WATCH: Arizona Rep. Kirkpatrick Fights Piecemeal House Bill On Some Native American Funding; Two AZ Democrats Say "Aye"

Arizona Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick (D-CD1) led the Democrats' fight last night on the most recent "piecemeal" agency funding bill from the House GOP leadership.  The bill was to fund portions of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Indian Health Service and Bureau of Indian Education;  Kirkpatrick argued for a "clean" Continuing Resolution instead.

She was voted down on a straight party line vote (to table her motion), and the House then passed the BIA funding joint resolution (which will not receive any consideration by the Senate).

Kirkpatrick was impassioned, reading quotes that she collected from leaders from several Native American governments in Arizona.  (The clip starts and ends with her procedural battle, her 3-minute speech begins 55 seconds.)

"These partisan games and this lack of urgency show a reckless disregard for the people, communities and the economies hurt by this shutdown."



Although Kirkpatrick then voted against the piecemeal funding bill, two of her Arizona Democratic colleagues voted with the Republicans.  Reps. Ron Barber (D-CD2) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-CD9) joined 19 other Democrats who voted "aye".

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