Impasse for the next head of the House of Representatives

2023-10-14 18:48:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Republicans on Friday chose conservative lawmaker Jim Jordan as their candidate for the new speaker of the House of Representatives. As the following material tells us, to be elected to this position by all members of the House, Mr. Jordan needs a much wider support than that which made possible the nomination by his Republican colleagues with 124 votes in favor and 81 against .

The House of Representatives continues to be deadlocked. She cannot pass legislation to send aid to Israel or Ukraine until a full vote next week to decide whether Republican Jim Jordan will take over as speaker.

"I think I can unify the party. I can tell the country what we're doing and why it matters to them,” said Legislator Jim Jordan.

Republicans voted 124-81 in favor of Mr. Jordan, giving him the chance to convince all 217 Republican members of the House of Representatives to vote him into the speakership.

"The problem is that what pleases one does not please the other, and the promises made to one party may disturb the other party within the party. Therefore, we always have a very narrow space of action for the election of the president, even though we already have a president removed from office", Casey Burgat, with George Washington University, tells VOA.

In his ninth term, Legislator Jim Jordan is known for his investigations into President Biden's administration. He won the support of Mr. Kevin McCarthy, who was dismissed as Speaker of the House of Representatives in a historic vote.

"I think Jim Jordan can do a great job," Mr. McCarthy said before Friday's vote.

Democratic Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries is expected to win the support of all 212 Democrats when the decision comes to a full House vote.

"The Republicans have chosen a candidate for the post of president, who during 16 years in this Congress has not passed a single bill, because his focus has not been on the American people. He has been focused on fraud, conspiracy theories and inciting division among the American people," said Democrat Hakeem Jeffries.

Some Democrats have suggested a power-sharing deal to secure the 217 votes needed to elect the president.

Republicans are also considering giving House Speaker Patrick McHenry more power to pass legislation over a period of several weeks.

"With a majority of 218 votes they can do almost anything, including changing the rules to create a new precedent. So if they want to give him more powers, the acting president, they can do that," says Casey Burgat, with George Washington University.

The House of Representatives is expected to meet on Monday for a full vote./ VOA