Nineteen Republicans broke ranks on Wednesday to support a resolution that would direct the president to remove U.S. troops stationed abroad fighting the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria in the absence of a formal congressional authorization of war.
The 19 lawmakers, comprised mostly of the conservative and libertarian wings of the GOP, joined 120 Democrats in voting for the measure.
Meanwhile, 222 Republicans and 66 Democrats formed a coalition to defeat the resolution.
{mosads}The GOP lawmakers who voted for the resolution were Reps. Dan Benishek (Mich.), Rod Blum (Iowa), Michael Burgess (Texas), Curt Clawson (Fla.), John Duncan (Tenn.), Scott Garrett (N.J.), Morgan Griffith (Va.), Robert Hurt (Va.), Walter Jones (N.C.), Raul Labrador (Idaho), Thomas Massie (Ky.), Mick Mulvaney (S.C.), Rich Nugent (Fla.), Bill Posey (Fla.), Tom Rice (S.C.), Mark Sanford (S.C.), Jim Sensenbrenner (Wis.), Rob Woodall (Ga.) and Ted Yoho (Fla.).
Jones was a co-author of the resolution with Democratic Reps. Jim McGovern (Mass.) and Barbara Lee (Calif.). The North Carolina libertarian told reporters after the vote that he and other Republicans seeking to speak on the floor in support of the measure had to request time from McGovern.
“If you were in favor of the resolution, you did not get any time” on the official GOP side, Jones said.
McGovern said that despite the defeat, the resolution got more votes than he expected.
“When we broke 100, I was happy,” he said.
Meanwhile, House Democratic leaders were split in their approach to the vote. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (Calif.), Democratic Caucus Chairman Xavier Becerra (Calif.) and Assistant Minority Leader Jim Clyburn (S.C.) voted for the measure, while Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (Md.) opposed it.