Conservatives tank procedural vote on appropriations measure, signaling trouble

A band of conservatives tanked a procedural vote to advance an appropriations bill on Wednesday, underscoring the problems Republicans are having in the government funding process.

Shortly after the failed procedural vote, the office of House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) announced that no additional votes would be expected in the House following the current series until Nov. 28. The chamber was initially scheduled to hold another vote series Wednesday afternoon.

Congress has been in session for 10 weeks and tensions had been starting to show. Just a day earlier Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) accused former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) of elbowing him in the back — a charge McCarthy denied.

Nineteen hardline conservatives joined with Democrats to oppose the rule for legislation funding Commerce, Justice, Science and related agencies in a 198-225 vote, blocking the chamber from considering the measure. The failed vote came just a day after the chamber cleared a two-step stopgap bill that several hardliners voted against.

The failed procedural vote is a blow to newly minted Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), who crafted the continuing resolution the chamber passed on Tuesday and has sought to advance the appropriations process since assuming the top job last month.

Votes on rules — which govern debate on legislation — are typically routine and predictable. But conservatives this Congress have used the procedural vote as a way to retaliate against GOP leadership.

DEVELOPING.