MONITORING DESK
ISLAMABAD: A package of internal rules, introduced by hardliners, to control the actions of US House of Representatives Speaker Republican Kevin McCarthy has been adopted by a 220-213 vote count. Currently, the chamber is led by the Republicans while hardliners oppose the policies of the Speak who is their own party’s member.
All 212 Democrats voted against the legislation while Republican lawmaker Tony Gonzales joined them. Additionally, one Republican representative did not vote.
The package sets out the standard procedure of how business is conducted in the US House of Representatives. The points included in it were a bone of contention and only after 15 rounds of balloting McCarthy won the Speaker’s gavel.
Rules package favors MAGA extremists: Democrats
Democrats termed the legislation as a rules package that favors “MAGA extremists” or backers of former president Donald Trump. According to the Democrats, these rules would undermine congressional ethics standards, favor wealthy corporations over workers, undermine congressional ethics standards and lead to further restrictions on abortion services.
Representative Jim McGovern called the set of rules a “ransom note” to the US from the extreme right.
The only Republican only who opposed the legislation, Tony Gonzales, said he objected as the package points to a possible limit being slapped on US defense spending amidst heightening tensions with Russia and China.
