The House of Representatives does not have a Speaker after three weeks. The Democrats and eight Republicans led by Rep. Matt Gaetz ousted Rep. Kevin McCarthy.
The government is at a standstill.
*Insert sly Ron Swanson smile*
Nominee Majority Leader Steve Scalise didn’t even reach the House floor. Nominee Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan lost three floor votes, with more “no” Republicans in each round.
The House Republicans will meet on Monday evening to choose a nominee to take the House floor.
We know none of the Democrats will cross the aisle and vote yes. If all Republicans are present, then the nominee needs 217 Republican votes. He can only lose four votes.
Nine people filed to run for Speaker after Jordan withdrew from the race:
The format includes candidates giving two-minute introduction speeches, a 90-minute Q&A, and a one-minute closing speech.
Speaker Pro Tempore Patrick McHenry already shot down any attempt to give him more powers to act as Speaker.
Rep. Mike Flood (R-NE) wants the members to pledge support and vote for the eventual nominee (his emphasis):
“Electing the next Speaker of the House will require unity from House Republicans,” said Congressman Flood. “This pledge is a new effort to help our conference put our differences aside and come together. I’m urging all my colleagues to join this pledge so we can move forward with electing a Speaker and get on with the people’s business.”The text of the Unity Pledge reads as follows:“House Republicans need to elect a Speaker as soon as possible in order to return to work on behalf of the American people. It is time to put politics and personalities aside and unite behind the next Republican Conference choice for Speaker.I, _______ , hereby pledge to support the Speaker Designate duly elected by the House Republican Conference—regardless of who that candidate is—when their election proceeds to the House Floor. Further, I pledge to vote for the Speaker Designate on the House Floor for as long as they remain the Speaker Designate.
Maybe the Republicans should have won more elections last year. You know, supporting the candidate who could win the district.
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