One proposed change to House rules illustrates just how hard Paul Ryan’s job is (Molly E. Reynolds, Brookings)

Despite promises to “return to regular order,” the House Republican leadership has spent much of the spring struggling to build sufficient support within its caucus for a budget resolution that adheres to the aggregate discretionary spending levels agreed to as part of last October’s budget deal. A group of conservative members, led by the House Freedom Caucus, have pledged to oppose any budget resolution that honors the October numbers unless it is accompanied by other spending cuts or rules changes, including several proposed by former Freedom Caucus member Rep. Tom McClintock (R-Calif.) explored yesterday at a House Rules Committee hearing. While it seems increasingly likely that Republican leaders in both chambers will forgo a budget resolution and attempt to move on to appropriations bills, McClintock’s proposal provides an excellent window to the challenges that Speaker of the House Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) continues to face managing the divisions within the House Republican conference.

http://www.brookings.edu/blogs/fixgov/posts/2016/04/15-house-rules-change-reynolds