June 19, 2013

Politics

The 15 Democrats who lost their nerve

BY: SEAN HIGGINS JUNE 28, 2012 | 6:05 PM
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Just over a year ago 31 House Democrats wrote Attorney General Eric Holder to explain that they found the revelations regarding the Fast and Furious program “extremely troubling.” Equally troubling, they said, was that the Department of Justice, under Holder, had “delayed action and withheld information from Congressional inquiries.”

They urged Holder “to promptly provide complete answers to all congressional inquiries on the issue.” You can read their letter here.

So, how many of those Democrats voted to join today’s contempt resolution? Just 16: Jason Altmire, (Pa.)  John Barrow (Ga.), Dan Boren (Okla.), Leonard Boswell (Iowa), Ben Chandler (Ky.), Mark Critz (Pa.), Joe Donnelly (Ind.), Ron Kind (Wis.), Larry Kissell (N.C.), Jim Matheson (Utah), Mike McIntyre (N.C.), Bill Owens (N.Y.), Collin Peterson (Minn.), Nick Rahall (W.Va.), Mike Ross (Ark.), and Tim Walz (Minn.).

One Democrat who didn’t sign the letter, Kathy Hochul (N.Y), also voted for the contempt resolution.

The 11 signers who joined with Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi and voted against contempt: Jim Cooper (Tenn.),  Jerry Costello (Ill.),  Pete Defazio (Ore.), Gene Green (Texas),  Martin Heinrich (N.M.), Tim Holden (Pa.), Ben Ray Lujan (N.M.), Mike Michaud (Maine),  Tim Ryan (Ohio), Kurt Schrader (Ore.) and Heath Shuler, (N.C.).

Another 4 did not vote: Joe Baca (Calif.),  Sanford Bishop (Ga.),  Dennis Cardoza (Calif.), and Jim Costa (Calif.).

The roll call can be read here.

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Author:

Sean Higgins

Senior Editorial Writer
The Washington Examiner

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