Third day and the House of Representatives still without a president. The standoff continues between Republicans with leader Kevin McCarthy, who has offered new concessions to a band of conservative rebels in a desperate effort to secure votes to become House speaker.
After losing six votes in two days, McCarthy privately agreed to more of the rebels’ demands: changes that would considerably weaken the presidency. One would allow, for example, that a single lawmaker could force an early vote to oust the president.
John James, a Republican congressman from Michigan, told his colleagues: “We’re stuck in a malaise, in an impasse, and we’re going to stay here, we can’t fight the real conservative fights until we find a way to come together and fight that mission together.”
Despite the concessions, McCarthy still did not have enough 218 votes to secure the presidency of the House. And on Wednesday, in the new votes, the Republican failed again. Conservatives complained about leaks about what McCarthy offered.
Scott Perry, Republican legislator from Pennsylvania on Twitter: “There is no deal. When confidences are betrayed and leaks are targeted, it’s even harder to trust. Totally dissatisfied. I will not give in to the established order.”
Some Republicans accused Democrats of fomenting divisions, mocking the vote by enjoying popcorn and drinking alcohol. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, a New York legislator, replied on Twitter to these accusations: “If the Democrats had a drink for every time McCarthy loses a Republican, we would all be unconscious by now.”
The negotiations continue, but the conservatives do not back down. It is the longest vote since 1859, more than 150 years, and it is not known when the impasse may end and Congress finally begin its work. Negotiations continue to obtain the remaining 4 votes for Kevin McCarthy to win. However, some conservatives made it clear that they do not want to change their positions: for them, McCarthy cannot be the speaker of the House and other names must be sought. That of Steven Scalise, another Republican leader, could win more support than McCarthy.
