Breaking down the House vote on tax bill The House's 277-148 vote to pass President Obama's deal to extend tax cuts and jobless benefits last night highlights some interesting political dynamics.
The vote was among the most bipartisan in the House in recent months, with 139 Democrats and 136 Republicans supporting the measure. That's noteworthy because many Democrats, especially liberals led by Oregon's Peter DeFazio, had argued that the legislation favored wealthy taxpayers over the poor and middle class.
Several of Obama's other key legislative victories, such as the sweeping health care law, were passed mostly on Democratic votes.
The legislation is controversial, in part, because it adds money to the deficit.
But several lawmakers known for their concerns about rising debt voted for the tax measure, including former GOP and libertarian presidential candidate Ron Paul of Texas. The bill also attracted support from fiscally conservative Democrats in the Blue Dog Coalition, such as group leaders Heath Shuler of North Carolina and Jim Matheson of Utah.
The "no" votes are also worth studying. In all, 36 Republicans joined 112 Democrats to oppose the measure. The opponents included GOP Reps. Mike Pence of Indiana, a leading conservative who is thinking of running for president in 2012, and Tea Party favorite Michele Bachmann of Minnesota.
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