This was a vote on a motion to table (kill) an appeal of the ruling of the House Speaker that a motion to freeze the salaries of all federal employees violated House rules. During debate on legislation authorizing annual funding for the Defense Department in 2011, Rep. Michelle Bachman (R-MN) offered a motion to recommit that would have frozen the salaries of all federal employees – including members of Congress.

A motion to recommit with instructions is the minority's last chance to make substantive changes to a bill before a final up-or-down vote on the measure. If successful, the motion sends the legislation back to committee with instructions to amend the legislation as specified.

Bachman urged support for the motion to recommit: “Do we really want to go on record saying that the rules of this House should not be used to shield our own Members of Congress' salaries and also those of the legislative salaries of the non-uniformed branch from being fiscally irresponsible?”

Rep. Ike Skelton (D-MO) made a point of order against the motion to recommit, arguing that it violated House rules because it had nothing to do with the Defense bill: “I make a point of order against this motion as it is not germane, and I insist on that point of order.”

The Speaker ruled in Skelton’s favor, declaring that Bachmann’s motion was in violation of the rules. Bachmann then appealed that ruling.  Skelton then made a motion to table (kill) Bachmann’s appeal.

The House voted to table Bachmann’s appeal of the Speaker’s ruling by a vote of 227-183. 224 Democrats and 3 Republicans voted “yea.” 165 Republicans and 18 Democrats voted “nay.” As a result, the House rejected a motion to recommit that would have frozen the salaries of all federal employees – including members of Congress.