Democrats succeeded in preventing a vote on earmark reform today by passing the “Previous Question” during consideration of the Higher Education Act. If you look at this vote, you can see where everyone fell. A “yes” vote was a vote against earmark reform. A “no” vote would have brought the earmark reform plan to the floor.
You’ll notice that seven Democrats supported the Republican position in favor of earmark reform: John Barrow (D-Ga.), Nancy Boyda (D-Kan.), Joe Donnelly (D-Ind.), Brad Ellsworth (D-Ind.), Nick Lampson (D-Tex.), Tim Mahoney (D-Fla.), and Baron Hill (D-Ind.).
Several of them are vulnerable this year, but at least two — Donnelly and Ellsworth — are not.
Republicans all stood together on this one, according to the tally.