Scalise pledges commitment ahead of potential clash with Jordan, Trump for Speaker.
Steve Scalise Makes Vow Before Possible Showdown with Jordan, Trump for Speaker
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise has promised to back whomever GOP members nominate as the next speaker of the House, even if it isn’t him.
Scalise called on other candidates for speaker to do the same. Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio is the only other Republican who has announced a bid.
“I want to be the nominee, but I’ll support the nominee,” Scalise told Politico on Friday.
Former President Donald Trump has also been floated as a contender for the role. He has said he would accept the speakership on a short-term basis but officially endorsed Jordan on Friday.
The Republican House members will choose their nominee by majority vote on Wednesday, and then the full House will pick the speaker. Ideally, the nominee will be able to count on most if not all of the GOP conference to back him over the Democratic alternative.
The hope for Republicans is clearly to avoid the 15-round spectacle it took to elect Rep. Kevin McCarthy speaker in January.
Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida, who successfully brought the motion to vacate the speaker’s chair this week, said he would be fine with either Jordan or Scalise replacing McCarthy.
He told Newsmax on Wednesday that he nominated Jordan as speaker in January, and that Scalise is a “great guy” whom he could also vote for.
“If it’s Speaker Jim Jordan or Speaker Steve Scalise, there will be very few conservatives in the country who don’t see that as a monumental upgrade over Speaker McCarthy,” Gaetz said.
“I know this, if it’s Speaker Jim Jordan or Speaker Steve Scalise there will be very few conservatives in the country who don’t see that as a monumental upgrade over Speaker McCarthy.” — @RepMattGaetz@BiancaDLGarza pic.twitter.com/iHhdCo4ISp
— NEWSMAX (@NEWSMAX) October 4, 2023
Gaetz, along with seven other Republicans, joined all the House Democrats to remove McCarthy as speaker on Tuesday. The final vote was 216-210.
Scalise, who is more centrist than Jordan, is apparently someone Gaetz, and likely those who voted with him to oust McCarthy, believe they can trust as an honest broker.
Scalise told Politico that he believes he can help rival factions of the GOP come together. He spoke of no retaliation against Gaetz or the other members who voted to remove McCarthy.
“Look, the conversations right now are: How do we get back on track? How [do] we come back together?” Scalise said. “My background is somebody who’s built coalitions, who has united Republicans to come together on really tough things.”
“We don’t have the luxury of a big majority,” he added.
As proof of his conservative creds, Scalise cited his work on bills dealing with increasing energy production, border security, parents’ rights, health care and tax policy.
Asked if he would support changing the rule that allows one member to bring a motion to vacate the chair, Scalise said he would be open to it.
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“It’s going to take everybody in our conference working together if we’re going to change that,” he noted.
For context, when Nancy Pelosi became speaker again in 2018, she set in place a rule that required a majority of a caucus to back such a motion.
It seems a good compromise would be at least requiring some significant faction within the GOP to bring the motion — maybe 10 or 20 members — so the speaker has some firmness in the position but knows that if he strays too far, removal could readily result.
In a letter to his fellow members of Congress on Wednesday, Jordan identified key issues the Republican-led House must seek to address.
They include abuses at the Department of Justice, soaring crime, open border policies, out-of-control federal spending and an economy struggling under Bidenomics.
“We are at a critical [crossroads] in our nation’s history,” Jordan wrote. “Now is the time for our Republican conference to come together to keep our promises to Americans.”
Scalise and Jordan both are good picks: May the right person to help the country get back on track win.
The post Steve Scalise Makes Vow Before Possible Showdown with Jordan, Trump for Speaker appeared first on The Western Journal.
How does Rep. Matt Gaetz’s support for both Jim Jordan and Steve Scalise play into the dynamics of the speaker election?
Steve Scalise, the House Majority Leader, has pledged his support to whomever the GOP members choose as the next speaker of the House, even if it is not him. This comes ahead of a potential showdown between Scalise and Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio, who is the only other Republican to have announced his bid for the speakership.
In an interview with Politico, Scalise stated, “I want to be the nominee, but I’ll support the nominee.” He called on other candidates for speaker to follow suit and make the same commitment. Former President Donald Trump has also been mentioned as a possible contender for the role, although he has officially endorsed Jordan as his preferred choice.
The Republican House members are set to choose their nominee through a majority vote on Wednesday, and then the full House will make the final decision. The goal for Republicans is to avoid a lengthy and divisive process, like the one that occurred earlier this year when Rep. Kevin McCarthy was elected speaker.
Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida, who played a key role in removing McCarthy as speaker, has expressed his support for both Jordan and Scalise. He stated that either of them would be a significant improvement over McCarthy. Gaetz nominated Jordan as speaker in January and praised Scalise as a “great guy.”
Gaetz and seven other Republicans joined with all the House Democrats to oust McCarthy. Scalise, who is seen as more centrist than Jordan, is seen as a potential unifier among the rival factions within the GOP. He has expressed his intention to bring the party together and has not spoken of any retaliation against Gaetz or the others who voted against McCarthy.
Scalise highlighted his conservative credentials, citing his work on bills related to increasing energy production and securing the border. He emphasized the need for unity within the party, stating, “My background is somebody who’s built coalitions, who has united Republicans to come together on really tough things.”
With the Republican Party lacking a large majority, Scalise’s ability to bridge divides and foster collaboration may be crucial in the upcoming speaker election. Regardless of the outcome, Scalise has made it clear that he is committed to supporting the nominee chosen by his fellow GOP members.
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