Why the House split the coronavirus and omnibus package into two votes, and what it may mean for next Congress

The House of Representatives, in what could be a foreshadowing of things to come in the next Congress, split the coronavirus relief and government funding legislation passed Monday into two separate votes -- allowing members to vote against the part that included military and Homeland Security funding without putting the package carrying the economic stimulus money in jeopardy.

The successive votes Monday night both passed. The government funding package which included defense spending and money for enforcing immigration laws passed 327-85, with 41 Democrats and 43 Republicans voting against it. The package carrying the coronavirus relief passed 359-53, with 50 Republicans and two Democrats against it.

Reps. Tulsi Gabbard, D-Hawaii, and Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., were the only Democrats to vote against the package with the coronavirus relief. They both voted against the first package that included defense and immigration spending as well.

The Democrats who voted against the first package spending represented a wide cross-section of the party, including freshman and veteran lawmakers, moderates and progressives. Among them were Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y.; Ilhan Omar, D-Minn,; Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass.; Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash.; Cindy Axne, D-Iowa; Kendra Horn, D-Okla.; Ro Khanna, D-Calif; Barbara Lee, D-Calif.; Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y.; and Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y.

If the packages were initially combined into one and all the "no" votes were added up, the legislation still would have passed the House. But the fact that House leadership felt the need to take the step to split the legislation, Republicans say, underscores the simmering divisions in a House Democratic Caucus that is set to hold one of the slimmest House majorities in history.

A senior GOP aide granted anonymity to speak candidly told Fox News that the move "was a telling moment for the House Democrats and their upcoming marginal majority." The GOP aide continued to say that Democrats are "afraid to address basic issues like securing our border and enforcing our immigration laws. It's clear they are squeamish about addressing these issues."