If Jordan Fails Again, GOP May Vote To Expand Acting Speaker's Powers

Topline

Rep. Dave Joyce (R-Ohio) is expected to file a motion Tuesday to make Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.) permanent speaker pro tem and extend his powers, as Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) continues to face detractors who could block his speakership bid in a second round of voting Tuesday.

Representative Patrick McHenry (R-NC), the temporary leader of the House of Representatives and the … [+] speaker pro tempore, holds the gavel in the House Chamber as they prepare to vote on a new Speaker of the House at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on October 17, 2023. (Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images)

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Key Facts

Joyce is expected to force a vote on a motion that would expand McHenry’s powers as interim speaker by allowing him to bring legislation to the floor for a vote if Jordan fails on the second ballot, multiple outlets reported.

McHenry, a fiscal conservative, chair of the House Financial Services Committee and close ally of former speaker Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), was automatically appointed speaker pro tempore when McCarthy was removed through a House rules process that required McCarthy to select a secret roster of replacements in the event of a vacancy.

As interim speaker, McHenry’s powers are limited to overseeing the election for the next speaker—meaning the House is effectively locked in a legislative stalemate without a speaker who can call for votes to be held on legislation.

As Republicans have failed to coalesce behind a candidate for speaker, some GOP members have floated the possibility of expanding McHenry’s authority until they can agree on a permanent replacement—though it’s unclear if the McHenry effort has the 217 votes it needs to pass.

Joyce is expected to introduce the resolution as the House faces pressure to resume business as usual ahead of a November 17 deadline to pass a new budget to avert a government shutdown and calls for Congress to approve more aid to Israel in its war with Hamas.

Several other lawmakers have joined Joyce in calling to extend McHenry’s powers, including Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-Fla.), who did not vote for Jordan on Tuesday, while Jordan has also expressed openness to the idea, Politico reported.

What We Don’t Know

How, exactly, the House could expand McHenry’s powers. The proposal could limit McHenry to overseeing specific legislation, such as aid to Ukraine and Israel and the fiscal year 2024 budget, according to Politico. It’s also unclear whether the effort could pass without the help of Democrats. Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) has suggested his caucus is open to backing the effort, but they could require Republicans to agree to some concessions, such as a rules change for bipartisan consensus to vote on legislation.

Tangent

McHenry, the former deputy whip, often works as a behind-the-scenes negotiator in the Republican conference, but he made headlines earlier this month when he forcefully banged the gavel to conclude the House session moments after it voted to remove McCarthy. McHenry, who has said publicly he has no desire to permanently become speaker, touts his record as a staunch fiscal conservative, noting on his website he has never voted for a tax increase. McHenry is well-liked among the GOP conference, but he rankled members of the far-right who opposed the budget deal he helped negotiate to avert a government shutdown at the end of September. He’s also well-respected by Democrats and Biden Treasury officials, who he has built a relationship with through his role on the Financial Services Committee, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the Treasury officials’ views of McHenry.

Crucial Quote

“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,” Joyce said in a statement to USA Today and Axios. “By empowering Patrick McHenry as Speaker Pro Tempore we can take care of our ally Israel until a new Speaker is elected.”

What To Watch For

The House is expected to conduct a second round of voting for speaker midday Wednesday.

Key Background

Jordan, the GOP’s nominee for speaker, lost the first round of voting Tuesday when 20 Republicans cast their ballots for other candidates, marking only the second time in 100 years the speaker election has extended past a single ballot—the other time being McCarthy’s election in January. All 212 Democrats voted for Jeffries, while the 20 GOP holdouts voted for McCarthy, former speaker candidate Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.), former Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-N.Y.) and several other candidates. Jordan can afford to lose only four Republican votes to win the gavel.

If Jordan Fails Again, GOP May Vote To Expand Acting Speaker’s Powers