This was a procedural vote on a resolution setting a time limit for debate and prohibiting amendments to legislation funding the federal government through March 18, 2011. If passed, this particular procedural motion -- known as the “previous question" -- effectively ends debate and brings the pending legislation to an immediate vote. The short-term government funding bill—known as a “continuing resolution,” or “CR,” also cut $4 billion from government programs, including renewable energy research, aid to poorly performing schools, and urban economic development initiatives.

Two weeks earlier, the House had passed a continuing resolution to fund the government through September 2011 (the end of the federal government’s fiscal year), and cut $60 billion from federal programs. The Senate, however, took no action on that measure, and President Obama had threatened to veto it. Thus, the House brought up this two-week continuing resolution to fund the government through March 18 while congressional leaders negotiated with the Obama administration on a long-term funding bill.

Rep. David Dreier (R-CA) urged support for the resolution and the underlying bill, arguing that the House needed to pass a short term CR in order to avoid a government shut down (in which the federal government literally would run out of money): “Ensuring that we don't go through a government shutdown is something that … all of us in leadership positions, rank-and-file members alike, want to avoid, and that's why we've got this 2-week package that's before us. I hope the Senate will act so that we can do that, and then do what we all want to make sure happens, and that is have a negotiated agreement that will get to where we need to be.”

Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN) opposed the resolution and the underlying bill: “This bill is just another part of the reckless Republican no-jobs agenda….Republicans have been in control of the House for now more than 2 months. They have been in control of the House for now more than 2 months, and they have failed to bring up a single bill to create a single job….I mean, they haven't done just a poor job. They haven't done anything….I am absolutely against starting down a series of short-term cuts, of short-term CRs, that result in a bleed of the American middle class. This is death by 1,000 cuts--a slow bleed.”

The House agreed to the previous question motion by a vote of 241-179. All 234 Republicans present and 7 Democrats voted “yea.” 179 Democrats voted “nay.” As a result, the House proceeded to a final vote on a resolution setting a time limit for debate and prohibiting amendments to legislation funding the federal government through March 18, 2011 and cutting $4 billion from government programs--including renewable energy research, aid to poorly performing schools, and urban economic development initiatives.