patriot Act after failing to count noses within their own caucus and shedding the support of dozens of Democrats who voted against the very same provisions they approved a year ago when they were in charge.
The vote was a lesson in political opportunism, but also highlighted the challenge Republicans face being in the majority and the freedom Democrats enjoy in being able to vote without the pressure of delivering on behalf of President Obama, who had asked them to embrace the provisions.
Ron Bonjean, a GOP strategist, said House Democrats are adjusting from being a majority party responsible for “helping to ensure the safety of American families to a minority with the political mission to regain power.”
The same measure sailed through the Democrat-controlled House on a 315-97 vote last year.
But when the new GOP majority tried to fast-track a proposal to keep key provisions of the law on the books through Dec. 8, they fell seven votes shy of the support required to pass it.
The next day, House Minority Leader Steny H. Hoyer, Maryland Democrat, said the vote was emblematic of the philosophical divisions within the new Republican majority, after more than two dozen members of the GOP, including some conservative freshmen, opposed the measure.
“Apparently, they were surprised by it,” Mr. Hoyer said. “I don’t think they expected to lose the votes they lost.”
But the outcome was determined just as much by more than 30 Democrats who switched their position on the issue by casting their votes against the proposed extension.
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The vote was a lesson in political opportunism, but also highlighted the challenge Republicans face being in the majority and the freedom Democrats enjoy in being able to vote without the pressure of delivering on behalf of President Obama, who had asked them to embrace the provisions.
Ron Bonjean, a GOP strategist, said House Democrats are adjusting from being a majority party responsible for “helping to ensure the safety of American families to a minority with the political mission to regain power.”
The same measure sailed through the Democrat-controlled House on a 315-97 vote last year.
But when the new GOP majority tried to fast-track a proposal to keep key provisions of the law on the books through Dec. 8, they fell seven votes shy of the support required to pass it.
The next day, House Minority Leader Steny H. Hoyer, Maryland Democrat, said the vote was emblematic of the philosophical divisions within the new Republican majority, after more than two dozen members of the GOP, including some conservative freshmen, opposed the measure.
“Apparently, they were surprised by it,” Mr. Hoyer said. “I don’t think they expected to lose the votes they lost.”
But the outcome was determined just as much by more than 30 Democrats who switched their position on the issue by casting their votes against the proposed extension.
More
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