geoff: In a first big test of
Kevin Mccarthy's speakership,
the house is voting on a
controversial rules package that
will set the procedural plans
for this new congress the
package includes concessions
Mccarthy made in closed door
deals with Republican hardliners
to help him get elected
speaker.
Concessions that many worry
could lead to more gridlock
to walk us through all this, I'm
joined by our congressional
correspondent, Lisa Desjardins.
Lisa, Republicans have a
speaker.
But the house can't really get
down to work until the chamber
passes the set of operating
rules.
The all-important question these
days appears to be, do they have
the votes?
Lisa: This is the first big test
of this Republican you house.
I will say that going into
today, we do have the freedom
caucus folks who negotiated
this, they like the bat, they
like how it changes the house.
But there's a question that
comes from moderates who are
upset they didn't have a seat at
the table.
Here is Republican Nancy mays of
South Carolina, speaking
yesterday.
>> Are represent a purple
district.
I have to represent Republicans,
Democrats and independents.
I want to know that the
positions that I have are going
to have a voice that it will
have weight in the conference.
There are a lot of members like
me that have issues with some of
the policies that we're going to
be working on.
Lisa: It's our understanding
that she will vote against
tonight.
That is a big yes vote and
relief probably to Kevin
Mccarthy and other Republicans.
Some like chip Roy, who was
known as the opponent of
Mccarthy, who got these rules
going, he spoke on the Glenn
beck radio show today about what
he sees as the importance of his
philosophy behind these rules.
>> We're doing what we can, we
think, to move the needle in
this town towards openness and a
sense that we're going to try to
do the work of the American
people and empower your
congressmen, not just a few
people, to be able to execute
for them.
Lisa: This is a real question of
how this Republican conference
can get along, right now my
sources indicate that think they
will have this vote, but predict
in the direction of this body,
telling people it's a bit like
predicting the direction of a
group of loosely tethered
huskies that don't seem to have
a musher.
Geoff: Help us understand why
this hold up matters.
Lisa: These specific rules,
there is a 55 page document we
have seen and another three-page
document in secret that has been
going around that contains some
concessions that are not public
and not on the radar.
Let's talk about the things we
don't know yet.
We don't know the exact
requirement for raising the debt
ceiling.
That will be a major factor in
our life in the country's life
as we get that debt ceiling
deadline likely at the beginning
of the summer.
There is not a clear standard
for the scale of spending cuts
that Republicans are saying they
agree to amongst themselves.
And finally, we don't know the
extent of the freedom caucus on
the committees and on what
committees.
We learn from someone who made a
name for himself in Florida as
one of the alternate candidates
for speaker, he has been placed
on the all-important steering
committee.
That is the committee that
decides who goes where, who gets
what power within the house
Republican committee structure.
Clearly there was a sense of
reward for him and a big
foothold for those he
represents, those folks who are
watchful of Kevin Mccarthy.
Geoff: There are lawmakers who
say that these concessions
increase transparency around how
major legislation comes
together.
There are also lawmakers who
said that these concessions
basically bake in dysfunction,
to make it difficult for the
house to do pretty much
anything.
What are the pros and cons of
the Republican approach here?
Lisa: It is so important to
stress that.
There are many Republicans and
Democrats who would like a more
open house.
Kind of going back to the early
19th century and there was
vigorous, open debate on the
floor.
Some believe that could be good,
as well as some of the physical
things they have here.
Let's look at the one major
issue with the national debt.
In 2013, $11.5 trillion.
Now, $24.5 trillion.
It's about 95% of our gdp.
While these maneuvers seem like
they would allow for more
spending cuts, it can also
motivate for cutting taxes,
something that adds more red
ink.
It's also not clear if the
Republican party in the house
will be able to control itself
and be disciplined about getting
these things done together.