WASHINGTON | After weeks of trying to elect a new president for the House of Representatives, American Republicans will now hear from nine new candidates for the post whose vacancy has paralyzed Congress.
There is a lot at stake: Without a vote on the budget, there is a real risk of the federal administration’s budget being paralyzed in mid-November. And without a speaker, the House is unable to act on President Joe Biden’s request to send emergency aid to Israel and Ukraine.
During a “candidate forum” Monday night, nine men will try to present themselves as the best option for unifying Republicans, whose infighting is on full display 20 days after the firing of former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
But neither appears to have the support needed to win the 217 votes needed in the general vote in Parliament.
“It’s probably one of the most embarrassing things I’ve ever seen,” Michael McCaul, head of the Foreign Affairs Committee, told ABC News on Sunday.
“Because if we don’t have a speaker of the House of Representatives, we can’t govern. And every day that goes by, we as a government are basically being shut down,” he added.
Last week, Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, an ally of former President Donald Trump, appeared ready to put an end to this increasingly difficult task for the party.
In the end he suffered three defeats in three votes. Then Republicans withdrew their support and announced they would meet Monday to nominate a new candidate for House speaker.
“Critical moment”
The favorite now is Tom Emmer, the No. 3 Republican in the House, an establishment voice whose fundraising talent is recognized. But Donald Trump’s allies are against him because he is one of two men out of nine candidates who voted to certify Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 election as a lack of loyalty.
Mr. Trump, who supported Jim Jordan, told reporters before a campaign rally in New Hampshire that he had spoken to Mr. Emmer over the weekend but had no plans to endorse him.
“I have spoken to Mr. Emmer, I have spoken to many elected officials in Congress. They called me and they all called to ask for my support. And of course I have to hold back for a while. I have a lot of friends who are watching it right now,” he said.
This dysfunction within the Republican Party is preventing Congress from responding to Mr. Biden’s demand for more than $100 billion in emergency funding, primarily military aid to Ukraine and Israel in their wars against Russia and Hamas, respectively.
And the federal government will be paralyzed and hundreds of thousands of workers will be sent home temporarily without pay unless elected officials approve the 2024 federal budget by Nov. 17.
“At a critical moment when our allies are counting on us to show leadership (…), House Republicans are mocking our government and embarrassing the country on the world stage,” Democratic National Committee spokeswoman Sarafina denounced. to Chitika.
Each of the nine candidates must speak for two minutes during this closed forum in the evening, followed by an hour and a half of questions and answers and then one-minute closing speeches.
Republicans will begin voting by secret ballot on Tuesday. In each round, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated until only one remains. The date for a vote in the plenary session has not yet been set.