- The Washington Times - Thursday, October 19, 2023

Rep. Matt Gaetz says he will do “everything possible” to stop a resolution to give Speaker Pro Tempore Patrick McHenry more power amid the House struggling to vote on who gets the speakership.

The Florida Republican told reporters Thursday that he thinks it’s a “constitutional desecration” not to elect a House speaker.

“I  am against speaker light, I am against Bud Light. I believe it is a constitutional desecration not to elect a speaker of the House,” he said.

Rep. Jim Jordan, the Republicans’ nominee for the speakership, announced Thursday he would not call for a third vote. The Ohio Republican has lost two votes this week and would need to gain the support of 18 Republicans in order to win the gavel.

He’s not giving up his bid entirely but has switched to supporting more legislative power for Mr. McHenry, who has been interim speaker since Rep. Kevin McCarthy was ousted this month.

As of right now, Mr. McHenry, North Carolina Republican, doesn’t have the power that an elected speaker would have, causing all legislation — including any upcoming funding bills — to come to a halt.

Mr. Gaetz was the man behind Mr. McCarthy’s ousting, bringing a motion to vacate against him after the California Republican worked with Democrats to keep the government from shutting down.

Now Mr. Gaetz is saying the House needs “to stay here until we elect a speaker, and if someone can’t get the votes, we need to go onto the next person.”

He added, “Twisting and torturing the Constitution to empower a temporary speaker is having a speaker light. That is not constitutionally contemplated, is deeply infirm and I will do everything possible to stop it.”

Former Speaker Newt Gingrich wrote in a blog post on Tuesday that empowering Mr. McHenry until the end of the year might be the way to go if the Republican conference can’t unite.

“America does not have the luxury to stand by and allow a handful of destructive Republicans — or even the legitimate ambitions of good people — to keep the system from working,” wrote Mr. Gingrich, who represented Georgia as a Republican when he was speaker in the 1990s.

“Speaker Pro Tempore McHenry is a lot better solution than gridlock and chaos,” he wrote. “He should be empowered this week, and let’s get on with the people’s business.”

Former Speaker John Boehner, Ohio Republican, wrote on X that he agreed with Mr. Gingrich’s points.

• Mallory Wilson can be reached at mwilson@washingtontimes.com.

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