The Hamas attack on close American ally Israel, which soon turned into war, has cast a shadow over the Republican party’s internal struggle to elect the next speaker, leaving the US House of Representatives without a leader.
It’s a historic occasion that gives the already difficult week for the divided House Republicans more urgency as they attempt to come to terms with who should follow Kevin McCarthy after removing him from office six days ago.
After Hamas militants began a surprise attack on Israel over the weekend that left more than 700 people dead, including at least nine Americans, the already tense internal GOP conflict became more challenging. Israel declared war on Hamas and then carried out airstrikes in Gaza that resulted in hundreds more deaths.
Despite the federal holiday, House Republicans intend to hold a private meeting Monday night to discuss the vacancy before the entire House resumes work on Tuesday.
The lower chamber is essentially immobilized because the House now lacks an elected speaker. Prior to the installation of a new speaker, the House is unable to approve emergency military funding for Israel. A budget package must also be approved by Congress by the middle of November in order to avoid a government shutdown.
Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-North Carolina, the acting speaker, took part in an unclassified conference call on the Israeli-Palestinian issue on Sunday night, but it’s not clear if he’ll be permitted to attend classified briefings at the Capitol this week. (McHenry would need to be given that authority by President Joe Biden.)
McCarthy, who is still a member of Congress, is filling in for the House leadership vacuum at this vital time. McCarthy intends to talk to the media in front of the speaker’s office on Monday at 11 a.m. ET, probably on Israel. He has already charged Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., along with other opponents with endangering the security of Israel and the United States.
On the weekend, McCarthy remarked on Fox News, “There is nothing the House can do unless they elect a speaker, and I don’t know if that happens swiftly.
Some Republicans have demanded that McCarthy be reinstated as speaker in order to keep the House in session as a result of the commencement of conflict in Israel.
“It was stupid to remove [McCarthy] from office mid-term. It would be risky to do so as Israel was being attacked heavily. Global vulnerability is bred by the uncertainty and volatility in the United States. Rep. Mike Lawler, R-New York, who opposed the removal, posted on social media that the House should quickly reinstall McCarthy and cease playing games.
A divided and small majority will find it difficult to accomplish this. Republicans don’t anticipate any Democratic backing, so they need 217 of their 221 members to agree on a new speaker.
When the House will vote on a new speaker on the floor remains unknown. On Tuesday, Republicans will first host a closed-door candidate forum. Republicans anticipate holding an internal election on Wednesday. Unknown is whether they will reach an agreement to go to the floor and choose a speaker that same day.
Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio, a right-wing firebrand and important backer of Donald Trump, and Rep. Steve Scalise of Louisiana, the majority leader & No. 2 Republican, have both entered the race.
McCarthy refused to support Scalise over Jordan in a press conference on Monday and repeatedly left the door open for him to take over as speaker again.
He stated, “That’s a decision by the conference,” and added that he would support it. “Unfortunately, the House can do nothing without a speaker.”
No one will succeed, he continued, if eight members can remove a speaker for trying to lead.
Those who sought to have him removed from office were described by him as “a few individuals” in the caucus “who love a camera far more than they love the American public.”
While the Senate is not in session this week. The chamber, according to Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-New York, “will try to hold any classified briefing they are able to attend in their states as soon as feasible so we can get more details” in light of the attack on Israel.
According to a statement released by Schumer late Sunday night, he asked the Biden administration and the Defense Department “to ensure Israel has everything it requires to protect itself, & reiterated that the Senate stands ready for action on additional needs.”