This vote was on whether to allow an amendment by Tom Coburn, R-Okla., that would have taken $5 million from an account for renovating the Commerce Department’s headquarters building, and instead raised funding for the Commerce Department’s inspector general office. 

Barbara Mikulski, D-Md., tried to defeat Coburn’s amendment with a parliamentary maneuver, saying Coburn’s amendment violates the Senate’s rules on spending.  Coburn then asked for the rules to be waived for this amendment, which is what this vote was on.

“One of our weaknesses is waste, fraud, and abuse. According to GSA, this will not affect the renovations whatsoever at the Hoover Building. We are simply transferring funds,” Coburn said.

Barbara Mikulski, D-Md., said she shares Coburn’s concerns about oversight at the Commerce Department, but the bill already funds the inspector general’s office.

“This amendment does cut the Hoover Building and it would only delay the renovations to meet basic health and safety standards,” Mikulski said.

By a vote of 42-57, the motion to waive the rules was defeated.  All but three Republicans present voted for the amendment.  All but five Democrats present voted against the amendment (including the most progressive members).  The end result is that the motion to waive the rules failed, the amendment was defeated, and the bill went forward with funding for the Commerce Department’s building renovation intact.