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A handful of Democrats and Republicans bucked their parties in votes Wednesday on resolutions to avert a rail strike and provide workers with seven days of paid sick leave.
The first measure, which would institute an agreement to avoid a rail worker walkout next month, passed in a 290-137 vote. It was the same tentative agreement that the two largest rail unions, with the help of the Biden administration, negotiated in September.
Eight Democrats crossed party lines and voted against the bill and 79 Republicans supported it.
Democratic “no” votes included Reps. Judy Chu (D-Calif.), Mark DeSaulnier (D-Calif.), Jared Golden (D-Maine), Donald Norcross (D-N.J.), Mary Peltola (D-Alaska), Mark Pocan (D-Wis.), Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) and Norma Torres (Calif.).
While House Republican leadership did not formally whip votes for the measure, the majority of the conference — 129 members — voted against the bill. Votes in support came from more moderate GOP lawmakers like Reps. Anthony Gonzalez (Ohio), Chris Jacobs (N.Y.) and Fred Upton (Mich.).
The chamber also passed a separate resolution on Wednesday that would allocate seven days of paid sick leave to rail workers per year, responding to the main qualm many workers had with the tentative agreement. Union leaders requested 15 days of paid sick leave but the tentative agreement presented them with one more personal day.
House members approved the second resolution in a 221-207 vote, with three Republicans crossing the aisle to vote “yes” with all Democrats present. GOP Reps. Don Bacon (Neb.), Brian Fitzpatrick (Pa.) and John Katko (N.
