In a major blow for House Republican leadership in their shutdown brinksmanship game, the House just voted down the temporary government spending bill that included some FEMA spending. The vote was 195 - 230. All but six Democrats voted against it, along with 48 Republicans (roll call vote here).
Democrats were united in their opposition to the paltry FEMA funding that was offset by taking funds from a Department of Energy program that provides manufacturing jobs. Most of the Republican opposition came from tea party members who don't want to pass any more spending bills. And now?
The vote will leave House leaders scrambling to come up with an alternative continuing resolution in order to ensure government funding past September 30, and seem to increase the chances of more congressional work week next week, when both the House and Senate plan to be off.
As the Pelosi tweet above indicates, Democrats are now going to pressure House leadership to accept the standalone Senate funding bill for FEMA, or take the offset language out of their current FEMA funding language and increase the amount of funding for it. With Democrats willing to hold together against the offset, John Boehner will have no choice if he really wants to get this bill passed and avoid a shutdown.
