House rejects another Hoyer request for a 'clean' spending resolution

The House on Friday afternoon rejected another request from House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) that members approve a clean, one-week spending resolution that does not contain any of the policy issues that Democrats oppose, even though Hoyer warned that his request is the "only vehicle" that would keep the government from shutting down.

Hoyer made this request with a motion to recommit an unrelated resolution that would disapprove of the Federal Communications Commission's net-neutrality regulations in order to take up his spending resolution instead. As he has earlier in the week, Hoyer said a clean spending bill would allow the government to pay the military, as Republicans want, but avoid the more controversial issues in the GOP spending bill, such as a ban on taxpayer-funded abortions in Washington, D.C., that have stalled negotiations.

When Republicans raised a point of order, Hoyer argued that the circumstances are dire, and that it should be considered.

"This resolution speaks directly to keeping the government of the United States operating for the next seven days, keeping our men and women in the armed forces paid for that week, making sure that every other necessary service for government is available to the American people for the next seven days, and it is the only vehicle that now appears to be viable to accomplish that objective," Hoyer said. "And as a result, Mr. Speaker, I believe this is not only in order, it is imperative."

When the chairman ruled the point of order was upheld, Hoyer moved to appeal the ruling. Republicans then moved to table the motion, and a vote on the Republican move was upheld in a party-line 235-181 vote.