Rep. Bob Good elected chairman of House Freedom Caucus
Virginia Republican Congressman Bob Good was elected to lead the House Freedom Caucus in a closed-door vote late Monday evening. Good is replacing conservative Rep. Scott Perry, R-Pa., who is stepping down. He takes command of the approximately three dozen-member caucus in January. The Virginia congressman has been known to march to the beat of his own drum, including his involvement in ousting former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif. earlier this year. Good was one of eight Republican members who crossed the aisle to vote against McCarthy, the only Republican from the commonwealth to do so. Good also broke ranks with many in the caucus by endorsing Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in his presidential bid against former President Donald Trump in the Republican primary. Trump has remained a popular figure among caucus members, often characterized as MAGA Republicans by those on the left. Good’s chairmanship vote was not without some controversy within the conservative caucus. Rep. Warren Davidson, R-Ohio, announced he would not seek reelection to the caucus board following the recommendation that Good lead the group. Davidson reportedly sent a letter to colleagues voicing his concern as to the direction of the caucus. “I am concerned that our group often relies too much on power (available primarily due to the narrow majority) and too little on influence with and among our colleagues. This approach is not a strong foundation for success,” Davidson wrote in the letter, according to published reports. “For me, these concerns culminate with the Board’s recommendation that Bob Good serve as the next Chairman of the House Freedom Caucus.” Despite Davidson’s grim outlook on the news of Good’s chairmanship and the caucus, Good steered clear of any mention of infighting. He praised Perry’s work while focusing on the mission of the caucus. “It is my privilege and honor to serve as the next House Freedom Caucus chairman,” Good said in a statement. “I thank Rep. Perry for his outstanding leadership of the caucus, and I look forward to building on the work he has done and continuing the fight to reduce government spending, secure our borders, and defend our constitutional freedoms.” Republished with the permission of The Center Square.
U.S. House passes stopgap spending bill in bipartisan vote, in crucial test for new speaker
Jennifer Shutt, Alabama Reflector WASHINGTON — The U.S. House took a broadly bipartisan vote Tuesday to fund the government into the new year, though the measure must pass the Senate by the end of the week if Congress is going to avoid a partial government shutdown. The 336-95 House vote was the first major legislative test for Speaker Mike Johnson, the Louisiana Republican who took on the role after the former speaker was ousted after passing a similar bipartisan short-term funding bill in late September. A total of 93 House Republicans voted against the bill, but enough Democrats supported it to send the measure to the Senate. In the Alabama delegation, U.S. Reps. Robert Aderholt, R-Haleyville; Terri Sewell, D-Birmingham, and Dale Strong, R-Madison, voted for the bill. U.S. Reps. Jerry Carl, R-Mobile; Barry Moore, R-Enterprise; Gary Palmer, R-Hoover and Mike Rogers, R-Saks, voted against it. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, said Tuesday that he and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, both agree the Senate needs to pass the bill quickly to avoid a funding lapse. “If the House should pass it, and I hope they do, Leader McConnell and I will figure out the best way to get this done quickly,” Schumer said. During a press conference prior to the vote, Johnson defended his decision to move the short-term spending bill, saying it would prevent Congress from passing an omnibus spending package in mid-December before the holiday break. Republicans have repeatedly said they oppose such massive packages, which wrap together all 12 government spending bills, often on short notice. He rejected criticism from fellow GOP lawmakers that he was making a mistake and taking the wrong approach to funding the government. “We’re not surrendering, we’re fighting. But you have to be wise about choosing the fights,” Johnson said. “You’ve got to fight fights that you can win, and we’re going to, and you’re going to see this House majority stand together on our principles.” Johnson said he was optimistic that Congress would be able to pass the dozen full-year appropriations bills before the new deadlines next year, avoiding the need for another stopgap spending bill. “Part of the reason I’m confident about this is, I’ve been drinking from Niagara Falls for the last three weeks. This will allow everybody to go home for a couple of days for Thanksgiving,” Johnson said. “Everybody can cool off.” During that time, Johnson said he would get a group together to “map out that plan to fight for” conservative principles in the final set of 12 spending bills. The current fiscal year ends on September 30, 2024. “I look forward to rolling that out,” he said. “You’ll see much more of that.” Two deadlines The 32-page short-term spending bill, sometimes called a continuing resolution or CR, would fund part of the federal government through January 19 and the remainder of the annual appropriations bills through February 2. The short-term funding measure is intended to give Congress and the White House more time to negotiate the dozen full-year spending bills. But there are several pitfalls along the way. Former GOP Speaker Kevin McCarthy was ousted from his leadership role after moving the short-term government funding bill in late September that will keep the federal government up and running through Friday. The decision by eight House Republicans and Democrats to vote to “vacate the chair” plunged the chamber into gridlock for weeks as GOP lawmakers debated who should lead the party. After nominating three Republicans who couldn’t get the votes on the floor to hold the gavel, the party finally coalesced behind Johnson. But some of the especially conservative members became frustrated this week with his decision to put the stopgap spending bill on the floor. The short-term spending bill would give the House and Senate until January 19 to work out an agreement on the Agriculture-FDA, Energy-Water, Military Construction-VA, and Transportation-HUD spending bills. The remaining eight spending bills — Commerce-Justice-Science, Defense, Financial Services, Homeland Security, Interior-Environment, Labor-HHS-Education, Legislative Branch, and State-Foreign Operations — would have funding until February 2. The House and Senate would need to reach an agreement well before those deadlines on the total amount of spending for the current fiscal year that began back on October 1. The leaders of the Appropriations committees would then determine how much of the money goes to each of the dozen bills. Democrats have said the total spending level should match what Congress and President Joe Biden agreed to in the debt limit law this summer. But some Republicans have pressed for lawmakers to go below that level. Lawmakers sound off on spending Idaho Republican Rep. Mike Simpson, chair of the Interior-Environment spending panel, said that leaders need to clarify the total spending number, though he expects that will ultimately match the debt limit law. “I think it will end up being that, but leadership needs to tell us,” Simpson said. Georgia Rep. Sanford Bishop Jr., the top Democrat on the Agriculture spending panel, said the total spending level for the final slate of bills that the House and Senate will negotiate in the coming weeks and months needs to adhere to the number in the debt limit law. “Some of them, particularly the MAGA Republicans, pretty much don’t agree with it. They want to cut much more drastically than is beneficial for the American people,” Bishop said. “The moderate, reasonable minds of that side think that we probably should do something that is reasonable.” Maryland Rep. Steny Hoyer, the top Democrat on the Financial Services spending panel, said a key challenge to getting full-year bills agreed to is that “Republicans have been unable for eight or nine months to get their act together on fiscal issues.” “And we’d lost a speaker over that,” Hoyer said. “They were unable to elect speakers for some period of time, and there is still no guarantee that we know what the overall spending levels are.” Ohio Democratic Rep. Marcy Kaptur, ranking member
New speaker lays out legislative agenda, receives broad support from party
By Casey Harper | The Center Square U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., has laid out his vision for the House and legislative goals, but he faces the daunting task of reuniting a divided party in a slim majority and funding the government before the partial shutdown deadline in the middle of November. Before the vote to elect Johnson as speaker on Wednesday, Johnson sent a memo to his fellow Republicans asking for their support and promising an “ambitious” legislative agenda. “In the interest of time, I would propose that we seek consensus to discharge the last two appropriations bills-Labor, HHS, and Education and Commerce, Justice, and Science-from the Appropriations Committee,” Johnson said. “We should also create a new working group to address Member concerns with the Agriculture, Rural Development, and Food and Drug Administration appropriations bill. As all of this is being completed, if another stopgap measure is needed to extend government funding beyond the November 17 deadline, I would propose a measure that expires on January 15 or April 15 (based on what can obtain Conference consensus), to ensure the Senate cannot jam the House with a Christmas omnibus.” Johnson went on to suggest an immediate schedule for the House floor: Week of October 23: Energy and Water Week of October 30: Legislative Branch, Interior and Environment, THUD Week of November 6: FSGG, CIS Week of November 13: Labor/HHS, Ag In his acceptance speech, Johnson said support for Israel would be a top priority. Johnson, though, has been skeptical of more funding for Ukraine, which could complicate President Joe Biden’s latest request for about $60 billion for the embattled nation. “Our nation’s greatest ally in the Middle East is under attack,” Johnson said in his acceptance speech. “The first bill that I’ll bring to this floor in just a little while will be in support of our dear friend, Israel. And we’re overdue in getting that done.” At the same time, Johnson must deal with a controversial item almost immediately: a motion filed by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., to censure Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Minn., for Tlaib’s “antisemitic activity, sympathizing with terrorist organizations” like Hamas and leading an insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, an apparent reference to an Oct. 18 protest where anti-Israel protestors took over a House office building. Because of House rules, Johnson must take the motion up for a vote, which is politically charged because of its direct comparison to the Jan. 6 storming of the Capitol and the attacks Democrats have levied against Republicans to this day over the incident. Notably, former President Donald Trump faces an indictment and criminal charges for his role in protesting the results of the 2020 election, which critics say led to the Jan. 6 protests. A vote on that censure resolution is expected next week. “Tlaib led a pro-Hamas insurrection into the Capitol complex, has repeatedly displayed her anti-Semitic beliefs, and shown her hatred for Israel,” Green wrote on X. “She must be held accountable and censured.” After his election as speaker, Republicans were quick to praise Johnson, who received unanimous Republican support, after he received the speakership. “House Speaker Mike Johnson is a proven conservative who is honorable, smart, and will do a great job leading the House Republican Conference,” Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith, R-Mo., said in a statement. “I’m excited to work hand-in-hand with Speaker Johnson to advance the policies we need to secure our southern border, increase support for Israel, and bring relief to working-class Americans who are struggling to get by in President Joe Biden’s economy.” Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., was one of the handful of Republicans who voted to oust former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., which kicked off more than three weeks of scrambling to find a new speaker. She released a statement after Johnson’s vote saying that while the process was difficult, it was “well worth it.” “Eight of us had the audacity to listen to the American people and vote to vacate the former Speaker,” she said.“We told the American people they deserved someone who would be honest and represent their interests, not Washington’s. “While we fully understand we don’t always see eye-to-eye with Mike Johnson, today the American people can finally be proud of their speaker,” she added. Johnson thanked his supporters this week and called for leadership with “bold, decisive action.” “It has been an arduous few weeks and a reminder that the House is as complicated and diverse as the people we represent,” Johnson wrote on X. “The urgency of this moment demands bold, decisive action to restore trust, advance our legislative priorities, and demonstrate good governance. Our House Republican Conference is united, and eager to work. As Speaker, I will ensure the House delivers results and inspires change for the American people. We will restore trust in this body.” Trump, who was actively campaigning for and against different speaker nominees, congratulated Johnson when talking to reporters, saying, “he will be a great speaker of the House.” Johnson promised an array of accomplishments upon taking the speakership, but whether he can succeed in the divided House remains to be seen. “We will advance a comprehensive conservative policy agenda, combat the harmful policies of the Biden Administration, and support our allies abroad,” Johnson said in a statement after winning the speakership. “And we will restore sanity to a government desperately in need of it. Let’s get back to work.” Republished with the permission of The Center Square.
Rep. Terri Sewell calls new Speaker of the House Mike Johnson a MAGA extremist
After 22 days of internal GOP battles over which faction got to pick the Speaker and little House business getting done, the U.S. House of Representatives finally agreed upon a Speaker of the House Wednesday. Republicans chose Congressman Mike Johnson as the 56th Speaker of the House. Johnson represents his native Shreveport and the state’s fourth district. On Wednesday, Congresswoman Terri Sewell (D-AL07) released a statement regarding the election of Rep. Johnson as Speaker of the House of Representatives. Sewell expressed her concerns about Johnson and called him a “MAGA extremist.” “While I am grateful that House Republicans have finally ended their stalemate and selected a new House Speaker, I am gravely disappointed that my colleagues across the aisle have rejected our calls for bipartisanship and empowered yet another MAGA extremist,” said Sewell. “I have very serious concerns about Mike Johnson’s record, namely his efforts to overturn the 2020 election, his hostility toward our hard-fought rights and freedoms, and his work to slash Social Security and Medicare,” Sewell said. “I will work with Speaker Johnson where we can agree but make no mistake; when it comes to protecting our democracy, our freedoms, and the programs that Americans rely on, I will not back down.” Since President Donald Trump’s (R) election in 2016, new Republican candidates elected to Congress have tended to become more in line with his “Make America Great Again” agenda. Meanwhile, many moderate Republicans in swing districts and blue states lost or retired from Congress when House Republicans lost the majority in 2018. The GOP regained the majority in 2022, but those new Republicans and the old GOP leadership who had served for decades under multiple presidents had a clash of agendas and personalities. The Speaker’s battle effectively repudiated the entire Republican leadership team. MAGA Republicans, many of them in the Freedom Caucus, ousted Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (R-California) and then respectively rejected both the House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-Louisiana) and House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minnesota). Moderates and more mainstream conservatives formed a block to reject Freedom Caucus Founding Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), but it was clear to everyone after the rejection of Emmer on Tuesday that the House Republican Conference was ready to move in a new, more rightward direction. Johnson is an attorney, a former state legislator, a college professor, a former conservative talk radio host, and a spokesman for groups advocating for religious liberty. In January 2021, Johnson was elected Vice Chairman of the House Republican Conference. Johnson also serves as a Deputy Whip for the 118th Congress. Johnson was elected to Congress while Trump was in office but has quickly risen through the GOP ranks. In 2021, Johnson was elected Vice Chairman of the House Republican Conference. In 2022, he was also selected as a Deputy Whip. Now, he is the 56th Speaker of the House, with far fewer years of congressional tenure than McCarthy, Scalise, Jordan, or Emmer, and the second most powerful person in the U.S. government. Johnson had the support of all six Republican members of the Alabama Congressional delegation. Sewell is in her seventh term representing Alabama’s Seventh Congressional District. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Reps. Mike Rogers, Barry Moore, and Gary Palmer praise election of Mike Johnson as Speaker of the House
On Wednesday, the House of Representatives finally ended weeks of chaos by electing a new Speaker of the House. Rep. Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) was the fourth choice of the House Republican Conference. Johnson is the 56th Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives in American history. Congressmen Mike Rogers (R-AL03), Barry Moore (R-AL02), and Gary Palmer (R-AL06) released statements praising the choice. Rogers is the Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, and Johnson is a member of the House Armed Services Committee. “The election of Mike Johnson as Speaker of the House sends a strong message to our adversaries,” Rogers said in a statement. “As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, he has a deep knowledge of the threats facing our nation and has a proven track record in working to counter those threats, particularly from China. Every member of this committee understands how critical the National Defense Authorization Act is for our national security, Mike is no different. The NDAA boosts our national defense, provides for our servicemembers, and deters our adversaries. I look forward to working with Speaker Johnson to advance the National Defense Authorization Act later this year.” Moore served with him on the House Judiciary Committee. “Congratulations to my good friend, Mike Johnson, on becoming the 56th Speaker of the House,” said Moore. “Speaker Johnson is a man of faith and conviction, and it has been a pleasure serving with him on the House Judiciary Committee. I was proud to support him on the House floor. I look forward to working with him as Speaker to secure our border, push back against the Biden administration and the Democrats’ radical agenda, and restore fiscal sanity to Washington.” Rep. Palmer had been a candidate himself but withdrew on Tuesday morning, pledging to support whoever won the Speaker’s gavel. “This is an important day for the country,” said Rep. Palmer. “House Republicans are united behind a principled, unwavering conservative in Speaker Mike Johnson. Mike is a good friend I have worked closely with, and I know he will live out his faith in God by leading the House with honor as we serve the American people. Mike is committed to a plan of action to get our fiscal house in order, address the rampant illegal immigration at our southern border, and fill the void of leadership President Biden has left on the world stage.” Johnson was nominated by the Caucus on Tuesday night after House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minnesota) withdrew from the race after former President Donald Trump denounced Emmer as a “Globalist Rino” on Truth Social. Emmer had been chosen Tuesday from a field of nine candidates that had included Palmer and Johnson. After Emmer withdrew, the House Republican Conference went back into closed session, determined to find a candidate that all House GOP factions could support. The previous nominees, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-Louisiana) and House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), both had previously failed to unite the House members. This crisis began when Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (R-California) was ousted. Palmer added, “Speaker Johnson and the House Republicans are ready to work for the American people.” To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Mike Johnson elected speaker of the House after three weeks of infighting
By Casey Harper | The Center Square The U.S. House of Representatives voted Wednesday to elect Rep. Mike Johnson, R-La., as speaker of the House, ending more than three weeks without a speaker and a string of chaotic meetings and votes on Capitol Hill. Johnson received multiple standing ovations from his colleagues Wednesday before securing the speakership. The final vote was 220-209, with Democrats supporting Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. “Today is the day that House Republicans will humbly look in our hearts and elect Mike Johnson as speaker of the people’s House,” Conference Chair Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., said in a speech from the House floor ahead of the vote, calling Johnson “a man of deep faith,” and “a deeply respected Constitutional lawyer.” “Mike is strong, tough, and fair, and above all, Mike is kind,” Stefanik added. Stefanik announced on Sunday nine candidates that were making a bid to be speaker, but that number was slowly whittled down as lawmakers dropped out. “Today is the day we get this done,” Stefanik said in her Wednesday speech. U.S. Rep. Pete Aguilar, D-Calif., gave a speech from the floor to nominate Jeffries for speaker and attack Republicans. Jeffries blasted Republicans for “all of the infighting, all of the disarray just to end up where we were three weeks ago.” Johnson pitched Republicans on an aggressive legislative agenda over the next few weeks. Under his leadership, the House will face a looming partial government shutdown deadline in the middle of November as well as ongoing calls to fund Ukraine and Israel in their respective wars. “We must govern well and expand our majority next year,” Johnson said in a letter to his fellow Republicans over the weekend, asking for support in the speakership race. President Joe Biden called on Congress last week for more than $100 billion to that end, as well as funding for Taiwan, the immigration issue, and other priorities. That proposal was met with immediate pushback from Republicans in the House and Senate. Some funding for Israel, though, is likely to pass. More funding for Ukraine has become a divisive issue for Republicans, and it remains unclear how many more billions lawmakers will be willing to send to Ukraine. Notably, U.S. Rep. Kevin Hern, chairman of the Republican Study Committee, was running for speaker but later dropped out and told reporters he was supporting Johnson. The chaotic three-week battle for a speaker began when U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., filed a motion to vacate former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif. At that point, Majority Leader Steve Scalise won the nomination but quickly backed out after being unable to secure the needed votes. After that, House Judiciary Chair Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, won the nomination but lost it days later after three failed votes on the House floor, with 25 Republicans ultimately voting against him. Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., was next to secure the nomination but almost immediately withdrew after failing to gain support. Notably, former President Donald Trump campaigned against Emmer. Before the vote Wednesday, Johnson posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, a picture of the American flag in the House Chamber, which has inscribed above it, “In God We Trust.” Republished with the permission of The Center Square.
Mike Johnson is GOP’s fourth choice to be Speaker of the House
House Republicans have nominated Congressman Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) for Speaker of the House on Tuesday night after Tuesday morning’s nominee crashed and burned. Congressman Barry Moore (R-AL02) told Alabama Today on Saturday that he really liked Johnson. Congressman Dale Strong (R-AL05) announced his support for Johnson on the social media site X. “Since day 1 I have called for our party to unite around a conservative speaker,” Strong said. “I am proud to announce that the conference has selected Mike Johnson from Louisiana and I look forward to supporting him on the floor.” On Tuesday morning, the GOP started with nine candidates, including Alabama’s own Congressman Gary Palmer (R-AL06). Palmer dropped out of the race, pledging to support whoever became the Speaker of the House. The House Republican Conference then chose House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minnesota) after five rounds of voting. The ousted Speaker of the House, Kevin McCarthy (R-California), endorsed Emmer. Former President Donald Trump was not an Emmer fan and denounced Emmer as a “Globalist RINO” on Truth Social. More than two dozen Republican House members were refusing to support Emmer. Trump’s rebuke made it apparent that the moderate from a blue state had no chance, so he dropped out. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) explained in a post on X, formerly Twitter, why she didn’t back Emmer: his voting record. “Today I voted against Tom Emmer on all rounds of voting including the spoken roll call vote because he has a voting record I can’t support,” Green said. “He voted for Democrat gay marriage bill, voted with Democrats to overturn President Trump’s transgender military ban, voted for every penny of Ukraine funding, at one time supported the Soros national popular vote scheme, and voted to certify Biden’s 2020 election. We need a Republican Speaker that reflects the values of Republican voters that can lead our conference.” Johnson was chosen by Republicans in a conference vote on Tuesday night. He follows Emmer, Jim Jordan, and Steve Scalise as the party’s nominee. Johnson represents Louisiana’s Fourth District. He represents the nearly 760,000 residents of 16 parishes in the northwest and western regions of the state. He was first elected in 2016. In January 2021, Johnson was elected Vice Chairman of the House Republican Conference. Johnson also serves as a Deputy Whip for the 118th Congress. Johnson is an attorney with two decades of previous experience in Constitutional law. He serves on the House Judiciary Committee and is the chairman of its Subcommittee on the Constitution and Limited Government. He also serves on the Select Committee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government and the House Armed Services Committee. Johnson is a husband and father of four. In his legal career, he was a leading defender of the right to life, religious liberty, free speech, the Second Amendment, and free market principles. He served in the Louisiana Legislature from February 2015 to January 2017, where he was appointed Vice Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee and the Select Committee on Leadership. He is the eldest son of a Shreveport firefighter who was critically burned and disabled in the line of duty. Johnson has also been a college professor, conservative talk radio host and columnist, a media spokesman for America’s largest religious liberty organizations, a constitutional law seminar instructor, and a board member for national organizations and numerous community groups and ministries. Johnson has a law degree from the Paul M. Hebert Law Center at Louisiana State University. He earned his undergraduate degree from LSU. A vote could occur as soon as Wednesday morning. Johnson needs 217 votes to win. The biggest thing Johnson has going for him is the whole absurdity of this situation. Republican House members realize that this situation does not make them look good, and they have to move on to regular business, including budgets and the President’s request for military aid for Ukraine and Israel. Congressman Robert Aderholt (R-AL04) said on X, “We have got to find consensus on a Speaker. Time is of the essence. Democrats are the only ones who benefit from this impasse.” To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Tom Emmer drops bid to be Speaker: House Republicans back to square one
On Tuesday, the House Republican Conference met to decide who would be their next nominee to be the Speaker of the House. They chose House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minnesota). Emmer had the endorsement of ousted Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (R-California). It was the safe choice. Emmer had waited his turn behind McCarthy and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-Louisiana), and he was respected on Capitol Hill. It was also a doomed choice. Emmer won a narrow victory and excited no one in the conservative base that appears to want unprecedented influence on how the GOP actually governs and who it elects to the Speakership. Former President Donald Trump (R) criticized the selection, as did a number of conservative influences. Within a few hours of being elected as the nominee, Emmer admitted his cause was hopeless and withdrew from the race. Emmer was criticized by conservatives for voting for the Respect for Marriage Act, voting to certify the 2020 election results, and for being the number three person on the leadership team that some conservatives felt had not represented them. Alabama Congressman Gary Palmer (R-AL06) withdrew from the Speaker’s race the morning before the Conference even voted. “If withdrawing my name can help expedite that process even a little, then I will gladly step aside,” Palmer said in a statement. “The candidate forum and individual conversations have given me great hope for the future of the 118th Congress.” In the vote of the Conference, Emmer narrowly beat Rep. Kevin Hern (R-Oklahoma) for the nomination. Hearn is back in the running for the spot to be the fourth nominee, as well as Rep. Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana). Scalise had been the Conference’s first choice, but he could not get the support of the ultra-right Freedom Caucus members, so he withdrew without a floor vote. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) was the next nominee. Jordan had the support of Trump, but it was not enough. Despite bringing his case to the floor three separate times, Jordan could not win over GOP moderates who were angry at conservatives for having failed to support Scalise. Conservatives have now rejected Emmer as being too much of a moderate. The Republicans control the chamber by a 221 to 212 margin. Democrats continue to vote for their candidate, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-New York). The House Republican Conference is expected to meet on Wednesday to seek a new nominee. Election as Speaker requires a minimum of 217, so only a small faction of 5 or more Republicans is sufficient to sabotage any Republican nominee for the post. Long gone are the days when Republican Congressmen would carry out the will of the majority of their Conference and show no public divisions. This Caucus appears to be bitterly divided and is unashamed to make those divisions all too public. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Palmer withdraws from Speaker’s race: lists five commitments for the next Speaker of the House
On Tuesday, Congressman Gary Palmer (R-AL06) released a statement announcing that he has withdrawn his name from consideration for Speaker of the House. “Congress and the American people needed a Republican Speaker three weeks ago,” Palmer said in a statement. “If withdrawing my name can help expedite that process even a little, then I will gladly step aside. The candidate forum and individual conversations have given me great hope for the future of the 118th Congress. All the candidates are committed to ideas similar to the principles I laid out last night. We must bring stability back to the House of Representatives, and we do that by passing our spending bills on time, providing real spending cuts, not passing short-term CRs, allowing members time to read legislation, and uniting the conference before going to the House floor. These principles will truly transform how this place works and ensure it works for the benefit of the American people.” “I will work with the next speaker on the ideas I have laid out so Congress can come together and do the job the American people sent us here to do. With this in mind, I am withdrawing my name from consideration for Speaker.” Earlier on Tuesday, Palmer released a list of five commitments he is asking the next speaker to make. Palmer released the policy outline less than an hour before the House Republican Conference went into a closed-door session to vote on who would be the next nominee for Speaker of the House. Palmer was one of nine Republicans to declare their candidacy for the vacant position. The five commitments include a commitment to fund the government with 12 individual spending bills by June 30; forcing “real spending cuts” and not “budget gimmicks;” refusing to pass any more short-term stopgap funding bills; giving members 72 hours to read a bill before it reaches the House floor for an up or down vote; and requiring sure that the GOP conference is on the same page before holding a House-wide vote. “Congress has been kicking the can down the road since before I was elected,” Palmer said. “We don’t need a person or a personality, we need a plan.” Palmer and the other eight candidates presented their cases to the House Republican Conference in a closed-door forum on Monday night. On Tuesday morning, the GOP Congressmembers will vote on their nominee. Once the GOP selects a nominee, a vote of the full House could come as soon as Tuesday afternoon. The difficulty has not been getting the nomination; the problem has been getting 217 Republican Congress members to vote for the Republican nominee. The last GOP nominee, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), never got more than 200 votes in his three House floor votes. A coalition of moderate and more mainstream Republicans opposed the ultra-conservative Jordan because they thought the former Freedom Caucus Chairman was too divisive. The previous nominee, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-Louisiana), got the nomination but could not get the support of Jordan-supporting Freedom Caucus Republicans. On October 3, then Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (R-California) was ousted when eight Republicans who objected to aid for Ukraine led by Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Florida) voted with Democrats to oust the Speaker. Palmer supported Jim Jordan on all three House floor votes. He also voted in favor of McCarthy. Whoever wins the Speaker’s nomination must somehow get all the squabbling Republican factions to unite. If a third GOP nominee fails, the GOP conference could repeat this process with new candidates next week. Palmer is a native of Hackleburg, where his father was a small farmer and logger. He has some American Indian heritage. He is a graduate of the University of Alabama. He and Tom Parker cofounded the Alabama Policy Institute – a conservative think tank outside Birmingham. Palmer headed the Alabama Policy Institute for 24 years until he ran for Congress. Palmer is serving in his fifth term representing Alabama’s Sixth Congressional District. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com
Republicans announce nine new speaker candidates
By Casey Harper | The Center Square Nine new Republican lawmakers have thrown their hat in the ring to become the next speaker of the U.S. House. Republican Conference Chair Rep. Elise Stefanik released the list of candidates, who had until noon Sunday to announce their candidacy. The list, which Stefanik posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, is as follows: The new list of candidates comes after former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., was ousted from the role when Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., filed a motion to vacate. Then, Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., was the party’s choice to become speaker, but he withdrew when he was unable to get the support he needed. House Judiciary Chair Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, was next in line and worked for several days to get the needed 217 votes to become speaker. However, at least 20 Republicans voted against him across his three floor-vote attempts, and on Friday, his nomination was revoked. Some of the candidates have more support than others. Donalds’ announcement drew more attention than some others. Emmer has been a rumored pick for speaker as well. However, conservative Republicans have expressed frustration with moderate Republicans for rejecting Jordan, who had significant support with the Republican base but was seen as a hardline conservative who questioned the results of the 2020 presidential election. “The most popular Republican in Congress was just knifed in an anonymous vote in a secret closed-door meeting in the basement of the Capitol,” Gaetz wrote on X Friday. “This is the Swamp at work.” Meanwhile, some more moderate Republicans have expressed frustration with Gaetz and do not want to reward his ousting of McCarthy with an aggressive conservative pick. As The Center Square previously reported, Jordan sparked pushback from his own party on Thursday after reports surfaced that he said behind closed doors he would back the speaker pro Tempore, U.S. Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., for a limited temporary speakership role so the government could be funded and other key legislative goals hit. The federal government faces a partial shutdown in November, and there is increasing pressure to send more funds for the Ukraine and Israel wars. President Joe Biden called on Congress to pass a spending package of $105 billion for those wars as well as some border funding and money for Taiwan, which national security experts say China could invade at any time. Jordan later addressed reporters, announcing he would drop that plan and instead hold another vote. That plan still has potential to take effect. While many Republicans have expressed opposition to the idea, Democrat Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has seemed open to the idea when talking with reporters. Republished with the permission of The Center Square.
Gary Palmer to run for Speaker of the House
The U.S. House of Representatives has been leaderless for almost three weeks now. The House has been rudderless as GOP factions fight one another. After both of the House Republican Conference’s top nominees lost, nearly a dozen candidates have come forward seeking the position. One of these is Alabama Congressman Gary Palmer (R-AL06). On Saturday, Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-New York) announced that Palmer is among the declared House candidates. Palmer is serving in his fifth term, representing suburbs and rural areas around Birmingham. Palmer released a statement on Sunday. “Because of reckless government policies, Americans across the country are struggling to make ends meet, to afford groceries, gas, and other everyday necessities,” Rep. Palmer said in a statement. “Families are worried about the safety of their children because our cities are riddled with crime, and fentanyl is flooding across our borders. Americans are anxious about the future because out-of-control spending threatens to bankrupt our nation. Additionally, weak leadership has jeopardized our national security.” “All of this is happening at a time when our nation is the most divided it has been in nearly 160 years,” Palmer continued. “If we ignore these issues, America will decline into the footnotes of history. This doesn’t need to be our future, but how do we change our course? It starts with steady, conservative leadership.” “That’s what Republicans can offer the country, if we come together and unite behind new leadership and a common vision in the House of Representatives focusing on the things that matter to the American people. The things that matter to our future,” Palmer said. “The Republican majority must be willing to make the reforms necessary to ensure fiscal responsibility and restore people’s faith in their government – and in us as their elected representatives. We cannot do this until we are united as Republicans and get back to serving the people who sent us to Washington to defend and advance their interests and not our own.” “The American people are desperate for authentic leadership, leaders who will work to move the nation forward,” said Palmer. “As Republicans, we must show a contrast. There is a distinct difference between our vision for a prosperous and strong America and the vision of the Democrats that has done so much harm. This is why I decided to step forward in the race for Speaker of the House. To do what I can to put our differences behind us and unite Republicans behind a clear path forward, so we can do our job for the benefit of the American people.” Palmer has chaired the Republican Study Committee since 2019 and is a member of House leadership. After Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (R-AL06) was ousted on October 3, Palmer said we still need to govern the country. “What we just experienced has never occurred in the history of our nation,” Palmer said. “For the first time, a Speaker of the House has been removed. This action is reflective of how divided our nation is, including among Republican members of the House. While I am deeply disappointed about where we are, we still must find a way to govern.” “Our country faces a $33 trillion debt crisis threatening the future of all Americans – those living and those yet to be born,” Palmer continued. “Our border is not secure, threatening not only our economy but also our national security. As Republicans, we must find a way to come together and choose a leader who can unify our party and has the ability to address these issues head on. We have a job to do for the American people, and they deserve a unified majority focused on what’s best for the nation.” Palmer voted against ousting McCarthy. In the race for Speaker, he thrice voted for Jim Jordan (R-Ohio). Jordan’s withdrawal opened up the race for new candidates. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-Louisiana) was the first choice for Speaker, but he withdrew when hardline Jordan supporters refused to back Scalise. Moderate and mainstream Republican members then blocked Jordan’s election. Whoever is nominated by the House Republican Conference will have to receive 217 votes to be elected by the full House of Representatives. Jordan failed to do that on three votes. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
After third failed vote, Jim Jordan will not be Speaker of the House
On Friday, the House of Representatives again rejected House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) in a third vote for the Speaker of the House. The third vote was his poorest performance yet as more and more GOP House members abandoned the conservative firebrand’s cause. Just hours after that vote, the Republican Conference met and, in a secret ballot, voted to no longer back Jordan as the GOP nominee for Speaker. Jordan was never the first choice of House Republicans. Most, including Jordan himself, voted not to oust Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (R-California). Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Florida) and eight disgruntled far-right House members voted with House Democrats to oust McCarthy. The Conference chose House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-Louisiana) over Jordan in a close conference vote. Scalise failed to get the commitment from conservatives for a viable run for Speaker. Seeing that he did not have the 217 votes needed to be elected Speaker, Scalise withdrew. Jordan defeated Rep. Austin Scott (R-Georgia) on Friday, August 13. All six Republican Alabama House congressional delegation members supported Jordan’s failed bid for the Speaker’s gavel. Former Speaker McCarthy endorsed Jordan and gave a floor speech Friday morning encouraging members to back him, but this failed to sway the growing anti-Jordan faction within the House Republican Caucus. Jordan, the founding Chairman of the ultra-conservative Freedom Caucus, struggled to convince mainstream and moderate House members to support him. On the first vote, he received just 200 votes – 17 shy of being elected Speaker. That was the closest that he would ever come. On Thursday, Jordan announced that he had suspended his campaign for Speaker and instead would back giving the Speaker Pro Tem Patrick McHenry (R-North Carolina) emergency powers so that the House could function until January. Opposition prevented that plan from being adopted, so Jordan resumed his campaign for Speaker late Thursday evening, leading to that doomed third vote on Friday morning. With Jordan no longer the nominee and the GOP Conference extremely divided, the House is in something close to chaos. On Thursday, President Joe Biden asked Congress to provide $10 billion to Israel for its war with Hamas and other terror organizations and $50 billion more in emergency aid for Ukraine in its war with Russia. Moving on the aid request or passing budgets to avoid a government shutdown on November 15 is all at a standstill until House Republicans can decide on a Speaker of the House. At this point, it appears that the next Republican nominee will not be Rep. Jordan. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
