Cleaning The House

With the new Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, the house is currently adopting the new House Rules (full text; summary) that include several notable changes:

• In response to the Jack Abramoff scandal, gifts and trips paid for by lobbyists are no longer allowed without prior approval.
• House members will be allowed 24 hours to read legislation.
• Members can not be prevented from attending committee hearings.
• Members will have to list earmarks and benefits put into any bill and make them public.
• The budget can not allow the federal deficit to increase over 5- or 10-year period.