GOP Lawmaker Admits Hastert Rule is Dead

Rep. John Fleming (R-LA) admitted to TPM that the “Hastert Rule” — which says Republicans will only bring legislation to the floor which is supported by a majority of the majority — may be inoperable in the House when it comes to crucial legislation like raising the debt ceiling.

Said Fleming: “I think the Republicans would have a real problem giving the president a clean debt ceiling, even… short term. Maybe some would do it, but I think to get a majority of the majority vote, I think it’s impossible.”

He added: “I think that the majority of the majority Hastert rule comes out of a time when we had a Republican president. When you have a Democrat president that’s a very hard thing to achieve sometimes — and not necessarily important.”