A group of freshman House Democrats — most of whom represent districts that are expected to be competitive in 2020 — on Wednesday urged committee chairs to abide by the House's pay-as-you-go rules to ensure that legislation doesn't add to the deficit.

"We urge you to work with us to ensure that each committee’s legislation is funded with responsible pay-fors that are considered early in the legislative process," the lawmakers wrote in a letter. "We also ask that legislation is not advanced out of committees until it has received a [Congressional Budget Office] score."

Rep. Sharice Davids Sharice DavidsTrump asked Chamber of Commerce to reconsider Democratic endorsements: report Races heat up for House leadership posts GOP leader says he doesn't want Chamber's endorsement: 'They have sold out' MORE (D-Kan.) took the lead on the letter, and it was also signed by Reps. Ben McAdams (D-Utah), Colin Allred (D-Texas), Cindy Axne Cindy AxneVulnerable Democrats tell Pelosi COVID-19 compromise 'essential' House passes bill to avert shutdown House moves toward spending vote after bipartisan talks MORE (D-Iowa), Ed Case Edward (Ed) CaseMORE (D-Hawaii), Joe Cunningham Joseph CunninghamKate Schroder in Ohio among Democratic challengers squelching GOP hopes for the House Warning signs flash for Lindsey Graham in South Carolina Trump asked Chamber of Commerce to reconsider Democratic endorsements: report MORE (D-S.C.), Kendra Horn Kendra Suzanne HornKate Schroder in Ohio among Democratic challengers squelching GOP hopes for the House GOP women's group rolls out six-figure campaign for Ernst Trump asked Chamber of Commerce to reconsider Democratic endorsements: report MORE (D-Okla.), Dean Phillips Dean PhillipsVulnerable Democrats tell Pelosi COVID-19 compromise 'essential' Shakespeare Theatre Company goes virtual for 'Will on the Hill...or Won't They?' US Chamber of Commerce set to endorse 23 House freshman Democrats MORE (D-Minn.), Abigail Spanberger Abigail Davis SpanbergerVulnerable Democrats tell Pelosi COVID-19 compromise 'essential' Trump asked Chamber of Commerce to reconsider Democratic endorsements: report Virginians wait up to four hours to cast early voting ballots MORE (D-Va.) and Jeff Van Drew Jeff Van DrewThe Hill's Campaign Report: 19 years since 9/11 | Dem rival to Marjorie Taylor Greene drops out | Collin Peterson faces fight of his career | Court delivers blow to ex-felon voting rights in Florida The Hill's 12:30 Report: First Kennedy to lose a Massachusetts election Ex-Democrat Van Drew speaks at GOP convention MORE (D-N.J.).

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With the exception of Case, all of these lawmakers hold seats that had been represented by Republicans prior to the 2018 midterm elections. Most of the signers are members of the centrist Blue Dog Coalition, the centrist New Democrat Coalition, or both.

The House adopted a rules package in January that included a "pay-go" provision that establishes a point of order against bills that increase the deficit. The rule can be waived.

The freshman Democrats said in their letter they feel that so far this year, the principles of the pay-go rule "have not been followed throughout the legislative process, particularly as legislation is being considered at the committee level." The lawmakers raised concerns about the fact that bills frequently advance out of committees before they receive a cost estimate from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO).

"Since there is limited time for a CBO study, members do not have enough time to properly consider the potential costs and pay-fors of the legislation before casting votes," the lawmakers wrote.

"We understand that legislation referred to multiple committees of jurisdiction can present challenges for committee chairs to identify appropriate offsets or offsets in that respective committee’s jurisdiction in advance of floor consideration," the freshman Democrats added. "In these instances, we encourage the respective committee chairs to work collaboratively and to communicate throughout the legislative process regarding intentions for offsets."

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Roll Call first reported on the letter.

This isn't the first time that centrist Democrats have pressed for the House to adhere more closely to pay-go. In June, the Blue Dogs sent a letter to House Democratic leaders, warning them against disregarding the rule, after the House waived the rule to pass an immigration bill.

But the pay-go rule isn't loved by all House Democrats, with some progressives having expressed concerns that it could make it harder to advance some of their top priorities.

A spokesman for 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.) said in January that the pay-go rule is necessary because without it, the White House would be able to make unilateral spending cuts that reverse Democratic priorities. Key progressive lawmakers have introduced legislation to repeal the 2010 statute that requires the White House to offset deficit-increasing legislation with mandatory spending cuts.