As GOP-led House hastens to pass rules package, defense spending emerges as sticking point

Some House Republican are lining up against the proposed new House rules, with voting set to begin as early as Monday amid opposition to cuts to defense spending and other issues.

Among those most vocal in opposition to the defense cuts is Texas Rep. Tony Gonzales, who raises concerns about less money to Ukraine in its effort to end the Russia invasion and for the U.S. response to China's military buildup. 

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in his ultimately successful effort last week to secure the post made several concessions in the rules package to get the votes he needed from about 20 of his conference's most conservative members.

President Biden had requested an increase in defense spending for fiscal 2023, compared to the previous fiscal year, which was more than in fiscal 2021, a trend that is raising concerns among fiscal conservatives and others in the conference. 

South Carolina GOP Rep. Nancy Mace shared similar concerns about the rules package, particularly about the changes as a result of the speakership horse trading.

"I want to see it in writing," she said Sunday. "I want to see what promises were made. And what we are being told is that these handshakes ... will go through regular order and go through the regular appropriations process. I don't want to see defense cuts. We don't know what deals were made. And that's something that we should be transparent about. Sunshine is the best medicine."

She also said she remains "on a fence" over how she'll vote.

On Monday, Gonzales said he also opposes the portion of the package that would allow one House member to make a motion to vacate the chair, which means remove the speaker.

"I don't want to see us every two months be in lockdown," he said on the Fox News Channel. "This isn't the parliament. The American public are counting on House Republicans to be the one savior in this all. If we can't get this right, it's going to be nightmare after nightmare."

Other GOP lawmakers, such as Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (N.Y.), said some of the backroom deals that were made to form the current version of the rules package might cause her to vote against it on the floor.