As the 88th Congress convenes this week, the battle lines have been drawn over the question of “repacking” the House Rules Committee. Republican House members (most of them, anyway) are expected to back conservative Representative Howard W. Smith, chairman of the controversial Committee. The antipacking faction, which lost in a close vote two years ago, has several factors going for it this time: Cato
1.Last time the Administration had, in its corner, the prestigious Sam Rayburn, who threw all of his power and influence behind the attempt; even then it only passed by five votes. His successor as Speaker, John McCormack of Massachusetts, simply cannot wield that sort of power. The expectation is that those Democrats who went along with Mr. Sam, but who disliked weakening this most important Committee, will support Smith this time around.
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