Rules Committee allows no amendments to 2013 spending bill

The House Rules Committee on Tuesday evening approved a rule for the 2013 spending bill that will allow no amendments to be considered when the bill comes up later in the week.

The committee approved the closed rule in a typically partisan 9-4 vote.

Republicans had proposed amendments to prohibit implementation of the 2010 healthcare law, block funding to compensate federal workers for labor activities, and prevent the government from making new hires.

Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) proposed three of the nine amendments to the bill, including one that would prohibit any spending to transport President Obama to or from a golf course until the White House resumes White House tours.

Earlier in the day, the White House said the sequester would force the White House to cancel these tours. But Republicans argued that Obama was making selective cuts in order to make the sequester as painful as possible, and could easily be cutting other parts of the federal government.

Democrats proposed two amendments to repeal or replace the sequester.

The House is scheduled to start work on the continuing resolution, H.R. 933, on Wednesday.

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