The House of Representatives, currently led by the Republican Party, has moved one step closer to conducting a vote that would provide broader powers to temporary Speaker Patrick McHenry, a member of the GOP who hails from North Caroline, as the party continues to struggle finding a potential candidate they can elect to take the position full time.
Going this route, according to the Daily Wire, came about as the Republican Party conference meeting kicked off Thursday morning. However it was not clear whether or not a vote would take place, nor were specifics revealed about a resolution that would be considered by the House.
“McHenry has been serving as speaker pro tempore for a little over two weeks after the House took the unprecedented step of voting Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) out as speaker. Since then, there has been doubt about whether an acting speaker can do more than preside over debate and vote for a full-time speaker,” the report said.
“Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH), the GOP nominee, lost House floor votes on Tuesday and Wednesday with at least 20 Republican defectors voting for other people in the party in each ballot. Jordan remains in the race,” the Daily Wire continued.
After the meeting concluded on Thursday, Jordan made the decision to back McHenry as the interim speaker until January. This provides the Ohio Republican with time to help consolidate support for his speakership bid in hopes he can get the 217 votes necessary to be considered a simple majority.
Some members of the Republican Party have stated they are in full support of providing a temporary expansion of McHenry’s power, while others have come out against the idea.
Pennsylvania Republican Congressman Mike Kelly believes that taking this course of action is “about continuing the work of the American people while we select a new speaker.” Kelly voted against Jordan becoming the full-time position holder in both ballots this week, along with Ohio Rep. David Joyce, who has been passing around a resolution that would further empower McHenry.
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“There is no path for a GOP-only empowerment of a Speaker Pro-Tem so it will necessarily require Democrat votes,” Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) stated in a post published on X.
“It is, in any event, a fool’s errand – breaking with tradition & setting constitutionally questionable precedent to empower someone … who is NOT the duly elected Speaker but will be empowered to negotiate a [continuing resolution] & massive supplemental bills (approx. $100BB) for Israel & Ukraine (& $ to process more illegals),” he said. “It will then set the [House Republicans] up for a Xmas omni ‘deal.’ I strongly oppose.”
Interestingly enough, McHenry, in a conversation with the media, stated that his top goal is to ensure that Jim Jordan is the one who is elected speaker for the position full-time. I believe Jordan is the best guy for the job out of the candidates who are being considered for the position. He clearly would work well with former President Donald Trump should he become the nominee and win against Joe Biden next year.
Not to mention he’s done wonderful work in the investigations he has launched against Biden and his crooked family, so why not have someone who actually stands on their principles and values in a position of leadership such as this?