Kline seeks waiver on House rules

Rep. John Kline (R-Minn.) asked Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) to lift temporarily restrictions on the number of aides lawmakers in states affected by Hurricane Katrina can hire.

In a letter sent to Hastert yesterday, Kline asked Hastert to waive House rules that sets parameters of hiring up to 18 full-time staffers and four additional aides. He also is seeking a waiver that would allow legislators to transfer money from their office budgets to lawmakers from districts in Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi.

"Many members of the House and Senate are unable to provide much-needed aid to their affected constituents because of the loss of personal and office resources," Kline wrote. "The catastrophic events resulting from Hurricane Katrina require that we do all we can to assist our colleagues and their constituents."

Jonathan E. Kaplan