In a never-before-seen level of mayhem and chaos, the House of Representatives is facing a new challenge as a group of moderate Democrat lawmakers offers a deal to House Speaker Pro Tempore Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., to expand his powers in exchange for more bills on the floor. This move comes after the historic ouster of former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy last week.
Four House Democrats from the embattled bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus, led by Rep. Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey, sent a letter to McHenry expressing their dissatisfaction with the limited authority of the current speaker pro-tempore. They argue that with pressing issues such as a potential government shutdown and attacks on key ally Israel, it is crucial to expand the Speaker Pro Tempore’s authorities to address the most urgent matters.
The letter suggests temporary, expanded authorities in fifteen-day increments for the Speaker Pro Tempore until a new Speaker of the House is elected. The proposed legislation would cover areas such as foreign aid funding for Ukraine and Israel, extending the current continuing resolution to avoid a government shutdown, and committee and floor consideration for appropriations bills. In return, the Democrats would receive half of the suspension bills on the calendar.
The lawmakers emphasize the need to restart the business of the House without delay, highlighting the risks to American families, the economy, and national security if the government remains hamstrung. The letter was joined by three other Democratic representatives: Ed Case of Hawaii, Susie Lee of Nevada, and Jared Golden of Maine.
The Problems Solvers Caucus, however, is currently facing its own challenges. Several House Republicans in the bipartisan group have expressed their dissatisfaction with their Democratic counterparts’ role in McCarthy’s ouster, with some even considering leaving the caucus. The ousting of McCarthy, who became the first speaker of the House in U.S. history to be removed from the position, was a result of eight hardliners within his party joining forces with every Democrat to vote him out.
Rep. Nicole Malliotakis of New York stated her frustration with the Democratic members of the Problem Solvers Caucus, saying that many Republicans are disenchanted with their actions. She argued that if their purpose is to ensure good governance and facilitate the appropriations process, they should have worked with Republicans to defeat the motion to vacate and keep Congress working.
The House GOP’s fight to find a new speaker continues amid these developments. The outcome of this power struggle will undoubtedly have a significant impact on the future direction of the House and its ability to address pressing issues.
In conclusion, the House is currently embroiled in chaos as moderate Democrats seek to expand the authority of the Speaker Pro Tempore. This move aims to address crucial matters such as foreign aid funding, government shutdown avoidance, and appropriations bills. However, it has also created tension within the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus, with some Republicans considering leaving the group due to their Democratic colleagues’ role in McCarthy’s ouster. The outcome of this power struggle will have far-reaching implications for the functioning of the House and its ability to address pressing issues.
