House Republicans pass first wave of rule changes for new majority

The House Republican Conference advanced its first round of rule changes Wednesday for when it retakes the House in January.

The GOP is saving more controversial rule change proposals for after Thanksgiving but voted in favor of a change to how a speaker of the House could be ousted from power. The rule proposed by Rep. Mike Turner (R-OH) is meant as a way to prevent a Democratic minority from having control over who gets to be speaker.

HOUSE REPUBLICANS CONSIDER FIRST SET OF CONFERENCE RULE CHANGES

The Turner amendment requires the majority of the conference to back the motion to vacate the chair, stating, “It is the position of the Republican Conference that the privilege under House Rule IX Clause 2(a)(3) should only be available with the agreement of the Republican Conference so as to not allow Democrats to choose the Speaker.” Under current House rules, only the majority leader can introduce a motion to depose the speaker.

“We just made it so you have to have the majority of the conference to vacate the chair. Well, that’s good because it gives you stability,” said Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE). “You don’t have a gun to the speaker’s head on every vote.”

“The conference voted for it, so isn’t that what we’re about? 50% plus one, majority rules — I think we’re good,” Rep. Randy Weber (R-TX) added.

In the next session, Republicans are expected to vote on a rule to require a majority of the GOP conference to sign off on legislation before advancing it to the House floor. The conference will also vote on an amendment so any member can introduce the motion to oust the speaker.

“The body has shown great restraint and member discretion in using that privilege, but it’s always been there,” Rep. Clay Higgins (R-LA) told the Washington Examiner, saying the privilege was lost under Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-CA) leadership. “That’s how it’s been forever: Any member could bring forward that motion, and it will trigger a vote on it to determine competence.”

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The GOP conference also voted in favor of adding more regional representatives to the Steering Committee, which decides committee assignments.

The Republican Party will have a narrow majority in the House in January when the new Congress is sworn in.

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