By Guy Page
Newly-elected Vermont Congresswoman is no fan of the GOP rules passed last night, calling them “concessions Speaker McCarthy made to the extreme right-wing which would pave the way for the MAGA agenda.”
Last night, the House held three roll calls on H.Res.5, “Adopting the Rules of the House of Representatives for the One Hundred Eighteenth Congress, and for other purposes.” The votes were close but, as expected, the Republican majority won out.
The blow-by-blow of the voting is recorded in www.congress.gov, the Congressional website that is the national counterpart to Vermont’s www.legislature.vermont.gov:
| 7:08pm | On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 220 – 213 (Roll no. 23). |
| 6:59pm | On motion to commit Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 210 – 220 (Roll No. 22). |
| 6:52pm | On ordering the previous question Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 211 – 205 (Roll no. 21). |
The specific language of the H.Res.5 is not available yet on Congress.gov. However, the Daily Signal reported today the rules closely follow the agreements demanded by the dissident conservatives who held up the eventual election of Rep. Kevin McCarthy as House Speaker. These demands reportedly included:
- A single congressperson may move to remove the Speaker
- Committee investigation of ‘weaponization’ of FBI against American citizens.
- A vote on term limits
- Bills will be single subject, not omnibus with earmarks, and will have 72 hour minimum reading period.
- The Texas Border Plan will be put before Congress.
- COVID mandates and their funding will be ended.
- Reduce increase in the debt ceiling.
The House voted on several other resolutions and bills (including some addressing the holdouts’ concerns cited above), but it’s the rules package that caught the interest of Balint, a Progressive Democrat. A press release issued by her office this morning said:
Last night, Rep. Becca Balint (VT-AL) voted to oppose the Republican rules package. The package brought to the floor by the Republican-led Rules Committee includes many of the concessions Speaker McCarthy made to the extreme right-wing which would pave the way for the MAGA agenda to reach the House floor. By voting “no” Rep. Balint is opposing allowing the far-right to hold the Speaker hostage to their agenda, attempting to end Congressional staff unionization, reinstating rules to target civil servants, and giving Committee Chairs unprecedented power.
Republican’s first priority bill in this new Congress is designed to help the wealthy avoid paying their fair share by rescinding critical funding that allows the IRS to control tax evasion from the ultra-rich. Rep. Balint plans to partner with Republicans this Congress to solve problems for her constituents, however, stands ready to oppose Republican extremism and attacks on the health of American democracy.
“The Republicans’ extreme rules package puts issues like reproductive freedom, climate action, and at risk,” said Rep. Balint. “Here in Washington, I am focused on fighting for Vermonters by addressing the mental health crisis and the extreme housing shortage. This rules package obstructs progress on these urgent issues affecting working families. Democrats stand united in opposing the extreme right-wing agenda brought to the House floor this Congress.”