The rancor erupted shortly before 11 p.m. as Rep. Michael R. McNulty (D-N.Y.) gaveled close the vote on a standard procedural measure with the outcome still in doubt.

Details remain fuzzy, but numerous Republicans argued afterward that they had secured a 215-213 win on their motion to bar undocumented immigrants from receiving any federal funds apportioned in the agricultural spending bill for employment or rental assistance. Democrats, however, argued the measure was deadlocked at 214-214 and failed, members and aides on both sides of the aisle said afterward.

One GOP aide saw McNulty gavel the vote to a close after receiving a signal from his leaders — but before reading the official tally. And votes continued to shift even after he closed the roll call — a strange development in itself.

Whatever the final tally, acrimony quickly exploded between lawmakers on either side of the aisle as Democratic leaders tried to plot a solution, while parliamentarians on either side argued over protocol.

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Filed under: * Economics, Politics

1. Alice Linsley wrote: Good government is a gift from God.  Lord, have mercy upon the people of the United States of America. August 4, 9:44 am | [comment link]

2. Reactionary wrote: God is a registered Republican.  Anyhoo, it’s nice to see God’s party opposing some federal spending, for a change. August 4, 1:34 pm | [comment link]

3. AnglicanFirst wrote: If Michael McNulty is the man who replaced Sam Stratton (D-NY), then he is a poor relacement for Sam Stratton. Sam Stratton was a man of strong character who would not have done what McNulty did at the ‘beck and nod’ of the Democrat leadership. August 4, 4:43 pm | [comment link]

4. David Fischler wrote: House Erupts in Chaos How could anyone tell? August 4, 5:17 pm | [comment link]

5. The_Archer_of_the_Forest wrote: “House Erupts in Chaos How could anyone tell?” C-SPAN didn’t go to a commercial. August 5, 8:11 am | [comment link]

6. Scotsreb wrote: The House more closely resembled Commons in the way they erupted in angry shouts.  It was rank manipulation allowed for by wrong practice, followed by a bogus ruling from the chair. The next day dems were on the talking head shows trying to do damage control spin.  IMO, this action was so egregious a shutting down of what is, after all the entire reason for the House to exist, as to make a person shudder, who is concerned with the Constitution and freedom in this land. August 6, 2:40 pm | [comment link]

7. libraryjim wrote: And we’ll see more of this type behavior if the Dems win the White House in ‘08.  <shudder> August 9, 7:21 pm | [comment link]

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