Democratic New House rules are gender-neutral and limit GOP’s ability to force gotcha votes

New House Rules Unveiled by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi Are Completely Gender Neutral, Eliminate GOP Opportunities to Force Awkward Votes, and Preserve Legislators’ Ability to Carry Guns on Capitol Hill .

The 45-page House rule set that will be voted on Monday after the start of the new Congress would also continue proxy voting during the coronavirus pandemic, bar lawmakers convicted of certain crimes from returning to the House, and would change payment rules on virus and climate change legislation that previously required lawmakers to identify new sources of revenue or spending cuts to fund their priorities.

Pelosi on Friday announced the “visionary rules package” with rules committee chair Jim McGovern, D-Mass., And said it reflected the values ​​of his diverse Democratic majority.

“Democrats have crafted an unprecedented and bold set of reforms that will make the House more accountable, transparent and efficient in our work to meet the needs of the American people,” Pelosi said.

“These forward-looking proposals reflect our priorities as a caucus and as a country – including crushing the coronavirus, tackling economic disparities, tackling the climate crisis, advancing inclusion and promoting integrity within of the government.”

In an effort to be inclusive for those who do not identify as a specific gender, the rule set removes all mention of gender-specific pronouns and terms such as “male,” “female,” “mother,” and ” son”.

The Office of the Whistleblower Ombudsman, for example, is renamed in the regulations as “Office of the Whistleblower Ombudsman”.

There is nothing in the rules that prohibits Members from using gender-specific terms when speaking in the House or doing business.

Representative for GOP House Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., Scoffed at the inclusion effort as “dumb.”

However, progressive House leaders applauded the new rules. Representative Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., Said the changes will allow Democrats to “push for a bolder agenda.”

Progressives fought for exceptions to fiscal rules to open the door to their costly legislation, like Medicare-for-All and the Green New Deal. Omar also praised the new rule which restricts the ability of the minority party, in this case the GOP, to present a “reiteration motion” in the House with language changes to the legislation that is about to come. to be adopted by the majority.

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These motions have frustrated Democrats because Republicans have introduced ‘gotcha’ motions on bills they oppose in an attempt to force Democrats to vote on things they would like to avoid, a Democratic source said .

For example, Rep. Debbie Lesko, R-Ariz., Moved a motion to re-engage in the House in December a landmark law that was about to be passed to legalize marijuana. Lesko wanted to add language that private sector employers retain the right to test employees for marijuana use. She was able to choose 11 Democrats for her motion, but she always failed. The entire bill was passed by the House.

While re-engagement motions (MTRs) typically fail and serve primarily for messaging purposes to show divisions within the Democratic Party, some have been successful.

In one case in 2019, the House was in the process of passing a bipartisan firearms background check bill. Rep. Doug Collins, R-Ga., Proposed a reiteration motion before final pass to require a report to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) when an undocumented immigrant attempts to purchase a weapon to fire, setting up a potential for expulsion.

Enough Democrats have accepted the GOP provision for it to be included in the final bill. Collins has always voted “no” on legislation, which has never been signed.

The new rules would prevent Republicans from forcing a vote on specific language changes. They would only allow Republicans to move a reiteration motion to send a bill to committee without language instructions.

McCarthy criticized the changes as a way to silence the minority.

“Democrats have just destroyed over 100 years of representation in Congress,” McCarthy said in a statement. “Nancy Pelosi wants to silence your voice and consolidate what little power she has left. Her time is limited.”

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New House rules also allow funding for the House Administration Committee to investigate ongoing election disputes in Iowa’s 2nd District, where Democrat Rita Hart is contesting a six-vote victory by Republican Mariannette. Miller-Meeks.

In a victory for elected Representative Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., The new rules do not include a Democratic proposal to ban lawmakers from carrying guns on Capitol Hill, just as visitors are prohibited from bringing guns .

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Members of Congress are permitted to have firearms on Capitol Hill grounds, although there are some places they cannot carry them, such as the House Chamber, the President’s Hall, the Locker Room, and the Rayburn Room. Boebert, a Second Amendment enthusiast, has sought an extension of what she is allowed to wear – which is causing concern among some Democrats.

A group of Democrats had sought to insert language into the package of rules to ban guns completely by lawmakers, but that proposal did not make the final draft.

The new Congress will be sworn in on Sunday. The House will vote on whether Pelosi will remain the speaker. Her majority is much slimmer, in part because of a record number of GOP women elected in November.