Micheal Clements, NAFB News Service

Representative Dan Newhouse says the new rules in the House of Representatives “are further isolating rural American voices.” The Washington state Republican issued a statement on the rules package voted on at the beginning of the new session this week. Newhouse claims the rules package limits the ability for “those of us in a growing Republican Conference to represent those who elected us.” The package includes language making changes to the motion to recommit, a tool used by the minority party to make last-minute changes to bills on the floor. Instead, the bills would be sent back to committee.  Newhouse calls the rule change, and others, “detrimental to the tradition and function of the People’s House.” However, the motion to recommit is largely seen as a political tool against the majority. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says Democrats have crafted a package of reforms, “which will make the House more accountable, transparent and effective in our work.”