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The Amash amendment failed by 16 votes (201 to 217). Edit: Final tally is 205-217.

• rabidonrails 13y ago
  I see 205-217?
  • YokoZar 13y ago
    Which in turn would leave 13 votes absent. Although it's unlikely they'd all vote in favor.
  • charonn0 13y ago
    It was 201-217 when the chair called it as there weren't enough uncommitted votes to make up the difference.
• tptacek 13y ago
  I think it's important to keep in mind that the 12 vote margin is comfortable for Amash and supporters of new NSA restrictions and uncomfortable for its defenders. Here's why: opponents of Amash wielded an argument that "split the vote". Representatives who voted against Amash could have done so for one of two reasons: (1) They actively support providing the NSA with unchecked access to cell phone metadata under the "business records" provision of PATRIOT, or (2) They don't support that access, but can't support a broad amendment that potentially de-funds whole NSA programs, and instead need something finer grained to correct NSA with. Meanwhile, everyone who supported Amash believes strongly --- so strongly that they're willing to do something disruptive to NSA --- that new checks on NSA are needed. I think this was a pretty hopeful vote.