The Republican rebellion continues. Money for allies blocked
7:50 AM EDT, October 21, 2023
Republican candidate Jim Jordan has lost the vote for Speaker of the House of Representatives for the third time, additionally losing the support of his party colleagues. Internal power plays prolong the paralysis of Congress, and as a result, block the budget and decisions on further support for allies.
Internal squabbles among the Republicans are paralyzing Congress. The House still cannot elect a speaker. This blocks the possibility of passing a budget, but also aid packages for Ukraine and Israel.
In the third round, Jordan only received 194 votes, while 25 - three more than the day before - politicians from his own party voted against him, supporting other candidates.
The leader of the Democrats, who are in the minority, Hakeem Jeffries, received the most votes - 210, but no candidate obtained the required majority.
The paralysis is dragging on
This means a further paralysis of Congress' work, ongoing since the removal of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy from office, initiated by eight congressmen from the extreme wing of the Republican Party with the support of the Democrats.
As reported by Punchbowl News, the Republican club in the House is set to hold a vote today on whether Jordan should continue to be the party's nominee for the speaker. There is also still discussion about the possibility of temporarily granting full powers to acting speaker Patrick McHenry.
This would allow for the resumption of legislative work and the adoption of the budget and aid packages for Ukraine and Israel.
The deadlock has been going on for weeks
Exactly a week earlier, on Thursday, October 13, Congressman Steve Scalise announced that he was withdrawing from the race for this position, due to a "rebellion" amongst some of his party colleagues. - This country is counting on us to come together - Scalise urged.
- This House of Representatives needs a speaker and we need to reopen it. But apparently not everyone is ready for this and there are still divisions that we have to resolve - said Scalise.
The paralysis of Congress began with the removal of Kevin McCarthy from the role of speaker. As a result of a rebellion by a handful of far-right deputies, he cannot resume normal proceedings without the election of a new head.
