'I don’t think they’ve found their center yet,' Larson said of the Republican leaders. Dems jab GOP over Patriot vote

Top House Democrats pounced on Republicans’ mishandling of a routine vote Tuesday evening, which caused a bill to extend provisions of the Patriot Act go down in defeat.

The Democrats said Wednesday morning that the failed vote is a sign that Republican leaders aren’t prepared to handle the practical difficulties of governing.


“I don’t think they’ve found their center yet,” Democratic Caucus conference chair Rep. John Larson (D-Conn.) said. “It seems they’re coming apart at the seams.”

Rank-and-file Republicans threw off Republican leaders’ plans for the measure, which was expected to pass easily, when a large enough number bucked their party and voted no. The measure fell short of the two-thirds vote it needed by 13 votes.

The bill would have extended the FBI’s authority to use wiretaps on surveillance targets and to allow surveillance of “lone wolf” criminals who aren’t working with terrorist groups, provisions set to expire later this month.

The vote presented an opportunity for Democrats to paint Republicans as campaigners who can’t lead on legislation, which they’ll have to do now in the majority.

“Governing and leading is a lot more difficult than throwing bombs and campaigning,” Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-Calif.) said. “Who’s on first? I think that’s the question that needs to be asked of Republicans right now.”

The debate over the measure so early in the session gave Democrats a chance to question whether the vote simply foreshadows how Republicans will govern for the next two years.

“We’re going to see a continuing debate within the Republican caucus on a lot of these issues, whether it’s on the Patriot Act or whether it’s on the budget,” Budget committee ranking member Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) said.