(Washington Insider Magazine) – Congress made history this week when, for the first time in 100 years, the US House of Representatives failed to promptly vote in a Speaker of the House as the first order of business.
Republican House Update: Who Got Speaker?
Following the results of the November 2022 midterm elections, the newly elected 118th Congress, composed of 100 senators and 435 representatives, convened on January 3rd for a swearing-in ceremony. However, the incoming congress members can only take their oaths after the Speaker of the House has been voted in by a majority of the House of Representatives.
The House can only change congressional rules, organize congressional committees, or initiate or enact legislation with fully sworn members. Essentially, the legislative arm of the US government becomes dead-armed without an elected Speaker.
For the past century, the first order of business for a newly convening congress is the vote for House Speaker. It has always successfully occurred on the first attempt at the ballot. This week, however, the vote for Speaker has failed six consecutive rounds of voting – so far.
What’s the holdup?
Representative Kevin McCarthy of California is the Republican favorite for Speaker of the House. He has served in the House of Representatives since 2007, holding several leadership positions in the House, including Majority Leader and Minority Leader. McCarthy needed a majority of 218 votes for election to Speaker. Although there are precisely 218 Republicans in the House of Representatives, he has fallen short by the same six votes from his party in each of the six consecutive rounds.
With the Republican Party taking back the House of Representatives from the Democrats, voting for a Republican Speaker should have been a quick and painless exercise. However, over the last several years, the Republican Party, not unlike the Democratic Party, has evolved into a clash of ideas and demands among themselves.
While chaotic in appearance, this concept of the clashing of ideas dates back to our country’s founders, who considered the clashing of ideas and open discourse welcome and necessary for a healthy republic.
McCarthy expects healthy discourse among his fellow party members to continue this week. He is confident he will secure the majority votes for House Speaker.
