In a tumultuous turn of events, House Republicans are facing difficulties in electing a new chamber speaker following the ousting of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise was initially nominated in a secret vote but failed to gather enough support, leading to his withdrawal on Thursday night. The GOP members then conducted another secret ballot, in which Rep. Jim Jordan emerged as the winner. However, it remains uncertain whether Jordan can rally sufficient votes from his party.
Regardless of who ultimately assumes the role of speaker, the new leader will be confronted with a daunting task as the House looks ahead to several crucial government funding bills. With conservatives advocating for spending cuts in light of the federal debt surpassing $33 trillion, and pressure from both the White House and bipartisan lawmakers for increased aid to Ukraine, the new speaker will immediately inherit a monetary maelstrom. To add to the urgency, current appropriations are set to expire on November 17, necessitating swift action to fund the government.
To avoid a government shutdown, the House and Senate must pass a combined total of 12 appropriations bills, with 11 originating from the House. In the past, Congress has resorted to passing concurrent resolutions (CR) and supplemental bills as a temporary measure. However, Republicans had previously tied their support for Speaker McCarthy to the passage of appropriations bills. Consequently, the recent ousting of McCarthy has left Congress with limited time to meet the looming funding deadline.
Furthermore, amidst the Christmas season on Capitol Hill, lawmakers often grant themselves earmarks, allowing them to allocate federal funds to specific projects. The incoming speaker will be tasked with navigating this contentious issue and managing the amendment process as the House strives to pass funding bills. The paralysis within the House has persisted for over a week since McCarthy’s removal, further exacerbating the urgency of the situation.
While Jordan is currently the frontrunner for the GOP nomination, he has faced resistance from moderate colleagues within the party. Until a speaker is chosen, the House is unable to conduct business, leaving the timeline for a floor vote to officially appoint someone to the role uncertain. In the meantime, North Carolina Republican Rep. Patrick McHenry is serving as the speaker pro tempore, a position established in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks.
As the search for a new speaker continues, the government funding crisis looms, demanding swift action from House Republicans. The outcome of this process will have far-reaching implications for the functioning of the House and the overall stability of the government. This situation warrants close attention as the consequences could impact the nation at large.
