After Newt Gingrich stepped down as Speaker of the House, Dennis Hastert took over the position, but the true influence lay with Tom DeLay, the House Majority Leader. DeLay, known as "the Hammer," continued Gingrich's aggressive partisan approach. He implemented the K Street Project, which aimed to fill lobbying firms with Republican allies and established a favorable system where lobbyist support translated into beneficial legislation for the GOP.

Chris Shays, a Republican congressman, starkly summarized DeLay's approach by stating that anything not illegal was permissible. This mindset contributed to the diminishing adherence to established norms within governance, highlighting the increasing partisan stratification during this period.