The House on Thursday defeated a spending bill dealing with domestic energy and water programs, as GOP conservatives rebelled against a provision added by Democrats that would bar discrimination by federal contractors against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender workers.
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Several GOP members were deeply upset after Rep. Rick Allen, R-Ga., offered a prayer at their Thursday meeting implying that those who supported LGBT rights “on the floor last night” went against the teachings of the Bible, according to several people in the room. Also on Wednesday, a measure by Alabama GOP Rep. Bradley Byrne passed to exempt religious groups from complying with the directives.
But multiple Republicans acknowledged that it would be hard to move additional spending bills because the same issue is likely to trip them up.
The victory was short-lived, however, as the amendment proved to be a poison pill that led scores of Republicans to oppose the underlying energy bill, which suffered a crushing 112-305 defeat on the floor Thursday.
Whether the freshman member who gave the prayer meant to condemn members of the LGBT community has left Republicans and Democrats deeply divided. Maloney notes that two to three dozen Republicans have expressed support for his measure, enough to win a vote on the House floor.
In apparent response to the LGBT vote, House Republicans are aiming to require spending bill amendments to be pre-printed, so that members can review details before the vote. All in all, there are 12 appropriations bills funding the government, though it has been decades since they have all been signed into law and that outcome is unlikely to happen this year.
“I’m very disappointed that this bill could not clear the House today, but I remain dedicated to working this bill and all other appropriations bills through regular order — through the committee, through the Congress, and to the president’s desk”, Appropriations Chairman Hal Rogers of Kentucky said in a statement after the vote.
Ryan said the GOP conference would examine its options to restart the appropriations process, which could include changing the rules for adopting amendments.
The House also disappointingly passed an amendment offered by Rep. Robert Pittenger (R-NC) that prohibits funds appropriated by the bill from being taken away from any entity in North Carolina for any reason including fraud, failure to carry out the terms of a contract or if used in violation of the law.
“Democrats are being given a huge opportunity to put Republicans on the record on issues that alienate most independent, moderate voters”, Israel said in the Post report.
For the second week in a row, the House wrestled with an issue that exposed divisions inside the Republican Party about how to address discrimination against the LGBT community.
House Speaker Paul Ryan meets with reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington today. “We need to stop trying to rig the process and just let people vote”. The entire process stalled a year ago in similar fashion over controversial amendments related to the Confederate flag (similar flag amendments did not disturb the process this year).
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Franks said he believed Republicans could work on some sort of compromise plan to address concerns about discrimination broadly and still approve spending bills.
