House Democrats Forced to Vote on Bill

"Asking people to vote on an issue that they placed in front of this body is not bullying anybody," Griffith said in a fiery floor speech. "Somehow, we have gotten the whole thing backward. We have people standing on this floor thinking that not taking a vote is supporting democracy. I have never heard such philosophical tripe in my entire life and my entire time here in this House of Delegates. . . . I just can't believe this."

Republicans say Democrats introduce bills to please constituents but then assume they will die in committee and never come to the floor for a vote. In recent weeks, dozens of bills about abortion, taxes, capital punishment and illegal immigration have been referred to the Rules Committee, and they could be sent directly to the floor.

Ebbin said he wanted to amend the bill to make it clear that government employees do not have the right to strike and for it to be heard in a full committee and get a full debate. "I would say it's not political reasons why I want to strike this bill but rather political reasons why the majority is putting a bill on the floor today," he said.

Republicans forced a vote on Ebbin's bill. Fifty-seven legislators voted against the bill, with all but two Democrats refraining from voting after Armstrong asked them not to.

"What I just witnessed in this body, I would submit, is an actual lack of courage," Del. C. Todd Gilbert (R-Shenandoah) said.

Griffith then called out almost every Democrat's name and asked that a vote against the bill on their behalf be recorded. The final vote was 0 to 82.

After the House adjourned, Democrats went behind closed doors for a hastily called meeting, during which they gave their party leaders a standing ovation with repeated applause.

"We were not going to participate in their shenanigans," said Del. Brian J. Moran (Alexandria), chairman of the Democratic caucus. "This has everything to do with standing up to the traditions and civilities of this house. We stood together, and we are not going to have any of their partisan nonsense."