There’s been a lot of drama this morning with Rep. Massie forcing a recorded vote in the House on the 2 trillion dollar coronavirus stimulus bill. But it looks like now that the House might still get their voice vote anyway. Here’s how:
1) We expect Massie will ask for a recorded vote.
Over the past hour, the House has flung open the doors to the House chamber, all levels and in the public gallery. Members are starting to sit in the public gallery.— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) March 27, 2020
2) When Massie calls for a recorded vote, ANOTHER MEMBER, we don’t know who, will call to see if there is a quroum.
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) March 27, 2020
3) Rep. Anthony Brown (D-MD), presiding, will count the members, both on the floor and in the gallery (trying to spread people out as much as possible) to assert that there is indeed a quorum: 216 members.
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) March 27, 2020
4) If the House has a quorum, Massey will then ask for the recorded vote again.
In the House, the patter you always hear is a request from the chair for those in favor to “rise.”
HOWEVER, members in this instance, they DON”T WANT a roll call vote.
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) March 27, 2020
5) So, the members will stay SEATED. The term of art in the House is that “a sufficient number has risen” to prompt the recorded vote. But that won’t happen in this instance. Therefore, that parliamentarily prompts a voice vote. The Hse will ok the bill by voice vote
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) March 27, 2020
Ok got it? If enough keep seated when asked to rise for a recorded vote, it will force the vote to be a voice vote anyway:
You need at least half of all of those on the floor to rise to show they are in favor of a recorded vote. That number is much lower than establishing a quorum. So, if most members stay seated, there is no recorded vote. It goes to a voice vote.
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) March 27, 2020
And just fyi, they have a quorum now:
Hse Dem Whip Clyburn says Hse has a quorum
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) March 27, 2020
So after all of this drama, the House will still get their voice vote. Here’s a live stream of the House if you want to follow this more closely: