House Republicans Continue to Wreak Havoc on Dems' Ability to Control the House Floor

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In recent weeks, House Republicans have passed seven straight GOP motions-to-recommit (MTRs) on the House floor with the support of large majorities of Democrats. Now the Democrat leadership is going to attempt to enforce “party discipline” on what they now call “process” votes – and will ask their rank-and-file Democrats to ignore the fact that they have supported the substance of these GOP proposals.

[Excerpts from] two stories of note [are] below. For more on this issue, click here.

By Mike Soraghan:
"House Dems aiming to beat GOP-ers at procedural game"

Hoyer wants to start enforcing party discipline in the arcane but sometimes sensitive realm of procedural amendments, called “motions to recommit,” or MTRs. But that could force rank-and-file members, particularly conservatives to cast difficult votes.

“It will be the intention of our caucus leadership, me, Nancy, the Speaker, and others to ask members to vote against such rules, such motions to recommit in the future on the basis of process,” Hoyer said in a briefing with reporters.

Republican leaders said Hoyer’s tactical shift is an admission of defeat by Democrats.

“This Republican leadership has been able to use these motions in a very effective fashion that exposes Democrats’ weaknesses,” said Brian Kennedy, spokesman for House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio). “This is a win-win for Republicans.”

By Jennifer Yachnin,
Roll Call Staff
"Democrats Seek Unity on Motions"

Whether voting against such motions — which Republicans have framed as potential campaign issues — could hurt vulnerable new Members remains a subject of concern among some majority lawmakers, but Democratic leaders insist they will continue to evaluate each bill on a case-by-case basis.

“Leadership is intent on keeping control of the floor and moving our agenda forward,” said Hoyer spokeswoman Stacey Bernards.

But Republicans assert that such a change would have had little affect on their recent success, noting that only the voting rights bill contained language that would table the legislation.

“It’s a win-win for Republicans and a de-facto admission that Republicans are winning the battle of ideas, which is making it difficult for Democrats to keep control of the floor,” said Brian Kennedy, spokesman for House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio).