It’s often used for gotcha votes. But the MTR, in today’s extraordinarily closed House, is (soon to be *was*) effectively the only opportunity for all members to debate and vote on amendments that haven’t been approved by the Rules Committee first. https://thedispatch.com/p/democrats-congress-pelosi-ocasio-cortez https://twitter.com/mikedebonis/status/1345057728641826819

Some thoughts on what this means from @joshHuder last month: https://thedispatch.com/p/democrats-congress-pelosi-ocasio-cortez

There are valid complaints with the motion to recommit — the minority party largely uses it for cynical politics instead of good faith legislating. Members also have very little time on the floor to review a proposed amendment before being expected to vote on it.

In a House where the past two Speakers have aggressively shut out rank-and-file members and limited floor debate, this rules change only strengthens leadership’s hand even further. Good for keeping members in line. Not great for the institution.

(Some members have wanted to get rid of this for years. It’s just happening now, when Democrats are set to have the slimmest majority either party has held in the House in two decades.)

One last sidenote — coverage that approaches this as merely leadership ~removing an inconvenience~ is doing a disservice to readers. Paul Ryan broke records for shutting down floor debate, and Pelosi has continued that approach. This reinforces that trend.