| | | Explanation of the new rules which will begin to effect everything :
House Passes Rules Package as Republicans Regroup After Speaker Fight
Procedures are set for new Congress, clearing way for GOP to pursue legislation
By Natalie Andrews
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Updated Jan. 9, 2023 10:13 pm ET
WASHINGTON—House Republicans passed a rules package Monday dictating the terms of the next session of Congress, the first test for House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R., Calif.) in keeping his raucous conference united.
The rules package, a required step before moving on to legislation, is typically passed on the first day of a new Congress. But it was delayed by the GOP fight to elect a new speaker. Mr. McCarthy prevailed early Saturday morning on the 15th ballot over four days, after making a series of concessions to holdouts.
The package passed 220 to 213, with all Democrats and one Republican, Rep. Tony Gonzalesof Texas, opposing the measure. It is customary for the minority party to oppose the rules.
The package, which includes standard rules on decorum, also restores what is known as the motion to vacate the chair, a procedure that would allow one Republican member to ask for a vote to remove the speaker. It also outlines several Republican priorities around spending, such as banning consideration of any bill that has the net effect of increasing mandatory spending.
 Rep. Tony Gonzales (R., Texas) voted against the House rules package.PHOTO: BILL CLARK/ZUMA PRESS
Republicans said their rules package would help Congress function better, by requiring all bills to only be focused on one issue and requiring 72 hours of review before a vote. It also ends all pandemic procedures instituted by Democrats, including voting by proxy and participating in committee.
“For far too long, Democrats have run roughshod over the norms and practices of the people’s house, weaponizing the rules of the House to protect themselves and the Biden administration from proper oversight,” said Rep. Michelle Fischbach (R., Minn.). “That ends today.”
Democrats opposed the rules package, saying it along with the deals struck by Mr. McCarthy would allow Republicans to hold the economy hostage.
The rules package “makes clear that extremists are setting their agenda, not Speaker McCarthy,” Rep. Chellie Pingree (D., Maine). “He didn’t have the votes to be speaker so he made concession after concession to a radical wing of his caucus just to hold the gavel.”
A handful of Republicans have expressed concerns about the deal Mr. McCarthy struck with his critics, the details of which haven’t been fully disclosed. Under the deal, Mr. McCarthy committed to try to sharply cut federal funding. Mr. Gonzales said last week he planned to vote against the rules package, citing broader worries about possible cuts to military spending. Rep. Nancy Mace (R., S.C.) said she was on the fence but ultimately voted in favor of it.
 House Speaker Kevin McCarthy at the U.S. Capitol on Monday.PHOTO: SARAH SILBIGER/REUTERS
Two people familiar with the negotiations said that any agreement Mr. McCarthy made with his onetime detractors wouldn’t be released in writing ahead of the rules vote, and maybe not ever.
In the rules, House Republicans also plan to reinstate the so-called Holman rule, which lets lawmakers make changes to federal agency and personnel functions during the appropriations process, such as reductions to federal employees’ salaries, as well as staffing reductions. Any such efforts to use the rule would face opposition from the Democratic-controlled Senate.
The rules package will also impose changes on the Office of Congressional Ethics, or OCE, regarding its board and hiring new staff, potentially limiting the office’s ability to investigate lawmakers. It also will allow the House Ethics Committee to take complaints directly from the public.
The House also voted late Monday, along party lines, to repeal tens of billions of dollars in Internal Revenue Service funding. The bill is unlikely to become law but previews fights with Democrats on tax policy and enforcement.
Republicans are also working to make progress on other fronts. The steering committee is set to meet and determine committee assignments for their party as well as chairman posts in contests in which multiple members were vying for a gavel. In the negotiations for his speakership, Mr. McCarthy promised several members of the House Freedom Caucus, a group of far-right members, positions on plum committees like Appropriations and Rules.
Rep. Mike Rogers (R., Ala.) said Monday morning that he planned to resign from the Steering Committee later this week, but he then changed his mind after being encouraged to stay by colleagues. Mr. Rogers lunged toward Rep. Matt Gaetz (R., Fla.) late Friday when Mr. Gaetz refused to vote for Mr. McCarthy in the second to last round. At one point last week, Mr. Rogers said he wouldn’t support those who don’t vote for Mr. McCarthy for committee positions, which the holdouts took as a threat.
 Rep. Mike Rogers (R., Ala.), orange tie, lunged at another lawmaker during the speaker vote.PHOTO: ANNA MONEYMAKER/GETTY IMAGES
Mr. Rogers had said his initial decision to resign was completely his idea. He then said the reversal was prompted by rank-and-file members and party leaders urging him to remain on the panel.
Mr. Gaetz said on Twitter that he plans to “work together wonderfully” with Mr. Rogers and doesn’t think there should be “any punishment or reprisal just because he had an animated moment.” Mr. Rogers tweeted that he regretted that he “briefly lost my temper on the House Floor Friday evening.”
The House this week will also vote to set up several select committees. One will be a panel to investigate how the U.S. can restore competitiveness with China, and a second that will be under the Judiciary Committee will investigate what Republicans say is the weaponization of the federal government. That panel is expected to look at a range of issues, from federal Covid-19 restrictions to bias in the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Siobhan Hughes contributed to this article.
Write to Natalie Andrews at natalie.andrews@wsj.com
Appeared in the January 10, 2023, print edition as 'House Passes Session’s Rules Package'. |
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