Conservative Bluedog Democrats to the back of the bus!

Pelosi Turns Back The Clock On House Reform
Moderate Democrats will be frozen out.
The Wall Street Journal
By John Fund
January 9, 2009
Every two years the leadership of the U.S. House of Representatives introduces a new set of rules
to govern the body. Normally, this event passes with barely a yawn from the public. But the
changes pushed through on Tuesday by Democrats will have real-world consequences for fiscal
conservatives of both parties.
Gone are term limits for committee chairmen, a big comeback for seniority over merit. Cost
containment measures on Medicare, one of the fastest growing programs, are simply suspended
for this Congress.
Tax increases now will be easier to pass, because opponents will not be allowed to offer a simple
motion to strike any increase without making up for the "lost revenue." In addition, tax cuts are
made more difficult, because they cannot be offset with spending cuts. The new rules will mean
that the only way to push for a tax cut will be to propose a tax increase elsewhere.
Democratic leaders said these changes were needed to make the legislative train run faster.
"Congress has to accomplish things," said Massachusetts Rep. Jim McGovern of the Rules
Committee. "This is designed to help us do just that."
To further grease the wheels, Democrats have also emasculated the "motion to recommit" -- a
procedural safeguard first given to the minority a century ago after a rebellion against tyrannical
GOP Speaker Joe Cannon. It has been used by both parties to offer motions to "recommit" or send back bills on the floor to the relevant committees.
John Fund (click to read full column)