A bipartisan group of lawmakers is considering rules changes in the House that make a ton of sense. Specifically, they want to make sure the speaker of the house is a bipartisan position. One idea being considered would make it so the speaker would need to get at least five votes from the minority party. Another idea would require the speaker be supported by 60 percent of the House.
This is a great idea. The concept should be taken to the Senate too. Requiring bipartisan support for a chamber’s leader would greatly decrease the partisan gridlock that has dominated Washington for decades. If the leaders of both houses knew they had to address the concerns of at least some in the minority party, the extremist agenda that dominates our politics today would be impossible.
Let’s hope this group of bipartisan legislators is successful and that their efforts encourage other commonsense rules changes. Who knows, this could be the beginning of efforts to take steps to make Washington more functional and responsive to the people.
Kind of stupid and pointless since no rule exists, based on tradition and practice from the birth of our nation, to be elected speaker a candidate must receive an absolute majority of all votes cast for individuals. All that would happen is that there would end up being no Speaker if the House was closely split or if the minority party chose to block the vote.
This would just fuel the divide in the end, to the detriment of normal business being conducted. Then again, a broken, unable to function House might be good since we’ve too many laws already.
What are you talking about? If you are going to call something stupid, at least be accurate. The Constitution clearly lets each House establish its rules.
Calling some stupid has nothing to do with its legality, sir.
The Constitution merely sets forth that House can appoint a Speaker, i.e., The House of Representatives shall chuse their Speaker and other Officers; and shall have the sole Power of Impeachment. There is no current or previous law or tradition within the House as to how it is done.
Adding on is pointless and stupid, since it serves no purpose in the end other than to prevent the Speaker’s office from being filled.