It took a little elbow grease and no small amount of bickering, but the House’s new Republican-led rules package has passed 215-209. And you know what? It’s about time someone injected a little structure and foresight into the circus we call Congress.
The package is a plan to get lawmakers to act like adults. One smart move makes it harder to remove the House Speaker without a real reason. Now, only the majority party can propose a motion to vacate, and it needs eight cosponsors. This change ensures leadership challenges are legitimate, not petty power plays. Rep. Nick LaLota, R-N.Y., framed it perfectly: this change balances the Speaker’s authority with member accountability. Goodbye, frivolous attempts to turn leadership into a game of musical chairs.
The package also trims the bureaucratic fat by eliminating the House’s Diversity and Inclusion office and changing the name of the Office of Congressional Ethics to the Office of Congressional Conduct.
The new rules package shifts the focus back to issues that actually matter to everyday people. Republicans are showing they mean business with priorities like securing the borders, ensuring fair elections, and keeping sports fair.
Other bills would prohibit moratoriums on hydraulic fracking, protect the lives of newborns who survive abortions, and let the U.S. government impose sanctions on the International Criminal Court if it goes after “any protected person of the United States and its allies.” Democrats, predictably, howled with outrage.
Following the House speaker election, Republicans introduced two last-minute measures. One measure aimed to reinstate family-centric language in the rules, while the other prohibited the speaker from considering a motion to suspend the rules, except on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays. Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., called the package a distraction, accusing Republicans of dodging “real issues.” What is more important than addressing fentanyl, enhancing energy independence, or ensuring fair elections?
The best part of this package is how straightforward and focused it is. It lays out a clear plan for getting things done while putting guardrails in place to keep the troublemakers from throwing everything off track. Rep. Rick Crawford, R-Ark., summed it up perfectly, calling it “fair and forward-thinking.”
While Democrats may grumble, the GOP has planted its flag in a future-focused, results-oriented approach. Finally, the House has rules that prioritize action over antics. Here’s hoping the rest of Congress follows suit.
