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 Boswell (D-IA) Amendment, which added $2.5 million for the National Criminal History Improvement program and reduced Department of Justice salaries and expenses by an equal amount, had been passed overwhelmingly. 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 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 125-295. One hundred and twenty-two Republicans and three Democrats voted “aye”. Two hundred and forty-two Democrats and fifty-three Republicans voted “nay”. As a result, the motion to reconsider the previous vote approving the Boswell Amendment was defeated, the increased funding for the National Criminal History Improvement program remained intact, and the legislative process was delayed for a few minutes.