Before a vote on legislation in the House of Representatives under regular order, you need a vote on the rules for debate. That’s what we just saw with their upcoming vote today on extending the tax cuts put in place by George W. Bush for the first $250,000 of income. And we have the results of that vote. Every Republican opposed, along with 33 Democrats. 18 members, nine in each party, didn’t vote on the rule.

The Democratic no votes included mostly people who lost their election (lame duck Congress members in CAPS):

ADLER, Altmire, BAIRD, BEAN, BERRY, Boren, BOYD, BRIGHT, Chandler, Connolly, DAHLKEMPER, A.DAVIS, ELLSWORTH, HERSETH SANDLIN, Himes, KIRKPATRICK, Lipinski, MARSHALL, Matheson, McIntyre, MINNICK, MITCHELL, Moran, PERRIELLO, Peters, Peterson, POMEROY, Ross, Shuler, SPACE

As expected, Republicans gave the usual line about this being a tax increase on small businesses, etc. I think what the 33 Democratic defections shows a combination of wanting rich people to have tax cuts (Connolly, Moran) and not wanting there to be a vote on the final bill so as not to be tarred as a tax-raiser, despite the fact that the vote cuts taxes for everyone in America. Democrats ingeniously found a work-around that ensures a single vote on just the tax cuts on the first $250,000 of income, without the possibility of a motion to recommit or other amendments.