Tag: United States House Committee on Rules

Dems decry midnight rule change

By Mike Lillis – 10/14/13 03:32 PM ET

House Democrats are fuming about a rule change adopted by Republicans just before the government shut down on Oct. 1, arguing it shows GOP leaders closed agencies intentionally.

Under long-standing House rules, any member of the chamber can bring a measure to the floor. But Republicans altered the rule governing legislation to fund the government so that only House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) holds the power to make such a motion.

The practical effect of that change became apparent on Saturday, when Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), the ranking member of the House Budget Committee, tried to bring the Senate-passed continuing resolution (CR) to the floor, only to be shot down.

“That motion may be offered only by the majority leader or his designee,” said Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah), who was presiding over the chamber at the time. Continue reading “Dems decry midnight rule change”

House panel rejects proposal to end feds’ mass transit benefit

House panel rejects proposal to end feds’ mass transit benefit

Susan Walsh/AP file photo

This story has been updated.

A proposal to end the mass transit subsidy benefit for federal employees to help pay for disaster recovery is off the table.

The House Rules Committee rejected the amendment related to the transit benefit offered by Rep. Mick Mulvaney, R-S.C., to the Sandy storm relief bill. The House voted down a separate amendment from Mulvaney that would impose across-the-board spending cuts of 1.63 percent for all federal agencies. The chamber began debate on the emergency appropriations legislation Tuesday afternoon and was expected to vote on the final package in the evening. Continue reading “House panel rejects proposal to end feds’ mass transit benefit”