House GOP’s slim majority passes new rules aimed at accountability, reining in federal spending

The slim House Republican majority scored its first big win Monday by passing a set of rules that make significant changes to the way the chamber operates and let lawmakers take aim at reckless government spending.

Rules pushed by the most fiscally conservative House lawmakers will make it easier to pass bills that reduce federal spending and more difficult to raise the nation’s borrowing limit or increase tax rates.

“We ran on an agenda to change the way that Washington works, to fix this broken system to get our country back on track, and we were awarded the majority by the people across this country,” said Majority Leader Steve Scalise, Louisiana Republican. “Today starts that process of fixing what’s broken in Washington so that Washington can finally start working for the people of this country who are struggling.”

The rules passed on a 220-213 vote.

Two Republicans did not vote for the rules. Rep. Tony Gonzales of Texas voted “no,” and Rep. Dan Crenshaw of Texas did not vote. Otherwise, it was a straight party-line ballot with all Republicans voting “yes” and all Democrats voting “no.”