Republicans Say Changes to ‘Motion to Recommit’ Will Silence Minority

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) speaks at the weekly news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington on Dec. 3, 2020. Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images

House Republicans accused Democrats on Jan. 4 of silencing their constituents’ voices with changes to the House rule that had enabled the minority party to offer amendments to bills through motions to recommit (MTRs).

In a speech on the House floor on Jan. 4, Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) said the alteration of the MTR is another step toward stifling free speech.