[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 13]
[House]
[Page 18057]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRIES

  Mr. WESTMORELAND. Madam Speaker, I have a parliamentary inquiry.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman may state it.
  Mr. WESTMORELAND. Was the last vote held open to change the outcome 
of the vote?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The vote was open for the minimum duration 
under the rule.
  Mr. WESTMORELAND. I'm sorry, the House was not in order, and I did 
not hear your answer. I'm sorry.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The vote lasted for the minimum period 
required.
  Mr. WESTMORELAND. Further parliamentary inquiry.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman may state it.
  Mr. WESTMORELAND. Madam Speaker, I know that at times we hold the 
vote open to make sure that everyone has a chance to vote. In the last 
vote, approximately 24 more people voted than had voted in the previous 
vote 5 minutes earlier. So what was the reason for leaving the vote 
open when clearly the outcome was changed by the vote being held open 
and people changing their vote?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The vote lasted for the required minimum 
period.
  Mr. WESTMORELAND. What is that minimum time?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. That vote was a minimum 5-minute vote.
  Mr. WESTMORELAND. That was a minimum 5-minute vote?
  Further parliamentary inquiry, what is the max time?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. There is no maximum time.

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