House Republicans are beginning to vote on proposed rule changes for the conference Wednesday afternoon ahead of a GOP majority next year, with many being brought forth by the members of the conservative House Freedom Caucus.
The caucus is hoping to decentralize power away from leadership and give rank-and-file Republicans more of a voice in deciding what legislation comes to the House floor. Members of the group are seeking concessions on the rules from Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) in exchange for support in his bid for speaker of the House.
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The rules will be voted upon over two nonconsecutive days, the second being after Thanksgiving break. The docket for the first round includes changes to the Steering Committee and other ways legislation is brought for consideration by the whole body.
Rule amendments sponsored by Rep. Scott Perry (R-PA), chairman of the Freedom Caucus, include allowing the members of committees to elect their chairs, requiring the Republican conference to approve Appropriations subcommittee chairs, reforming the Steering Committee, allowing the Republican conference to select the Rules Committee chair if members reject the speaker’s nominee, and requiring that any legislation chosen for the floor be approved by the Republican majority instead of just leadership.
Also on the agenda are completing the reopening of the Capitol and grounds after being shuttered during the COVID-19 pandemic and following the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021.
Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) sponsored rules that would require that bill amendments co-sponsored by 10% of Republicans be brought up for a vote. Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO), whose race has not yet been called by the Associated Press, is pushing to abolish the Steering Committee, while Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC) is asking that all Republicans have the ability to speak during conference meetings.
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Other rules that will likely be considered later in the month will be an end to the pandemic-era consideration of proxy voting that allows members to vote on each other’s behalf.
The GOP needs one more race to be called in its favor to claim the majority, which gives it control over the chamber’s committees. The slim majority means McCarthy will need the support of almost the entire Republican conference to be voted in as speaker in January.
