This was a vote on a motion to commit (which was  the minority’s last chance to amend or torpedo the underlying legislation) that would have required all members of the House of Representatives to publicly state whether they would enroll in the federal government’s health care program for federal employees (known as the “Federal Employee Health Benefits Plan). This motion to commit was offered to legislation revising the procedural rules of the House of Representatives.)

House Democrats offered this motion because many Republicans who opposed the health care reform legislation signed into law by President Obama in 2010 -- and argued against “government-run health care” -- accepted health care benefits through the federal government.

House rules prohibited debate on this motion. However, the New York Daily News reported that Rep. Michael Grimm (R-NY) dismissed Democratic criticism of Republicans who oppose health care reform but accept federal government health benefits: “‘What am I, not supposed to have health care?’” he said. ‘It’s practicality. I’m not going to become a burden for the state because I don’t have health care, and God forbid I get into an accident and I can’t afford the operation. That can happen to anyone.’”

The Daily News also reported the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s response to Grimm: “Rep. Grimm has become the latest Republican health care hypocrite to demand government-funded health care benefits for himself, while trying to repeal health care reform and make it harder for most Americans to afford coverage for their own families."

The House rejected this motion to commit by a vote of 191-238. All 191 Democrats present voted “yea.” All 238 Republicans present voted “nay.” As a result, the House rejected a motion to commit that would have required all members of the House of Representatives to publicly state whether they would enroll in the federal government’s health care program for federal employees.