Six Democrats Defy Pelosi on Rules Changes in U.S. House
Today was the first active day of the 111th Congress. No actual laws were passed, but procedural votes establishing the rules by which the U.S. House of Representatives will operate for the next two years were voted upon. The Democratic leadership’s package won the day, but with six Democrats in dissent, voting against.
The dissenting Democrats were:
Brian Baird of Washington
Ed Pastor of Arizona
Michael Michaud of Maine
Walter Minnick of Idaho
Maxine Waters of California
Lynn Woolsey of California
None of these U.S. Representatives have published any statements explaining why they voted against the new set of rules. I’d like to know what led these Democrats to defy Nancy Pelosi.
Among the changes made in the new set of House rules are an abolition of term limits for committee chairs, and an elimination of a method for the minority party to block legislation. The vote also approved a renewal of a lawsuit against Bush Administration officials Joshua Bolten and Harriet Miers, who defied House subpoenas during the 110th session of Congress.
