Will We Get a New House Speaker Today?

Matt Vespa / Townhall Tipsheet

 

On October 2, Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) filed the motion to vacate against then-House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA). He’d been waiting to do this for quite some time, as the two men dislike each other. McCarthy passed a continuing resolution to keep the government open for another 45 days, barely missing the September 30 deadline, which would’ve triggered a government shutdown. While Democrats were initially irked by the lack of Ukraine aid, McCarthy supposedly made a deal to have a separate vote on that package. As a result, the 45-day CR could sail through Congress without much drama. 

 

Gaetz saw this soliciting of Democratic Party support as a betrayal and moved to boot McCarthy, which was successful. Eight Republicans joined Democrats to remove McCarthy. The House was hurled into chaos, though Reps. Steve Scalise (R-LA) and Jim Jordan (R-OH) emerged as the frontrunners. Then, Hamas launched a massive terrorist attack on Israel on October 7, which has the makings of escalating into a regional war. Americans were killed in the attacks. As Jerusalem prepares for war, we must have someone who can get 218 quickly and get the House in order. When will that happen? We could have a vote today, but Thursday seems the better bet. Read more and see Xs here.