U.S. House Reverses Earlier Ethics Vote

Tuesday saw the Republican U.S. House walk back the changes to the Ethics Office that had been approved the day before. Perhaps it was because of the behind-closed-doors secrecy, or maybe the timing at the opening of the 115th U.S. Congress. Maybe it was the words ethics office, or the swift and extremely negative headlines. Or maybe it was a negative tweet from the incoming president.  Whatever it was, the proposed rules change was scrapped.

On Monday Politico was among the first to expose the move to change to ethics oversight, writing, “Despite a warning from Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) and Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), House Republicans adopted a proposal by Judiciary Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) to put the Office of Congressional Ethics under the jurisdiction of the House Ethics Committee.”

Late Monday as news leaked out, the headlines blared. The Washington Post blasted, House Republicans vote to rein in independent ethics office. The New York Times blasted, With No Warning, House Republicans Vote to Gut Independent Ethics Office. Politico’s headline shouted, House Republicans Gut Their Own Oversight. It was all over the TV news and social media.

Speaker Ryan’s successful first day, pay raise, cot in office … U.S. House schedule for Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2015

By Lynn R. Mitchell

After a successful first day as the new U.S. House speaker, Paul Ryan revealed that he would continue to sleep in his office, not the speaker’s spacious digs in the capitol, but his old office in the Longworth House Office Building. The new job also came with a $50,000 pay raise. His colleague and fellow Young Gun, Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, also sleeps in his office so it’s safe to say House leadership is almost always nearby. Here is today’s agenda from the majority leader’s office….

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3RD
On Tuesday, the House will meet at 10:00 a.m. for morning hour and 12:00 p.m. for legislative business. First votes expected: 1:30–2:30 p.m. Last votes expected: TBD 

One Minute Speeches

Postponed Suspension Vote on H. Res. 354 – Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding the safety and security of Jewish communities in Europe, as amended (Sponsored by Rep. Chris Smith / Foreign Affairs Committee)

Begin Consideration of House Amendments to Senate Amendments to H.R. 22 – DRIVE Act (Structured Rule) (Transportation and Infrastructure Committee)

Speaker Paul Ryan begins leadership, Homeland Security on tap … U.S. House schedule for Monday, Nov. 2, 2015

By Lynn R. Mitchell

The U.S. House will be back in session today for the first day under Speaker Paul Ryan’s leadership. National security is front and center with several Homeland Security bills on the docket as well as concern for the safety of Jewish communities in Europe. Here is the schedule from Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy….

MONDAY, NOVEMEBER 2ND
On Monday, the House will meet at 12:00 p.m. for morning hour and 2:00 p.m. for legislative business. Votes will be postponed until 6:30 p.m.

One Minute Speeches

Legislation Considered Under Suspension of the Rules:

1) H.R. 3361 – Department of Homeland Security Insider Threat and Mitigation Act of 2015, as amended (Sponsored by Rep. Peter King / Homeland Security Committee)

2) H.R. 3505 – Department of Homeland Security Clearance Management and Administration Act (Sponsored by Rep. Bennie Thompson / Homeland Security Committee)

Election of Speaker … Paul Ryan set to take over U.S. House on Thursday, Oct. 29, 2015

By Lynn R. Mitchell

Today the House will meet to vote for a new speaker to replace outgoing Speaker John Boehner. Paul Ryan (R-WI) has the votes necessary to take the gavel. With both Ryan and Kevin McCarthy in House leadership, it continues the leadership put in place with their co-Young Gun Eric Cantor. The oath of office is scheduled to take place at 11:20 this morning. Here is today’s agenda from Majority Leader McCarthy’s office….

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29TH
On Thursday, the House will meet at 9:00 a.m. for legislative business. Following the Prayer and Pledge of Allegiance, there will be a quorum call.

Electing the 54th Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives

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Speaker vote looms … U.S. House schedule for Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2015

By Lynn R. Mitchell

Republicans are scheduled to vote on nominating a new speaker today followed by a vote by the full House on Thursday, Oct. 29. Paul Ryan has the necessary votes in place to become the next speaker of the House. Tonight the third GOP debate will take place from Boulder, Colorado, at 8:00 p.m. on CNBC. Here is today’s House agenda from Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy’s office….

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28TH
On Wednesday, the House will meet at 10:00 a.m. for morning hour and 12:00 p.m. for legislative business. First and last votes expected: TBD

One Minute Speeches

Paul Ryan has votes to become next Speaker … U.S. House schedule for Thursday, October 22, 2015

By Lynn R. Mitchell

Representative Paul Ryan has enough votes to be elected the next Speaker of the House, a vote that will take place next week. Meanwhile, here is today’s agenda for the House from Majority Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s office….

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 22ND
On Thursday, the House will meet at 10:00 a.m. for morning hour and 12:00 p.m. for legislative business. First and last votes expected: 3:00–4:00 p.m.

One Minute Speeches

H.R. 1937 – National Strategic and Critical Minerals Production Act of 2015 (Structured Rule) (Sponsored by Rep. Mark Amodei / Natural Resources Committee)

‘Freedom Caucus’ includes Virginians Brat and Morgan Griffith; here’s the list of 36

By Lynn R. Mitchell

With the turmoil on the Republican side of the aisle in the U.S. House of Representatives, questions have been asked about the 36 who are members of the “Freedom Caucus,” the tea party-inspired group that has stonewalled GOP leadership and demanded government shut-downs . Who are they?

Wikipedia has what is reported to be an accurate list of the 36 members that includes Dave Brat — no surprise there — but it also includes a name that I was not expecting to see: Morgan Griffith in the 9th Congressional District (see list here). I checked last week with his district representative for confirmation but did not receive a response.

Stephen Moore: ‘The underappreciated Eric Cantor’ … unabashed conservative leader

By Lynn R. Mitchell

Mr. Cantor has been attacked from all sides by political Monday-morning quarterbacks – for supposed arrogance, for ignoring his constituents, for being too moderate, too pro-business, not free-market enough, weak on the border issues, and so on.

… now that it is fashionable to treat Mr. Cantor as the piñata for everything that is wrong in Washington, I’d like to take a moment to do something no one else has done: Defend him.

Economist Stephen Moore does just that as he proceeds to list the many accomplishments of Majority Leader Cantor during his years in conservative leadership (see The underappreciated Eric Cantor):

Cantor, Ryan, and friends – ‘Leading Globally: Why America Cannot Keep the Peace Alone’

By Lynn R. Mitchell

In today’s CNN Opinion, U.S. House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) is joined by Congressman Paul Ryan (R-WI), Pat Meehan (R-PA), Mac Thornberry (R-TX), Kay Granger (R-TX), Kristi Noem (R-SD), Aaron Schock (R-IL), and Paul Cook (R-CA) — the contingency that recently traveled to Asia — urge America’s continued presence as a Pacific power.

Jennifer Rubin at the Washington Post broke it down into several noteworthy sections — be sure to read her post “U.S. economic and political stature in Asia don’t come cheap.” Good read.