Washington
(Dec 8)
At an organizational meeting today, House Republicans, including members-elect, adopted new rules governing the GOP Conference, incorporating all of the reforms recommended last week by the Majority Transition Team. Transition Chairman Greg Walden released the following statement upon adoption of the new Conference rules.  

“Republicans made a pledge to America to bring real reform to Congress itself, and these new Conference rules mark first steps in a drive to change the ways of Washington. The rules adopted today honor our commitment to transparency and accountability and will ensure Congress is focused on the priorities of the American people, especially reducing spending.

“A new ‘Cut-Go’ rule will put a much needed check on the proliferation of new government programs and spending. Our prohibition on commemorative resolutions will promote a more productive and efficient use of the taxpayers’ time. And with our pledge to make internal Conference rules available online, we hope to set a new standard of transparency in Congress.

“While we continue to work toward further reforms to House rules and operations, I commend the efforts of our transition team members and the adoption of these new Conference rules.”

NOTE: The Transition Team Working Group on House and Conference Rules is being led by Rep. Rob Bishop (R-UT).  Among the reforms recommended by the transition team and adopted as part of the new Conference rules are:

A prohibition on the consideration of any “suspension” bill that creates a new program unless it eliminates or reduces a program of equal or greater size, also known as “cut-as-you-go;”
A prohibition on the consideration of any “suspension” bill that increases authorizations, appropriations, or direct spending in any given year unless fully offset;
A prohibition on the consideration of any “suspension” bill that “expresses appreciation, commends, congratulates, celebrates, recognizes the accomplishments of, or celebrates the anniversary of, an entity, event, group, individual, institution, team or government program; or acknowledges or recognizes a period of time for such purposes;”
And, for the first time among either party, a requirement that internal Republican Conference rules and resolutions are made available online for the American people to read and review.

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