A New Congress Begins, McCarthy on the Ropes, Rule Bills
By Jason Pye - Director, Rule of Law Initiatives
Point of Order is a (mostly) weekly preview of key congressional activity for those with more than a passing interest in federal policy.
Happy New Year: Welcome to 2023. I turned another year older during the Christmas break and watched my Georgia Bulldogs win the Peach Bowl and a second straight national championship appearance literally as the clock reached midnight on January 1. It was a great way to begin a new year. I hope your year is off to a great start as well.
More free music: My band, metroisonfire, is playing another free show on Saturday, January 14, at The Pocket in Washington, DC. Doors open at 8:00 pm. Music begins at 8:30 pm. This is a FREE show. We’re adding some new songs to the setlist, so come be nostalgic about the 90s and 00s and rock out with us.
January 6 Committee drops all the files: The United States House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol has regularly released testimony since just before Christmas. Considering that the select committee’s website will presumably soon be deleted, I’ve downloaded all the transcripts and made them available on Dropbox. There’s more, though. The select committee released a ton of other material, including documents, emails, text messages, voicemails, videos, and more. That information is available here. You can read the final report of the select committee here.
One Congress ends, a new Congress begins: The House will meet at 10:00 am for legislative business and adjourn sine die. This will bring the 117th Congress to an end. The 118th Congress will begin at 12:00 pm with a quorum call. Members who are in the chamber will vote “present” to record their attendance. The next item of business is the vote for Speaker. We really don’t know what to expect here. Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) made a huge concession over the weekend by agreeing to conservatives’ demand to bring back the motion to vacate the chair. McCarthy had previously said that he wasn’t going to do this since it would mean that he’s holding the gavel under the constant threat that he can be removed pretty much whenever he makes conservatives in the House Republican Conference angry. Even this ill-advised concession isn’t enough for some conservatives, and it’s far from a certainty that McCarthy will be Speaker. McCarthy can lose four Republicans and still win, but there are five who appear as though they’ll vote against McCarthy under any circumstances and several more who seem prepared to vote against him. Regardless, after the vote(s)—however many votes it takes—new members and delegates will be sworn in and the House will approve the rules for the 118th Congress. This is usually a party-line vote. Republicans will vote to approve the rules while Democrats will vote against them
There will be rule bills this week: We don’t have bill numbers yet, but the House is expected to consider the Family and Small Business Taxpayer Protection Act, H.R. ____, today after the conclusion of routine first-day business. The bill would rescind unobligated amounts appropriated to the Internal Revenue Service, most of which have been appropriated for tax enforcement. The House will also consider Protecting America’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve from China Act, H.R. ____; a resolution to create the Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party, H.Res. ____; the Prosecutors Need to Prosecute Act, H.R. ____; and a resolution supporting law enforcement and condemning any efforts to defund or dismantle the police, H.Con.Res. ____. So, you know, messaging bills are alive and well. Police budgets have been growing, and there’s no evidence that reform-minded prosecutors are responsible for increases in crime.
House and Capitol fully reopening: Reportedly, House office buildings and the Capitol will be open to the public beginning today at 12:00 pm. The Capitol Visitors Center will reopen in March. This means I need to check to see if my suits still fit.
Raskin diagnosed with cancer: Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD), who will serve as the ranking member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, has been diagnosed with diffuse large B cell lymphoma. “I expect to be able to work through this period but have been cautioned by my doctors to reduce unnecessary exposure to avoid COVID-19, the flu and other viruses. In addition to destroying cancer cells, chemotherapy impairs natural antibodies and undermines the body’s immune system,” Raskin said in a press release. “I am advised that it also causes hair loss and weight gain (although I am still holding out hope for the kind that causes hair gain and weight loss).” Raskin’s diagnosis led to a very pleasant and unexpected exchange with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), whose father passed away from cancer.
About George Santos: Rep.-elect George Santos (R-NY) is under state and federal investigation. In case you haven’t heard, Santos seems impervious to telling the truth about, well, basically anything. There are so many things he said about his background that are either false or questionable that I can’t possibly detail them here. How Republicans plan to handle Santos remains to be seen, but it’s really tough to see how he’ll be effective for his district.
No committee hearings are scheduled in either chamber: Committees haven’t been constituted in the House yet, but that will probably happen soon. I haven’t seen the committee ratios either. On the Senate side, no business is expected until later in the month.
Over in the Senate: The Senate will convene today at 12:00 pm, followed by remarks from Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY). After the leader remarks, senators will take the oath of office in groups of two and in alphabetical order. Once all members are sworn in, the Senate will proceed to a live quorum. As a reminder, the Senate will recess from January 4 through January 20. The first day for bill introductions is January 23.
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