The Blue Dog Coalition of centrist Democrats on Monday stepped up its push for House Democratic leaders to abide by the chamber's pay-as-you-go rule and only advance legislation that is fully offset.

The coalition sent a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi Nancy PelosiDemocratic senator to party: 'A little message discipline wouldn't kill us' Overnight Health Care: New wave of COVID-19 cases builds in US | Florida to lift all coronavirus restrictions on restaurants, bars | Trump stirs questions with 0 drug coupon plan Overnight Defense: Appeals court revives House lawsuit against military funding for border wall | Dems push for limits on transferring military gear to police | Lawmakers ask for IG probe into Pentagon's use of COVID-19 funds MORE (D-Calif.), House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer Steny Hamilton HoyerHouse to vote on resolution affirming peaceful transition of power On The Money: Anxious Democrats push for vote on COVID-19 aid | Pelosi, Mnuchin ready to restart talks | Weekly jobless claims increase | Senate treads close to shutdown deadline Vulnerable Democrats tell Pelosi COVID-19 compromise 'essential' MORE (D-Md.) and House Rules Committee Chairman Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) after 12 lawmakers in the centrist group last week voted against waiving the pay-go rule for a bill focused on tackling workplace violence in the health care and social services sectors.

"Last week, our members sent a clear message: The House must abide by PAYGO to prevent our fiscal state from getting worse," the Blue Dogs Coalition said in its letter.

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The rule that waived pay-go for the workplace violence prevention bill passed narrowly despite objections from the Blue Dog lawmakers. The bill itself passed with no Democrats voting against the measure.

The pay-go rule was included in the House's rules package that Democrats adopted in January. The rule establishes a point of order against legislation that increases the deficit, and it can be waived.

The Blue Dogs said that it's "more necessary than ever" for Democrats to promote fiscal responsibility in light of the fact that Republicans passed a tax-cut bill in 2017 that added to the deficit.

"However, in midst of one of the worst fiscal years in U.S. history, we have seen that leadership and the committees of jurisdiction have waived PAYGO several times for the convenience of bringing legislation to the floor," the Blue Dogs wrote. "The American people expect Congress to abide by the rules of governance—not circumvent them."

Seventeen members of the 26-member caucus signed the letter, including the members of the Blue Dogs Coalition's leadership: Reps. Stephanie Murphy Stephanie MurphyDemocrats scramble on COVID-19 relief amid division, Trump surprise Bank lobbying group launches ad backing Collins reelection bid House Democrats call on State Department for information on Uighur prisoner Ekpar Asat MORE (D-Fla.), Tom O’Halleran (D-Ariz.), Lou Correa Jose (Lou) Luis CorreaCriminalization that never should have been: Cannabis Man arrested, charged with threatening to attack Muslims in Germany Gloves come off as Democrats fight for House seat in California MORE (D-Calif.), Anthony Brindisi (D-N.Y.), and Kurt Schrader Walter (Kurt) Kurt SchraderHouse members race to prepare for first-ever remote votes The 14 Democrats who broke with their party on coronavirus relief vote House votes to condemn Trump Medicaid block grant policy MORE (D-Ore.).

This is the second letter this year that the Blue Dogs have sent House leadership about pay-go. It sent a similar letter in June, after House Democrats waived the pay-go rule to pass an immigration bill.

Some progressive members of the House Democratic caucus have raised concerns about pay-go, arguing that the rule could make it harder for the House to pass legislation on key liberal priorities. But Pelosi's office has defended the rule, arguing that it's necessary because otherwise the White House would be able to make unilateral spending cuts under a federal law. Progressives have introduced a bill to repeal the 2010 law.