…House Democrats have elected the leaders who will help take our nation in a New Direction. We will work together to lead the House of Representatives with a commitment to integrity, to civility, and to fiscal responsibility. This leadership team will create the most honest, most open, and most ethical Congress in history.
~Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Press Release, November 16, 2006

Last Thursday night, the House voted on H.R. 3161, an agricultural appropriations bill chock-full of earmarks that, among other things, extends benefits to illegal immigrants.

Shortly before 11:00 pm last Thursday night, Representative Michael R. McNulty (D-NY) gaveled the vote on H.R. 3161 closed. What appeared to be a final tally of 215-213 Nay, McNulty declared a 214-214 tie. This was followed by a chorus of “shame, shame, shame” and House Republicans walked out on the proceedings.

So what did the Democratic leadership do? While Representatives argued over the two different vote tallies, the Democrat leadership strong-armed Democrats who voted Nay. In a creative application of parliamentary procedure, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) then offered a “motion to reconsider,” which was seconded. This un-did McNulty’s gavel and reopened the tally. In the time it took to “reconsider” the vote, the Democratic leadership managed to flip three votes. The final tally was recorded 216-212 Yea.

When it comes to Congressional conduct, I have learned to expect little. After last Thursday night, I don’t think it possible my expectations could be diminished—half of nothin’ is still nothin’. I am heartened, however, by the idea that the Senate can repair this double deal.

This cannot be what Speaker Pelosi meant by the “most ethical Congress in history.”

Cheers,