I've been sitting on a post that tries to thoroughly look at the Hastert Rule - also called the majority of the majority rule - which ensures that any bill that is not supported by the majority party in the US House will not make it to the floor of the House for a vote, despite the fact that a majority of the entire body might support it.
The rule has been relaxed recently - both the fiscal cliff deal and the Hurricane Sandy relief bill passed despite being opposed by a majority of Republicans - but it is still on the books. Critics argue that this rule prevents majorities in the House from passing legislation and contributes to gridlock.
Here is a suggestion for how to go beyond the rule and allow members of the House to pull a bill out of committee and send it to the floor despite the objections of the leadership. Its called a discharge petition.
- Wanted: 20 House Republicans to save Congress.
- Can the “discharge rule” save Congress?
- Oh 113th Congress Hastert Rule, we hardly knew ye!
