Day 59.

Have you ever heard of the Holman Rule?

It hearkens back to the 19th century, when it was instituted as a way to speedily eliminate patronage appointments.

According to the Washington Post:

The rule changes the process of passing spending bills by allowing any rank-and-file House member to propose an amendment that would cut a specific federal program or the jobs of specific federal employees, by slashing their salaries or eliminating their positions altogether.

Before the change, an agency’s budget could be cut broadly, but a specific program, employee or groups of employees could not be targeted because of civil service protections.

It was included in the 115th Congress’ rules package (for a year, with an optional one-year extension).

Other job protections and benefits are set to be on the chopping block in the coming administration.

The Holman rule got no coverage in the media earlier this week, because we were all focused on the Office of Congressional Ethics being gutted. It’s enormously frustrating to try to keep up with the sleight of hand here.

I’m reading Hope in the Dark to try to feel less miserable about this. But right now I do feel miserable about what’s going on behind closed doors.