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House rule change to limit debate draws GOP ire; emergency clause use criticized
Summary
House Republicans at a press availability criticized a rule change removing a two-thirds threshold to end debate and objected to what they described as an inappropriate use of an emergency clause to limit referendum rights.
House Republican leaders said a recent rule change in the House — which removed a long-standing two‑thirds requirement to end debate — has curtailed minority participation and was used in a way they said improperly to block referendum rights.
Rep. Chris Corey described the rule change as a historic break with a 132‑year precedent requiring a two‑thirds vote to end debate. He said Republicans warned Democrats against using the change and that they would respond if it was used to silence minority members. Corey cited an instance where debate was cut off during efforts to remove an emergency clause from a bill, saying that the clause was unnecessary because courts had upheld the underlying law and the emergency designation prevented a potential referendum.
"We were debating removing an emergency clause from a bill that was gonna gut the parental rights initiative... an emergency clause was put on that bill, to prevent a referendum," Corey said. He called shutting down debate at that point "incredibly tone deaf" and said his caucus would continue to press to restore the prior rule so minority voices can be heard.
Republican leaders framed the rule change and the way it has been used as symptomatic of a broader pattern in which they say the majority is sidelining minority input in key debates.
