Amendment to Defund National Labor Relations Board Fails House Floor Vote
As we reported yesterday, Rep. Tom Price (R-GA) introduced an amendment to H.R. 1, the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act to defund the National Labor Relations Board for the remainder of the 2011 Fiscal Year. In response to an inquiry about this proposal, Rep. Price told Labor Relations Today:
The spending spree in Washington has put our nation on a perilous path to fiscal ruin. House Republicans understand we need to cut spending immediately to help get our economy growing and more Americans back to work. Every step we can take to responsibly rollback the cost of government is important. By striking $233 million in funding for the National Labor Relations Board, we can save taxpayer dollars and help protect American job creators from an out-of-control agency bent on installing ‘card check’ (Secret Ballot Destruction Act) via regulations and circumventing the will of the American people.
The House Clerk's minutes of the Floor proceedings overnight indicate that following debate on the Amendment, the Chair announced approval by a voice vote. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), Ranking Member of the Committee on Education & the Workforce, then demanded a voice vote, which resulted in postponement of further proceedings:
12:01 A.M. - Amendment offered by Mr. Price (GA).
An amendment numbered 410 printed in the Congressional Record to eliminate funding for the National Labor Relations Board.
DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on the Price (GA) amendment under the five-minute rule.
12:15 A.M. - POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Price (GA) amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. George Miller (CA) demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.
It appears that late this morning, the House took a recorded roll call vote (No.75) and the amendment failed.
