Restless House Democrats protested Wednesday night against their party leadership’s handling of a $680 billion defense bill, including the decision to protect the F-22 jet fighter program over the objections of President Barack Obama.
Twenty-seven Democrats voted against the leadership’s resolution to govern floor debate. With Republicans also upset with their amendments being excluded, the procedural measure only passed 222-202.
For the majority party, supporting such rules is an almost routine test of loyalty. The fact that 27 Democrats would vote in opposition—including three chairmen—is striking, and there was little doubt from interviews off the House floor that other liberals were sympathetic with the protest.
Party conservatives had their own issues with the rule. But a key factor for many Democrats was the decision to bar an amendment to strike $369 million added by the House Armed Services Committee to continue F-22 production, which Defense Secy. Robert Gates and Obama want to end. - Politico Story
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