This was a vote on a motion to move to an immediate vote on the “rule” or resolution setting the terms for debating the H.R. 2647, the bill providing funding for the 2010 fiscal year for the Defense Department. The rule limited the number of amendments that could be offered to the bill.

Rep. Diaz-Balart said that, “as supportive as I am of the underlying legislation, I must oppose the rule brought forth by the majority.” His opposition, which echoed the arguments Republicans had been making against a number of the rules on other appropriation bills, was based on his assertion that the Democratic majority was unfairly restricting the number of amendments that Members could offer. Diaz-Balart noted that: “(M)embers from both sides of the aisle submitted 129 amendments . . . The vast majority of amendments, 79, were introduced by members of the majority party. Last night, the majority on the Rules Committee decided to make in order for discussion on this floor two-thirds of the majority amendments and one-third of the minority amendments.”

Diaz-Balart went on to note that the Democratic majority had “claimed the (Republican) minority were using dilatory tactics and shut down the ability of Members to offer amendments. This week, when the majority party offered a large number of amendments, the majority rewarded them for doing their jobs and representing their constituents by allowing 51 of their amendments for debate by the House.  At the same time, minority party members who were also representing the interests of their constituents were once again punished by the majority for doing their jobs and were only allowed 11 amendments.  In the end, the majority gets about five times the number of amendments made in order as the minority, and I think that's unfair. “

The motion to have an immediate vote on the resolution setting the terms for debating H.R. 2647 was approved by a vote of 245-181. All 245 “aye” votes were cast by Democrats. Six other Democrats joined all 175 Republicans and noted voted “nay”. As a result, the House moved immediately to a vote on the resolution setting the terms for debating the bill providing fiscal year 2010 funding for the Defense Department