'The Biggest F U To Republican Voters': House Republicans Outraged After Leadership Puts The Swamp Over Voters

On Thursday, Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) announced that he will no longer be pursuing the speakership for now and will instead push for Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-NC) to become the temporary speaker of the House with enhanced powers until January. Jordan will remain the speaker nominee, however, for a potential vote early next year. 

In response to the news, House Republicans criticized the move with Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) telling reporters, “I'm against Speaker-Light. I'm against Bud Light. I believe it is a constitutional desecration to not elect a Speaker of the House. We need to stay here until we elect a Speaker."

Rep. Jim Banks (R-IN) reportedly said that the decision to keep McHenry as the temporary speaker is “the biggest F U you to Republican voters" and that “more than half of Republicans” will oppose the move. Given that, House Republican leadership would be forced to work with Democrats to see the plan through.

"There is no path for a GOP-only empowerment of a Speaker Pro-Tem so it will necessarily require Democrat votes. It is, in any event, a fool’s errand - breaking with tradition & setting constitutionally questionable precedent to empower someone who is NOT the duly elected Speaker but will be empowered to negotiate a CR & massive supplemental bills (approx. $100BB) for Israel & Ukraine (& $ to process more illegals)," Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) wrote. "It will then set the [House GOP] up for a Xmas omni 'deal.' I strongly oppose."

"The American people did not send conservatives to the House to empower Democrats through coalition government," wrote Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts. "The plan to expand McHenry’s powers furthers the interests of the Swamp at the expense of everyday Americans."

"House Uniparty GOP members insisted last week that a 'Speakerless House' was a national crisis, but they’re now willing to experiment with unprecedented long-term pro-tem powers when asked to vote for a more conservative Speaker," wrote Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT). "Stunning hypocrisy."

As previously reported by the DC Enquirer, Jordan failed to reach the necessary 217 votes this week in two ballots that saw around 20 moderate Republican lawmakers buck Jordan and vote for a plethora of other candidates.

According to The Daily Caller, Jordan “will continue to run and try to shore up votes until then. Remains speaker designee. Not dropping out. McHenry temporary till January.”

The chairman of the Judiciary Committee will announce later in the day that a third speaker vote will not take place and that the House will attempt to make McHenry temporary speaker until January 3rd.

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