Paul Ryan appoints Goodlatte and Griffith to GOP rules reform task force
According to Politico, newly minted House Speaker Paul D. Ryan has appointed both U.S. House members from western Virginia to be on the Steering Committee Reform Task Force. Both Bob Goodlatte (VA-06) and Morgan Griffith (VA-09) will be serving alongside other members from the three Republican “caucuses.” Politico had this to say:
“Ryan (R-Wis.) promised during his campaign for speaker that he would overhaul the panel, which picks committee chairmanships and helps set party policy. Ryan announced the task force in a closed meeting Thursday.
The House Freedom Caucus led a charge to rework the panel, saying it gave too much power to GOP leadership and committee chairmen, and too little to newer members and conservatives. Ryan has not yet signaled how he wants to change the committee’s composition, but some have floated removing chairmen, and diluting the five votes the speaker gets.
Ryan has promised to overhaul the panel by Thanksgiving.
House Majority Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) will sit on the panel, as will Reps. Luke Messer of Indiana, Rodney Davis of Illinois, Bill Flores of Texas, Bob Goodlatte and Morgan Griffith of Virginia, and Richard Hudson and Virginia Foxx of North Carolina.”
And from Roll Call:
“Speaker Paul D. Ryan has directed a task force to make recommendations on how to diversify representation on the Steering Committee.
Members charged with overhauling the powerful panel that determines appointments to the House’s committees will submit recommendations to the full Republican Conference the week before Thanksgiving.”
The goal of this task force will be to reform the GOP Steering Committee, one of the requests members had of Speaker Ryan during his campaign for Speaker. As was widely publicized in the run up to the Speaker election, some members, including Virginia’s Dave Brat and others in the Freedom Caucus were demanding changes to the House conference rules they felt would empower members in a variety of ways, from providing greater access to floor time for bills, to ensuring that no bill moves without a majority of Republican support – the so-called “Hastert Rule.” Under existing conference rules, the GOP Steering Committee chooses committee assignments for members as well as Committee chairmen. Traditionally, the Speaker of the House has wielded significant power on the Steering Committee, one of the many complaints disaffected House members made against former Speaker John Boehner.
That’s enough reporting – now for the commentary. You will not find a more ardent supporter of Morgan Griffith and Bob Goodlatte than me. Morgan Griffth is my former boss and Bob Goodlatte is my current Congressman. I respect and admire both of them dearly. Both of these men are Virginia Statesmen who I consider mentors and friends.
Bob Goodlatte is a senior statesman in his own right. Bob knows when to talk, when to listen, and more importantly, when to be the smartest person in the room. Congressman Goodlatte has been the Chairman of both the Agriculture and Judiciary committee, so he understands how the GOP conference is supposed to work. I am very pleased to hear of Mr. Goodlatte’s appointment, not only because he is my Congressman, but because he is very qualified. If anybody can help reform the internal GOP House rules, it’s Chairman Goodlatte.
At the same time, Morgan Griffith’s choice is also very appropriate. Morgan knows the history of House rules and parliamentary procedure better than most of the members of the U.S. House, ust like he was an expert at procedure when he was Majority Leader in Virginia’s House of Delegates. Congressman Griffith’s copy of Robert’s Rules & Jefferson’s Manual is probably more read, meticulously studied, and dog eared than the Pope’s bible. His devotion to Parliamentary Procedure has even been noticed by reporters. Fox News reporter Chad Pergram tweeted this during a meeting of the Freedom Caucus and Paul Ryan.
“Rep Griffith arrives to Freedom Caucus mtg w/Jefferson’s Manual which helps govern Hse procedure. Has arcane question about Spkrshp.”
Most of you know I am not a fan of the House Freedom Caucus. But, if I had to make a guess, Mr. Griffith doesn’t serve in the Freedom Caucus because he wants to cause problems or is angry at the House leadership. Morgan Griffith, in my opinion, is frustrated with process. The federal House and the Virginia House of Delegates are incredibly different. The House of Representatives moves at pace comparable to molasses in wintertime, while the General Assembly session is short and legislation moves at a rapid fire pace. Congressman Griffith’s frustration is apparent not only from his recent op-ed in the Washington Examiner where he is frustrated with Senate’s filibuster, but also from his TV interview with Lawrence O’Donnell. Given the results we’ve seen lately, I can’t blame him.
Congress governs at a snails pace and they have a lower approval rating than toe fungus – we all have a reason to be aggravated, especially those who deal with it daily.
Between the two men, there is a wealth of experience at a variety of levels, both in Virginia and in Washington.
Congratulations are in order for Mr. Goodlatte and Mr. Griffith.
Hat’s off gentlemen, now get to work!
