After a second failed attempt to elect Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) as Speaker of the House today, some New Jersey Democrats say it’s time to start working in a bipartisan manner to choose a new speaker.
“I think that the only legitimate path forward is a form of bipartisanship,” Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-Ewing) said. “We may have different opinions about what that includes, but it [includes] a duality of responsibility and authority on some levels. I think those are the kinds of things that need to be worked out.”
The problem for Jordan is that in order to become speaker, he needs to win a majority of all votes cast on the floor, something that has been out of reach thanks to opposition from the entire House Democratic caucus and 20 or so rebel Republicans.
Democrats have no intention of crossing the aisle to aid Jordan, a member of the House Freedom Caucus whom they’ve blasted as extreme and unacceptable. But they might be more open to support a compromise proposal empowering Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-North Carolina), who has served as the Speaker Pro Tempore since former Speaker Kevin McCarthy was ousted, on a temporary basis.
“I think people are realistic about the fact that Republicans are in the majority, and so for them to elect a Democratic speaker is unlikely,” Rep. Rob Menendez (D-Jersey City) said. “The pathway [to reopening the House] is probably a set of agreements. One is probably empowering McHenry, and then a variety of other agreements in terms of what legislation moves, maybe committee assignments. That would give us a pathway to getting back on track.”
Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-Wyckoff), the co-chair of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus, has been pushing for a vote empowering McHenry since the weekend. In a letter sent to McHenry on October 13, Gottheimer and several other moderate Democrats suggested expanding the authorities of the Speaker Pro Tempore to allow him to bring up foreign aid and government funding bills.
“In light of our nation’s pressing issues, a looming government shutdown, and the attacks on our key ally, Israel, we strongly support an immediate vote to expand the Speaker Pro Tempore’s authorities to allow for the consideration of a legislative agenda limited to the most pressing issues,” the letter reads.
First, though, it looks like Jordan, who seems to be losing support rather than gaining it, will push for another vote on his candidacy tomorrow.
Menendez said that if Jordan fails once again, it needs to be Republicans who initiate outreach to Democrats on a bipartisan plan, not the other way around.
“There is a bipartisan path forward, they just have to extend their hand and come work with us,” he said. “We can work for all Americans. We can do it – they have to take the first step.”
This story was updated at 8:18 p.m. with details of Gottheimer’s involvement in the Speaker Pro Tempore negotiations.
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October 17, 2023 -
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