Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) failed to secure enough support for Speaker Wednesday in the second House Floor vote.
22 Republicans voted against Jordan in the second round of voting.
With the House of Representatives still in gridlock, there’s increasing momentum to temporarily expand the powers of interim House Speaker Patrick McHenry (R-NC).
Congress faces a November 17th deadline to pass a spending bill and prevent a federal government shutdown.
House Republicans first explored the option of expanding McHenry’s powers last week.
From The Hill:
House Republicans are exploring whether to expand the powers held by Speaker Pro Tem Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.) as the conference looks nowhere near ready to make a final decision on a new Speaker.
Frustrated by the stalemate that is preventing the House from doing any business, GOP lawmakers are taken a new look at what McHenry can do in his new position, with moderate Republicans seeking to expand the position’s power.
Rep. María Elvira Salazar (R-Fla.) in a letter signed by members of the moderate Republican Governance Group — she wouldn’t say how many — backed the prospect of drafting a resolution to give McHenry the option to “reopen business.”
“It’s time for us to keep on working. So if we need more time as a group to pick the leader, then in the meantime, we can walk and chew gum at the same time. Right? So let’s keep on moving business while we find the permanent person for the position,” she told reporters huddled outside of the Speaker’s office, where she dropped off the letter.
Those calls heightened after Jordan failed to rally enough GOP support to secure Speaker.
BREAKING: Jim Jordan lost 22 votes on the second ballot for Speaker:
1. BACON — McCarthy
2. BUCHANAN — Donalds
3. BUCK — Emmer
4. CHAVEZ-DEREMER — McCarthy
5. D’ESPOSITO — Zeldin
6. DIAZ-BALART — Scalise
7. ELLZEY — Garcia
8. FERGUSON — Scalise
9. GARBARINO — Zeldin
10. GIMENEZ…— Greg Price (@greg_price11) October 18, 2023
1. BACON — McCarthy
2. BUCHANAN — Donalds
3. BUCK — Emmer
4. CHAVEZ-DEREMER — McCarthy
5. D’ESPOSITO — Zeldin
6. DIAZ-BALART — Scalise
7. ELLZEY — Garcia
8. FERGUSON — Scalise
9. GARBARINO — Zeldin
10. GIMENEZ — McCarthy
11. GONZALES — Scalise
12. GRANGER — Scalise
13. JAMES — Candice Miller
14. KELLY — Boehner
15. KIGGANS — McCarthy
16. LALOTA — Zeldin
17. LAWLER — McCarthy
18. MILLER-MEEKS — Granger
19. RUTHERFORD — Scalise
20. SIMPSON — Scalise
21. STAUBER — Westerman
22. WOMACK — Scalise
A resolution to expand McHenry’s powers is on the table.
“Last night, I introduced a resolution that would allow the House of Representatives to hold a formal election of the Honorable Patrick McHenry (R-NC) as Speaker Pro Tempore. McHenry is currently designated as Speaker Pro Tempore, which limits his powers and limits how the House can govern as we search for a permanent Speaker. If McHenry is formally elected by the House, the resolution would temporarily expand his powers as Speaker Pro Tempore until November 17, 2023 or until a new Speaker is elected, whichever is earlier,” Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA) commented.
and limits how the House can govern as we search for a permanent Speaker.
If McHenry is formally elected by the House, the resolution would temporarily expand his powers as Speaker Pro Tempore until November 17, 2023 or until a new Speaker is elected, whichever is earlier. (2/4)
— Rep. Mike Kelly (@MikeKellyPA) October 17, 2023
“Nov. 17 is the same day that the current continuing resolution, which provides government funding, expires. By electing Rep. McHenry as Speaker Pro Tempore of the House of Representatives, the House will be able to hold votes necessary to fund the government beyond Nov. 17 which is the expiration of our current fiscal year. Most importantly, and more broadly, we will be able to continue the work that the American people sent us here to do while we continue searching for a Speaker of the House,” he added.
which is the expiration of our current fiscal year.
Most importantly, and more broadly, we will be able to continue the work that the American people sent us here to do while we continue searching for a Speaker of the House. (4/4)
— Rep. Mike Kelly (@MikeKellyPA) October 17, 2023
Rep. Ken Buck (R-CO), one of the Republicans opposed to Jordan, supports the resolution.
WATCH:
Rep. Ken Buck (R-CO) says an option for the House GOP to pass “urgent” bills is to give acting Speaker Patrick McHenry (R-NC) “full power” for 30 days:
“There is other business that we need to get done in terms of spending and making sure that we keep the government open.” pic.twitter.com/27oXcJPtKt
— The Recount (@therecount) October 17, 2023
Per Fox News:
Now, Rep. Dave Joyce, R-Pa., chairman of the Republican Governance Group, is calling to flesh out McHenry’s role in leadership, particularly in light of the urgency for Congress to approve aid for Israel as it fights a bloody war with terror group Hamas.
A source familiar with the matter told Fox News Digital that Joyce hopes to introduce a resolution to do so Wednesday.
It comes after Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, fell 17 votes short of the 217 he needed to win the speaker’s gavel on Tuesday. Twenty Republicans voted for someone other than Jordan, a tally that caught allies who expected a closer finish by surprise.
Before that, Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., had clinched the GOP nomination for speaker before stepping back from the race the next day over mounting public opposition.
Joyce had been one of the 200 Republicans who cast his vote for Jordan on Tuesday.
He told Fox News Digital on Wednesday morning, “After two weeks without a speaker of the House and no clear candidate with 217 votes in the Republican conference, it is time to look at other viable options. By empowering Patrick McHenry as speaker pro tempore we can take care of our ally Israel until a new speaker is elected.”
