Conservative Lawmakers Decry GOP Rules With 'Washington-Style Gimmicks'

Several conservative House Republican lawmakers are blasting a provision in the House rules package that they say is a Washington-style gimmick.

The four Republicans, who include Rep. Jim Jordan (Ohio), the chairman of the conservative Republican Study Committee, want the new House rules package amended before lawmakers vote on it Wednesday. The complaints set up a battle with GOP leaders ahead of a final vote.

Jordan, joined by GOP Reps. Jeff Flake (Ariz.), Tom Graves (Ga.) and Scott Garrett (N.J.), said the new rules package contained “Washington-style gimmicks” that appropriators could use to recoup funds they’d cut elsewhere.

The rules as currently proposed call for spending cuts to be placed into a separate account that wouldn’t be available for spending. The rule would allow the sponsor of the cut to reallocate the money for other purposes but doesn’t let another member increase spending with any savings that are set aside.

Jordan’s proposal would essentially ban lawmakers from touching any of the money put into the spending reduction accounts.

“Our amendment would prevent any reductions approved by the House from being used to increase spending in another bill,” Jordan said.

Jordan said the current proposal is “unclear” on whether there is authority to spend from the savings accounts. He said the proposed change would ensure that the money isn’t spent, regardless of who proposed the cuts, unless the full House votes for it.

“House Republicans, in particular members of the newly elected freshman class, need Americans to know that when we vote to cut spending, spending really will be cut with no Washington-style gimmicks,” Jordan said. “I urge House Republicans in the strongest terms to adopt this amendment to make the new Spending Reduction Accounts more bulletproof.”

Jordan’s proposal shifts authority over the savings accounts from the Appropriations Committee to the full House.

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