This was a vote generated by one of a series of procedural moves of the Republican minority, which were designed to protest the decision of the Democratic majority to limit the number of amendments that could be offered to H.R. 2847, the fiscal year 2010 appropriations for the Departments of Commerce and Justice and for federal science and other programs.

The Moore (D-WI) Amendment, which had passed overwhelmingly, moved $4,000,000 to the Violence Against Women and Prevention Prosecution Programs and reduced the amount allocated for Commerce Department salaries and expenses by an equal amount. It is common practice in the House, after any vote, for the Speaker to declare, “without objection, the motion to reconsider is laid upon the table”. According to the House Floor Procedural Manual: “(I)f no objection is raised, this has the parliamentary effect of ending any possibility that another vote . . . can take place.”  The Manual also notes that objection is often raised, and a motion is made to reconsider the previous vote, “when Members (usually minority Members) determine there is a need to slow down the legislative process.” That is what occurred here.

The vote was 170-248. One hundred and sixty-eight Republicans and two Democrats voted “aye”. Two hundred and forty-two Democrats and six Republicans voted “nay”. As a result, the motion to reconsider the previous vote approving the Moore Amendment was defeated, the increased funding for the Violence Against Women and Prevention Prosecution Programs remained intact, and the legislative process was delayed for a few minutes.