House Democratic leaders faced the prospect of a liberal rebellion on their first day in charge after prominent Democrats said they would oppose a package of rules changes endorsed by Nancy Pelosi, the incoming speaker. It remains to be seen whether the liberals will have the votes to torpedo the rules package, which sets the parameters for the new House. The PAYGO rules date back nearly 30 years, to Congress’s initial attempts to rein in the budget deficits of the 1980s. But Republicans never included the measure in House rules, and the law has been repeatedly waived over the years — making the its practical effect questionable. “This is not some strategy of coordination where [members] are trying to torpedo the rules package,” Khanna said.

Source: Washington Post January 02, 2019 17:39 UTC