U.S. Rep. Mark Udall got a “do over” on his promise to vote against sending Congress to summer recess Friday, helped out by Republicans who wanted to put the majority party on record for approving the break without passing an energy bill.
Though Udall missed the vote on the original resolution Wednesday — breaking a promise he’d made in a debate this week with Senate race rival Bob Schaffer — House Minority leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, called for a recorded vote rather than the usual voice vote for Friday’s motion to adjourn the House. The resolution passed despite Udall’s vote, 213 to 197, and lawmakers are off until Sept. 8.
His campaign said the adjournment vote allowed Udall to fulfill his public promise to vote against sending Congress to its summer vacation before lawmakers passed an energy bill, but the issue has already been turned into a campaign theme by Republicans.
The GOP Senate committee released an Internet ad called “Udall’s day off” and plans to release a second spot after the taped debate airs on KDVR-Channel 31 Sunday night. Mike Riley, The Denver Post
