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New House Republican Conference rules prevent members seeking higher office to hold committee and subcommittee chairs. Rep. Tom Cole (R) of Oklahoma said, the idea is not to have major committees, appropriations or subcommittees chaired by people who are running for the Senate. If youre shuttling back and forth, thats just a huge problem for us.

My colleague Mark Harkins argued this rule was likely the product of Rep. Jack Kingstons (R) run for Georgias Senate seat. Though he lost the primary, his bid for the Senate took the Labor-Health and Human Services subcommittee chair away from his legislative duties in the 113th. Labor-HHS was the only appropriations subcommittee not to report its appropriations bill in 2014, and only one of two subcommittees not to report its bill in 2013.

Several commentators noticed the rule could have consequences for other members, specifically Rep. Paul Ryan (R) of Wisconsin. In addition to his potential ambition for higher office he also has his sights on the Ways and Means gavel. If he does decide to run for higher office in 2016, he would need a waiver exempting his chairmanship from the new restriction.

However, it is unclear leadership would grant him one. Ways and Means figures to be at the center of Republicans legislative strategy in the 114th Congress. Without a filibuster-proof majority in the Senate, many billswill have to go through the reconciliation process, which allows bills to pass the Senate with a simple majority.This places Representative Ryans political and policy ambitions at a crossroads.

Reconciliation has limited applicability. It can only be used on measures that affect direct spending, revenue, or the debt ceiling. In other words, most of the bills the reconciliation process would instigatefall in Ways and Means jurisdiction in the House. Since 1989, 11 of the 12 reconciliation instructions directed Ways and Means to draft and report bills. In short, the primary process Republicans will use to pass policies changing everything from Obamacare to tax reform would go through Paul Ryans presumptive committee.

If Republicans thought Representative Kingstons absence was a nuisance to the appropriations process, Ryans absence would surely be intolerable, particularly in the run up to the 2016 elections. Failing to chair the preeminent committee Republicans political and policy strategy centers upon would fundamentally undermine their majority. Today, House leaders may lay this rule at Kingstons feet. But it is not likely an accident the rule also complicates Ryans political future.

Joshua Huder publishes his Rule 22 blog at http://rule22.wordpress.com/.

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House Republicans throw wrench in Paul Ryan's potential presidential plans

Colorado Senate Republicans, who now have an 18-17 majority, celebrated during caucus leadership elections by donning No. 18 Peyton Manning jerseys. Democrats have been in power since 2005 but will be in the minority next year. (Senate GOP)

Colorado Senate Republicans, who will be in charge for the next two years, have announced their committee chairs and members for the next two years.

The biggest surprise for Democrats might be the Senate Education Committee, where some of the chambers most conservative Republicans are assigned. In other words, this is not a teachers union friendly crowd.

Sen. Owen Hill

Democratic Sen. Andy Kerr of Lakewood, the current education chair, said he looks forward to working with the new education chair, Republican Owen Hill of Colorado Springs.

Ive served with Hill on two different committees and found his intelligence and humor to be uplifting, Kerr said. Although we dont agree on every issue we certainly enjoy working together.

Likewise, Hill said.

Andy and I talk and text regularly, Hill said. There are very few people in politics I enjoy working with more than Andy Kerr.

Republicans, who have been in the minority since 2005, will have an 18-17 majority next year and will be led by Senate President Bill Cadman of Colorado Springs.

The Senate Republicans have a dedicated and talented team committed to ensuring a fair and open process for all committee hearings, said Senate Majority Leader Mark Scheffel, R-Parker. We look forward to working with our Democratic colleagues to build a better Colorado in the upcoming legislative session.

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Colorado Senate Republicans announce committee chairs

Children from 21 countries wear Halloween costumes as they recite the Pledge of Allegiance after becoming American citizens during a naturaliSation ceremony in Baltimore, Maryland on October 31st. Photograph: Mark Wilson/Getty Images

Republicans are preparing a response to Barack Obamas plans to change the immigration system. The aim to block the presidents go-solo actions, which are expected to help up to five million illegal immigrants, but not alienate a public fed up with dysfunctional national politics with too extreme a reaction.

Hurt by last years government shutdown over their opposition to Mr Obamas signature healthcare law, the party is weighing how to counter his expected executive actions that would bypass Republican opposition in the House of Representatives and their refusal to take up a cross-party Senate immigration bill.

Mr Obama has long threatened to fix a broken immigration system on his own terms if House speaker John Boehner and his fellow Republicans in Congress fail to draft their own legislation.

Mr Boehner has refused to take up a bill on immigration, a lightning rod issue in the stormy partisanship of Washington politics, and has warned the president that executive action would poison the well.

He will make a televised address at 8pm tonight on his plans, he said, laying out the things that I can do with my lawful authority as president to make the system work better.

Mr Obama plans to make a speech at Del Sol High School in Las Vegas tomorrow to rally support for his initiative. The location points to the significance of the announcement the president gave a major speech on immigration at the school in January 2013, a week after his second inauguration.

Nevada is also the home state of Democratic Senate leader Harry Reid, who will make way for Republican Mitch McConnell as the next Senate majority leader after the GOP won back the chamber in this months midterm elections.

As many as five million people are reportedly expected to benefit from the move, out of the estimated 11.4 million illegal immigrants in the US.

The executive actions represent an expansion of the 2012 measure introduced by Mr Obama to allow children who were brought to the US illegally as children, known as Dreamers, to remain in the country.

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Republicans plan response to Obamas immigration move

Democrat Pollster Celinda Lake: The Republicans Have A "Very Good Turnout Operation" And "It Real"
Democrat Pollster Celinda Lake: The Republicans Have A "Very Good Turnout Operation" And "It Real" (November 5, 2014)

By: RNC Comms

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Democrat Pollster Celinda Lake: The Republicans Have A "Very Good Turnout Operation" And "It Real" - Video

Boehner on Incoming House Republicans: #39;They #39;re Really Solid Members #39;
Speaker John A. Boehner pushed back Thursday on speculation of an expanding "hell no" caucus in the Republican party following Tuesday #39;s Midterm Elections, i...

By: Roll Call

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Boehner on Incoming House Republicans: 'They're Really Solid Members' - Video