Boehner Pledges to Stick to Hastert Rule

Speaker John Boehner sought to assure his conference that the “Hastert rule” is still regular practice, Roll Call reports.

“Republicans breached the rule — under which the speaker only brings forward bills that enjoy support from the ‘majority of the majority’ — last week when a reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act passed with a majority of Democratic votes. Of three major bills passed this session, two have passed in violation of the rule. The House passed the fiscal-cliff deal Jan. 1 despite the rule as well.”