House votes down spending bill amid GOP infighting over LGBT amendment

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.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up