House Democrats are going to try to change the rules to curb the Republicans’ use of “motions to recommit.” Susan Ferrechio writes in CQ:
Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer said Tuesday that during the upcoming
two-week recess he will craft changes in the pay-as-you-go spending rules
adopted in January (H Res 6) so that the GOP can no longer blindside the
majority with broad and politically loaded motions to redraft legislation.
“We don’t think that’s appropriate,” Hoyer said. “We don’t think that serves
the legislative process, and we’re going to address that.”
Like the Republican majority that ran the House before last fall’s
elections, House Democrats have been allowing the minority a last chance to
amend or kill a bill during floor debate by offering a motion to recommit,
or send the measure back to a committee with orders to make specified
changes.
While such motions have traditionally been of limited use to the minority,
Republicans have been able use the tactic successfully this year, thanks in
part to the House’s new pay-as-you-go rules for spending or tax cuts.
Democrats have had to include language in legislation that would provide a
way to pay for the measures. That has expanded the range of redrafting
motions considered germane, or relevant to the legislation being debated.
Republicans have been offering motions to add language that is politically
difficult for some Democrats to oppose.






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