Some House recordkeeping from Bob Novak:

If the alternative bill (sponsored by Rep. Roscoe Bartlett of Maryland) went through the regular procedure, it would be subject to a “recommittal motion” by Castle just before passage attempting to combine it with the Castle-DeGette bill originally passed by the House. That version surely would pass. So, Republican leaders avoided this disaster by trying to pass the Bartlett bill under a procedure that barred amendments but required a two-thirds vote.
The result was mass confusion on the House floor. The Republican whip operation was inactive, regarding the bill as a “conscience vote” (as abortion measures are). Democrats similarly were freed of the party lash, with 58 voting for the bill. Many members of both parties seemed confused by a procedure often used to commemorate routine anniversaries. It fell 13 votes short of the 186 (two-thirds of those present) needed for passage. Conservative Rep. John Linder of Georgia later said he was mixed up and voted no when he should have voted yes.
The bill would have passed save for the defection of 15 Republicans, including Linder. He was one of four Republicans who also voted against Castle-DeGette. The other three — Jeff Flake of Arizona, John Hostettler of Indiana and Ron Paul of Texas — based their votes on conservative/libertarian principles. Eleven Republicans who voted for Castle-DeGette and against Bartlett consisted of Castle and like-minded moderates. In their ranks were three members from Connecticut — Nancy Johnson, Christopher Shays and Rob Simmons — who are targeted by the Democratic campaign to take over the House.