Members of the Republican caucus of the U.S. House of Representatives were back under the rotunda of the U.S. Capitol Monday as members work to rally behind a candidate for House speaker. (Photo by Steven Allen Adams)
CHARLESTON — Whether the goal is to prevent the next government shutdown in the middle of November or providing funding to allies in the middle of conflicts, the lack of a sitting speaker of the U.S House of Representatives is causing gridlock.
Republicans in the House returned to Capitol Hill Monday trying to select a new speaker after they voted a few weeks ago to discharge former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., from the podium.
Lawmakers already rejected two speaker candidates over the last two weeks in the House, where the Republicans hold the majority by five seats. Now, there are as many as nine different House Republicans seeking the speaker’s gavel. Speaking during a tele-town hall with constituents Saturday morning, Rep. Alex Mooney, R-W.Va., said he and his colleagues need to pick a new speaker soon.
“Now we have to move forward,” Mooney said. “We’re back in D.C., back to the Republican conference. We have at least five, maybe 10, of my colleagues running for Speaker now. I’ve not picked who I will vote for next…but we’ll keep voting until we get a speaker.”
The House ousted McCarthy on Oct. 3 following the passage of a temporary continuing resolution to keep the government funded until Nov. 17 when the House and Senate will either need to pass appropriations bills or another continuing resolution. McCarthy was ousted after Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., made a motion to vacate the chair and eight Republicans voted along with the Democratic caucus to oust McCarthy.
The House Republican Caucus chose House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., as its next selection for speaker, but he was unable to get the majority necessary to take the gavel on Oct. 12. House Freedom Caucus Leader Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, went through three floor votes last week and lost each one, finally dropping out Friday.
Mooney did not support the continuing resolution earlier this month, but he was against removing McCarthy as speaker as was Rep. Carol Miller, R-W.Va. Both supported Jordan for speaker.
“I’m very disappointed that Jim Jordan has not continued his pursuit of speakership, as the majority conference then voted for another candidate,” Mooney said. “Jim Jordan is a proven fighter, leading this fight against out-of-control government spending since he was first elected. I have no doubt he would stand strong against President Biden and help lead our Republican majority in the House…”
Among the names being float as the next nominee for speaker by House Republicans is Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., who received the endorsement of McCarthy Sunday according to The Hill.
Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., served in the House from 2001 until taking office as a Senator in 2015. While the House remains gridlocked, the Senate has continued work on 12 individual appropriations bills drafted by committees through regular order.
As long as the House has no leader, Capito, a Republican member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, said the chances of either another short-term continuing resolution or a government shutdown become more likely.
“Unfortunately, we are paralyzed here in the United States Congress,” Capito said. “The House of Representatives has to get its act together. We were elected to lead as a party in the House of Representatives, yet they can’t get a leader. They let eight people decide the destiny with no plan. Imagine if the government was shut down right now, which is what those eight people actually wanted?”
Beyond the need to fund the government after the Nov. 17 shutdown deadline, President Joe Biden has a pending request for a $106 billion supplemental appropriation for Ukraine as it continues to try to push Russia out of its territories, and Israel after Hamas sent terrorists from Gaza into the nation and killed citizens. Funding would also go toward Taiwan and additional enforcement support for the southern border with Mexico.
“Whether we’re looking at another supplemental or additional humanitarian aid, we are not in a position right now to be able to do that because it has to be voted on by both houses of Congress,” Capito said. “It’s a circus, quite frankly. I’m very, very frustrated and embarrassed by what I see, the inability of the House to get their house in order.”
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