The paralysis in which the US Congress fell after the impeachment of Republican Kevin McCarthy as speaker of the House of Representatives last Tuesday. to lengthen. In recent hours, the deep internal divisions of a radicalized Republican Party and the lack of consensus among conservatives on who should take that position or even the rules for selecting that person have become clear. While the possibility remains open that voting will begin this Wednesday, first in the Republican caucus and then in the full House of Representatives, there is no guarantee that it will happen, and this Tuesday the interim speaker, Patrick McHenry, acknowledged that the goal is to elect electors. for president”end of the week“.
Pressure is already under pressure to resolve this impasse. budgets must be approved before November 17 The emergence of the epidemic that allowed the government to continue its activities conflict in GazaBecause Congress needs to take action to approve more aid to Israel. Still, some congressmen are demanding more time, and one of them, Max Miller, said at least one more week Before voting, he explained it figuratively: “the body is still warm“.
Moreover, both Jim Jordan none of them Steve Scaliseboth official candidatesThey appear to have combined their benches and dozens McCarthy loyalists may delay process To reject their support for a position in which the ousted Californian had shown himself willing to return after initially assuring that he would not return.
“A bloodbath”
Already MondaySix days after this crisis began, Republican congressmen met for the first time. door is closed. Mobile phones were prohibited and even his assistants were not allowed into the meeting. However, what was said and what was leaked at that meeting does not give much hope for reaching an agreement.
Attendee Nick LaLota called it “a first” therapy session While some and others made accusations, others assured that it was “a marriage.” bloodbath“, with harsh cross attacks. And at a meeting where the situation was revealed Israel, deep anger This persists among many Republicans, with far-right congressman Matt Gaetz leading the revolt against McCarthy, joined by seven other Republicans.
Neither Jordan nor Scalise spoke at Monday’s meeting, something they plan to do this year. Tuesday night one “candidate forum”, in which each will give a five-minute presentation, answer questions from their colleagues, and then give a two-minute closing statement.
Scaleflow number 2 The Republican Party, who survived a shooting by a far-left member of the House Republican Party he joined in 2008 and who announced this summer that he was being treated for blood cancer, asserts that he is asserting his conservative identity and may also join yours.
JordanThe Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, located further to the right and given the Support for Donald Trump, He sells it as one of his assets that he won’t have McCarthy’s problems because he has the support of extremist congressmen who rebel against McCarthy. Freedom Group He founded it in 2015, eight years after coming to the chamber.
They both defend something ultra-conservative agenda and they also promised to continue passing Budget laws that include deep cutsNorms that have no chance of seeing the light of day in a Senate controlled by Democrats. But there are also differences of opinion on issues such as aid to Ukraine, which Scalise supports and Jordan rejects.
change the rules
Uncertainty about when and how the election may be resolved is also increasing. Last-ditch efforts by some Republicans to change election rules. Many congressmen have suggested this instead of getting a simple majority In the Republican conference, the candidate now needs to make sure he or she has enough votes in the plenary session to win the election. 217 votes if all members of Congress are present and vote.
The idea is prevent recurrence It was a humiliating process, similar to what was seen in January when McCarthy had to go through 15 rounds of referendums before appeasing internal resistance from the most radical wing. picture of weakness. Jordan advocates changing the rules, but Scalise opposes it.
Other issues also come into the discussion, and there are members of Congress who want assurances that the rule that one can only establish a company will change. motion of censure. It’s something McCarthy gave to radicals in his inaugural negotiations and Gaetz used against them last week, and some Republicans want to end it, but they don’t need Democratic support to do so.