Rep. Dave Schweikert sent a letter to colleagues Monday. | Jay Westcott/POLITICO Boehner pushed on 'Hastert Rule'

In the past few months, Speaker John Boehner has advanced some major bills that were opposed by a majority of Republicans and passed the House primarily with Democratic votes.

A few House Republicans are sick of it.


Rep. David Schweikert (R-Ariz.), in a letter sent to his colleagues Monday, said he would oppose procedural votes to debate legislation if it does not meet the “Hastert Rule” — a principle that all bills should be supported by the majority of Republicans, espoused by former Speaker Dennis Hastert.

If it seems like inside-the-Beltway legislative wonkery, it’s not. Voting against the rule, as it’s called, is a loud statement that members disagree with leadership’s priorities. And since Democrats almost always oppose the rule — the measure that sets parameters for floor debate — GOP leadership has to have 218 Republicans on board to get it passed. If a rule fails, the House cannot debate the underlying bill, and the legislative process is ground to a halt.

Schweikert said he would also vote against proceeding to a bill if it increases spending without offsetting spending cuts. The post-Hurricane Sandy measure to help Northeastern states did not meet this standard.

He continued, “Right now, House Republicans are united against President Obama’s scare tactics on sequestration, the debt limit, and taxes. We can continue this trend only if we honor the Hastert Rule and bring bills to the floor that enjoy majority support within our own conference.”

Rep. Matt Salmon (R-Ariz.) advocated for similar principles in a Washington Times op-ed Monday.

”I will vote against the rule for bills that increase spending without offsetting spending cuts and encourage my other conservative colleagues to do the same,” Salmon wrote.

“Similarly, if House leadership brings any more bills to the floor without first securing the support from the majority of the GOP conference, I will take the same action. If enough of my conservative colleagues in the House join me, we can unilaterally put an end to the growth of government that is moving us closer to Greece-like fiscal calamities.”

Boehner told reporters last week that he does not plan to make a habit of passing bills without majority GOP support.