Just when you thought it was safe to go near order-of-business resolutions, (also known as rules or special rules from the Rules Committee), the Rules committee pulled another snark attack.

Like the elusive creature in the Lewis Carroll poem, a Rules snark is a crafty beast, tucked in obscurity, cloaked in mystery, and feeding on ambiguity. The snark shows up unannounced, fast, furious and voracious.

Last week a special rule was scheduled to consider just five matters, all resolutions to disapprove regulations promulgated during the Biden administration. All were expected to be considered with one hour of floor debate each and no amendments. The actual text of the rule passed out to members just before the vote to report it contained this additional language, “Each day during the period from April 29, 2025 through September 30, 2025, shall not constitute a legislative day for purposes of clause 7 of Rule XIII.”

Unless you have memorized all House rules by Roman numerals and clause numbers, you would have no idea that clause 7 of rule 13 covers “

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