A bipartisan push to restrict President Donald Trump from further military action in Venezuela fell just short Thursday, after House members defeated the measure in a dramatic 215-215 tie vote.
Two Republicans — Reps. Thomas Massie (Ky.) and Don Bacon (Neb.) — sided with all 213 House Democrats to support a war powers resolution that would have directed the removal of United States forces from Venezuela. Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) joined with Democrats this time after opposing a similar resolution in December.
The resolution appeared on track to pass earlier Thursday in the face of GOP attendance issues and planned Republican defections. GOP leaders had to pull out all the stops to shore up the opposition. Reps. Wesley Hunt (R-Texas) and Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) returned to the Hill after missing votes earlier in the day, while Rep. Steve Womack (R-Ark.) cast his vote four days after his wife died.
