House defeats Gitmo amendment by one vote

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June 18, 2009 | 2:07 PM ET

House defeats Gitmo amendment by one vote

House Republicans nearly succeeded Thursday in their efforts to block President Obama's decision to close the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay.

While debating a bill to fund the Justice Department, lawmakers initially defeated an amendment to ban the government from spending any money to close the prison. Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-CA) authored the provision. And the House voted down Lewis's proposal was 216-212.

But the problem is that the House considered Lewis's plan under a condition that allows the six delegates to Congress from five U.S. territories and the District of Columbia to vote. All of those members voted against Lewis's amendment. Since the vote outcome fell within the margin of six votes, it's possible those members could have determined the fate of Lewis's idea.

That triggers a re-vote anytime the outcome falls within that six-member margin and those members of Congress vote.

So the House voted again on Lewis's proposal. The House again defeated the Guantanamo Bay amendment, but only by one vote, 213-212.

The six special members are Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Del. Madeleine Bordallo (D-GU), Del. Kilili Sablan (I-MP), Res. Comm. Pedro Pierluisi (D-PR), Del. Donna Christensen (D-VI) and Del. Eni Faleomaveaga (D-AS).

These members are permitted to vote in what's called "The Committee of the Whole." The Committee of the Whole is a special, parliamentary construct where the House performs much of its business. The members from Washington, DC and the U.S. territories are prohibited from voting when lawmakers are assembled as the "House of Representatives."

In the House, some 40 Democrats voted to outlaw funding to close the prison. Only two Republicans voted against the proposed ban.

Chad Pergram

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Congress

14 Comments

jEROME t. sANDERS

Keep the prison open and those who are icarcerated ther until they are tried by Military court. I beleive they were taken there as prisoners of war and they should get the full force of our Military Justice. They don.t have any rights to our judicial system and have no visa to come for a visit. If Cuba was one of our allies or were the 51st state, they should be paying taxes and voting etc. and then they could have a right to our Judicial court.

June 22, 2009 at 2:02 am

SG Adams

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Is there anyone who represents the people any more? This is a travesty!!!! 70% of Americans do not want Gitmo closed!!! Including the detainees! Our representative government is in the process of being dismantled…Do we have to riot (like Iran) in the streets before they listen to the people?

June 21, 2009 at 3:59 pm

Bill Luinetti

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Great! Indicates there is still some sanity left in the House.

June 21, 2009 at 3:54 pm

m smith

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Ha Ha Ha

June 21, 2009 at 12:13 am

KT

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Take away Obama's funding is like taking away his blood! What could he promise if he couldn't spend someone elses money? EVERYTHING this man thinks about or touches turns into a deficit. He can't make a decision that doesn't cost millions, no trillions, of dollars.

June 20, 2009 at 11:39 pm

Jo Ollier

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The majority of Americans are against closing Gitmo. However it seems our voices are not heard anymore. Obama talked a good talk against George Bush and how he did'nt listen to what Americans wanted, he did as he wished no matter the outcome. Obama is'nt any different As a matter of fact most of what he has promised during his run for the most honorable position in America has failed miserably. Closing gitmo and releasing these thugs, as well as permitting them to do again what they were in Gitmo for anyway, speaks volumes about the President. He can spend billions to 'Bail Out' crooks and and thieves, but does'nt want to spend our money to keep these terrorist in a place that they deserve to be because of the atrocities commited against humanity and our our military personel. There should never be any reason to release terrorists. There should be no sympathy to terrorists that have beheaded , blown up,savagely killed our millitary and have no regard for humanity any where. Wake up Obama. Listen to our wishes and have sympathy to the families that have lost their children and loved ones and friends, not only in America but other countries as well. My opinion is they deserve nothing short of death.

June 20, 2009 at 8:08 pm

American

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Why hasn't the gop filed injunction in the us supreme court on obama taking over private corporations and giving a private org, like the fed powers to rule private fiancial corporations

June 20, 2009 at 12:42 pm

Joan Spratt

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screw this stuff

June 19, 2009 at 12:04 am

LJ

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I want to know who voted against it! Time to start making the list of those that put their party, pocketbooks, personal power and politics ahead of the safety of the American people. Time to keep track of those that need to be voted out of office in 2010. It's time for these people to do what the people elected them to do for a change!

June 18, 2009 at 10:20 pm

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