Dear Friend,

Following the vote to remove Kevin McCarthy as Speaker of the House, House Republicans spent the week working to elect a new Speaker.  Electing a Speaker quickly is imperative, particularly given the challenges we face around the world not to mention the customary and traditional work that Congress must do.  Below are my thoughts on the heinous attacks against Israel, the process of electing a new Speaker, and Republican’s efforts to push the Biden Administration to secure our southern border.

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Standing with Israel

America should always stand shoulder to shoulder with Israel, our greatest ally in the Middle East.  An attack on Israel is an attack on America, and the United States must provide the resources they need to defend themselves and their homeland against the evil and brutal Hamas terrorists funded by Iran, the world’s biggest state sponsor of terrorism.  I joined 390 of my colleagues in Congress to introduce a bipartisan resolution declaring our strong support for the great people of Israel.  I expect this resolution to be one of the first items considered on the House Floor once — and when — a new Speaker is elected.  (Nothing can happen on the Floor of the U.S. House without the election of a Speaker.) 

I also joined my colleagues in condemning the Biden Administration’s agreement to release $6 billion in sanctioned Iranian funds and urged the Administration to stop this transferal of money, which is in restricted accounts in Qatar.  Thankfully, the Administration heeded this call — at least for now — by working with Qatar to keep these funds frozen.

Electing a New Speaker of the House

This past week, Majority Leader Steve Scalise was elected by the House Republican Conference to be the Republican nominee for Speaker.  However, it quickly became apparent that he would never be able to secure the 217 Republican votes necessary to win on the House Floor, so he withdrew his name.  

The Conference then elected Jim Jordan to be the Republican nominee.  At his request, another secret ballot election was conducted to judge his viability on the House Floor.  On that ballot, 55 members of the House Republican Conference said they would not support him as the Republican nominee.  

As of today (Monday), a floor vote is scheduled for tomorrow at Noon.  However, if he isn’t able to convert a substantial number of the 55 that voted against him, he may fold his tent as well and not ask for the official floor vote.

If you’re wondering how it is a small minority can depose a Speaker who had 96% support within the Republican Conference and then another faction of the minority can dictate to the majority who will be elected as Speaker, you’re not alone.  

Just as it seems everything else in this world has been turned on its head, so has the House.  Minority rule is a new concept within the House rooted in selfishness and the desire to be a media darling.  More and more new members are focused on clicks, likes and media hits rather than being serious legislators — and this is true on both sides of the aisle.