House votes down spending bill amid GOP infighting over LGBT amendment

Ryan in a tight spot.
(Image credit: Win McNamee/Getty Images)

On Thursday night, the House voted down an energy and water spending bill, 305-112, after Republicans held a private meeting to air grievances about an amendment approved Wednesday night to protect LGBT employees of federal contractors. That amendment passed, with 43 Republicans joining 180 Democrats, but only six Democrats voted to support the overall bill on Thursday. House Speaker Paul Ryan (R) blamed Democrats for thwarting the annual spending bill, telling reporters the minority party was "looking to sabotage the appropriations process."

Democrats noted that Republicans had also added objectionable amendments to the bill, including ones on Iran's nuclear program, LGBT students, and blocking the Obama administration from punishing North Carolina for its anti-transgender bathroom bill. The embarrassing failure of the energy bill points to conflicting goals of Ryan's speakership: returning to the normal order of passing individual spending bills, and allowing House members to propose amendments on the House floor.

Rep. Sean Maloney (D-N.Y.) said he would continue offering his LGBT anti-discrimination measure, which evidently has majority support in the House. Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) warned that the failure to pass the energy appropriation bill points toward another standoff on spending, or even a government shutdown, in the fall. "It's a terrible way to govern," he told The New York Times.

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Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.