February 01, 2006

More From The House

Beyond the notable DeLay "no" on the vote to end ex-members' access to the House floor and House gym were two others: Rep's Joel Hefley (R-CO) and Alan Mollohan (D-WV).

Until he was relieved of his duties last year, Hefley served as chair of the ethics cmte. Mollohan is the cmte's ranking member. Both voted to allow their former colleagues to keep enjoying the special priveleges.

Virtually no member with anything approaching a competitive race this fall dared to cast a "no" on the measure. Quite a few senior members (perhaps eying their own futures?) were among the 50 that did, though. Among these were cmte chairs: Thomas (CA), Young (AK), Oxley (OH), Barton (TX).

The budget vote, which had been widely viewed as a test of Blunt's vote-counting acumen going into tomorrow's election, provided less drama than some expected. 13 GOPers voted no and two did not vote as the bill passed 216-214

Of the 13, Blunt's whip team saw only four defections from the original December vote: Rep's Simmons (CT), Sweeney (NY), Gerlach (PA) and Ramstad (MN). The first three all face serious challengers this fall and had come under much pressure to flip after a month back in their blue-tinted districts. And, for what it's worth, the latter two have endorsed Boehner for leader.

Beyond these four, Blunt also lost Rep. Walter Jones (NC), who did not vote the previous time. Jones is supporting Shadegg. But Jones' "no" was balanced out by V.A. Cmte chair Steve Buyer's no-to-yes switch from December. Buyer, btw, is supporting Boehner, but owes his chairmanship to the current leadership structure. The two who did not vote were Rep's Ernie Istook (OK) and Gary Miller (CA). Miller has endorsed Boehner while Istook, busy running for GOV, has stayed publicly neutral.

Despite having to do without these 15 members of their Conference and again facing unanimous Dem opposition, Blunt's operation won the vote with apparent ease. Indeed, Rep. Mark Foley (FL) -- not coincidentally an early and vocal Blunt backer -- gaveled down the vote just nine mintues after it was called, four more than the alloted time. As close observers of this House leadership know, four extra minutes is nothing. LoBiondo's vote put the GOP over the top and Rep. Sue Kelly (NY) made 216.

When Blunt passed the bill in the pre-dawn hours of 12/19, he did so with a six vote cushion. Twas a tigher squeeze today, but a win's a win. And this one didn't make the MO'ian sweat. What, if anything, that portends for tomorrow's vote remains to be seen. But for his part, Blunt, speaking off the House floor after the vote, said he never put any stock in today's vote being much of a predictor anyways.

[JONATHAN MARTIN]

Posted at 06:19 PM

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