BOSTON — More than a dozen lawmakers from Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island are among at least 186 members of the U.S. House of Representatives who have signed a special petition that would force a vote on reopening the federal government.

The lawmakers have signed a discharge petition, a procedural maneuver that only needs the signatures of a majority of House members and no action by the Republican leadership. GOP House Speaker John Boehner refuses to allow lawmakers to vote on a straightforward temporary spending bill that would keep the government operating.

Lawmakers who signed the petition include James McGovern, William Keating, Joseph Kennedy, Niki Tsongas, Stephen Lynch, Richard Neal and John Tierney of Massachusetts.

Others include Joe Courtney, John Larson, Elizabeth Esty, Rosa DeLauro and James Himes of Connecticut.

Rhode Island supporters include David Cicilline and James Langevin.

Members of Congress who have signed the petition can be tracked here: http://clerk.house.gov/113/lrc/pd/petitions/DisPet0005.xml