Temporary powers aside, don’t expect an end to speaker drama soon
Conn Carroll
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The House of Representatives held another speaker vote today, and again Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) failed to get the 217 votes he needs to wrap up the office. In fact, he lost ground, securing just 199 votes, one less than he did yesterday.
Jordan’s allies indicated this afternoon that they are willing to take as many votes as needed to install Jordan as speaker. This puts Jordan at a big advantage over former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) and Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-LA), who quit their speaker bids without a single vote.
There are no more votes scheduled in the House this afternoon, and the Republican conference isn’t even scheduled to meet. It is unclear if they will even try a third vote on Thursday.
But what is becoming clear is that there is a very real possibility that some Republicans, tired of the speaker dominating House business, may make a motion to give Speaker Pro Tempore Patrick McHenry (R-NC) temporary speaker powers.
Rep. Dave Joyce (R-OH) is reportedly working on a motion that would do exactly that, although the details have not yet been finalized. Most likely, the motion would give McHenry speaker powers through the end of the continuing resolution that is currently keeping the government from shutting down. That would mean McHenry could be given speaker powers through Nov. 17.
Jordan reportedly wanted to vote on Joyce’s motion today before the second speaker ballot but was rebuffed by Republican Leadership. Again, it does not appear the motion had even been finalized yet.
What is guaranteed, however, is that the Republicans making the motion to give McHenry temporary powers will not be offering any concessions to Democrats for their votes. If Democrats want to let the House move on to normal business, fine. But if they want to keep taking speaker votes instead, that’s fine too.
If that is the case, if Republicans are going to offer Democrats nothing, then why would any Democrats vote with Republicans to give McHenry temporary powers?
Democrats may want to actually pass legislation before the Nov. 17 continuing resolution deadline. They may want action on an Israel aid package or a vote on Ukraine funding. There assuredly is a bipartisan majority for both these items in the House.
If Democrats do work with Republicans to give McHenry speaker power temporarily, that doesn’t mean the fight over the speakership would be over — far from it. It would only be delayed till after the CR.
Then we all get to do this all over again.