This vote was on a measure establishing the rules for debate for a bill to grant whistleblower protections to federal employees and contractors who expose waste, fraud and corruption.

The rules for consideration govern the floor management of the bill, including how much time will be granted to each side for debate and what amendments will be considered in order. It is commonly known as the "rules package."

Prompted by the failure to expose faulty intelligence prior to the Iraq war, the underlying bill aims to make it easier for federal employees to expose wrongdoing without repercussions for their own jobs. The bill would grant most federal employees the right to have retaliation claims heard in federal court. The measure's protections also cover employees of federal contractors, airport screeners and government scientists who claim retaliation for reporting undue political influences or other corruption.

Republicans wanted to have amendments proposed by their side considered in order, which the Democratic-run Rules Committee that drafted the House's consideration of the bill did not allow. These sorts of procedural votes are almost always highly disciplined on each side, and little dissent is tolerated by each party's respective leadership. As such, Republicans unanimously voted against this rules package, even though 102 of them ended up voting for the final bill.

All 223 Democrats presented voted for the resolution outlining the rules for debate, and all 193 Republicans voted against it. The measure thus passed on a party-line vote, and a bill to grant federal workers and contractors whistleblower protections for reporting corruption made its way towards final passage.