Thirteen House Republicans broke ranks Wednesday night, siding with Democrats to move ahead on a bill aimed at gutting President Donald Trump’s executive order clamping down on federal worker unions.
The push came from Rep. Jared Golden of Maine, who used a procedural weapon known as a discharge petition to force the issue onto the floor. The maneuver lets a majority of lawmakers drag a bill forward even if leadership wants it buried.
The House voted 222-200 to start debate and set up a final vote. All 209 Democrats joined 13 Republicans to advance the measure, which faces another procedural test Thursday.
The GOP defectors were Jeff Van Drew of New Jersey, Nicole Malliotakis of New York, Nick LaLota of New York, Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, Rob Bresnahan of Pennsylvania, Don Bacon of Nebraska, Mike Lawler of New York, Tom Kean of New Jersey, Ryan Mackenzie of Pennsylvania, Zach Nunn of Iowa, Chris Smith of New Jersey, Pete Stauber of Minnesota, and Mike Turner of Ohio.