Secret Weapon: GOP Gun-Men Hold Up House Business

Is this something they can do with other bills, too?

House Democrats pulled a bill to grant voting rights to Washington, D.C., after Republicans offered a motion that would repeal the gun ban for the District.

The move is a clear signal that Democrats have lost control of the House floor on the voting rights issue after minority Republicans presented the Democratic majority with a politically unpalatable motion that their conservative members would be forced to support for fear of angering the gun rights community.

Fifty-two Democrats voted with Republicans on a similar measure to repeal the gun ban in 2004. That would be more than enough support for Republicans to add a repeal to the voting rights bill - something a majority of Democrats would vehemently oppose.

Republicans have taken great pride in offering motions to recommit during their time in the minority, an often over-looked legislative procedure that has allowed them to amend various bills on the House floor.

Drudge report:

Dem leadership pulls DC voting bill from floor; conservative Dems were supporting DC gun repeal...

Leader Hoyer seen yelling at staff on floor...

Speaker Pelosi absent because she is desperately searching for Iraq supplemental votes...

Holmes-Norton standing silently in disbelief..

More from Hot Air, including Michelle Malkin lookin' all giggly over this development.

posted by Ace at 06:05 PM

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