House GOP Elections Pushed Back

Posted on October 5, 2015

In a move that could spell trouble for current leadership looking to rise in office, current Speaker John Boehner has postponed the House GOP leadership elections from this Thursday, October 8th, until October 29th. The nominees for the Speaker’s positions will be declared on the 8th, but now, the actual election will be held weeks later.

Much of the reason for the oath postponement is due to House Republican’s contention that other GOP leadership spots cannot be filled until a Speaker is officially selected. The full House of Representatives votes on the Speaker, and the request seems to question whether Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy, and current front runner, can gain enough votes to secure Speaker. Over the weekend, Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) announced his intention to run and lost no time airing grievances at McCarthy’s leadership.

Meanwhile, the move will allow the new Speaker to set any subsequent leadership elections if such elections are necessary (if McCarthy moves up and vacates the Majority Leader post).

Also, supporters of Reps Steve Scalise (R-LA) and Tom Price (R-GA), who have both announced their intentions to run for Majority Leader should McCarthy win Speaker, are concerned that the additional time will allow a “true conservative” to enter the fray for Majority Leader.

Perkins Expires

Posted on October 1, 2015October 2, 2015

Despite efforts of Senators Tammy Balwin (D-WI) and Patty Murray (D-WA), the Senate was unable to take up the House-passed measure to extend the Perkins program. After the House moved quickly this week to extend Perkins loans and send a measure to the Senate, the two Senate champions attempted to have the Senate quickly consider and pass the measure via a legislative procedure called a Unanimous Consent request. To be considered in this manner, no Senator must object, and HELP Committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-TN) did object effectively killing the program, which expired September 30th.

The Senate could still take up the House extension bill that failed to get unanimous consent Wednesday, or Higher Education Act reauthorization could allow for a more permanent reinstatement of a program.

House GOP Sets Leadership Elections

Posted on September 30, 2015September 30, 2015

House Republicans will hold elections for new leaders on Oct 8 in a closed door session. It is expected to be a contentious meeting and election, with multiple candidates vying for each position as the House GOP conference struggles to maintain political strength after Speaker John Boehner’s surprise retirement announcement last week.

Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) is expected to win the speakers gavel. He’s running against Florida Republican Rep. Daniel Webster who unsuccessfully tried to beat Boehner in the speaker election earlier this year.

If McCarthy wins that opens the door for a majority leader election. Reps. Tom Price (R-GA) and Steve Scalise (R-LA), who is the current Majority Whip, are both vying for that post.

If Scalise wins, there will also be a race for Majority Whip.

Shutdown Averted

Posted on September 30, 2015September 30, 2015

Earlier this morning, the Senate passed a clean continuing resolution (CR) extending federal funding authority until December 11th. Last week, the Senate tried and failed to pass a CR which would prevent Planned Parenthood from receiving federal funds. The measure failed, which cleared the way for the clean CR.

Just now, the House cleared, 277-151, a two-month stopgap spending bill on Wednesday that will avert a government shutdown. Earlier, the Senate passed the measure 78-20. The bill, which will keep the government funded through Dec. 11, is expected to be quickly signed by President Barack Obama.

The measure was approved only with strong support by House Democrats — a sign of just how angry rank-and-file Republicans remain. In one last display of their fury, House Republicans on Tuesday adopted another resolution to cut off government financing to Planned Parenthood. The resolution was to be sent to the Senate, where Democrats were certain to block it.

Power Scramble for House GOP

Posted on September 29, 2015

With Boehner’s retirement announcement, his position, and the power of Speaker, is now up for grabs. His successor — Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) is considered the front-runner — may have just as much difficulty in pacifying conservative Republicans willing to hold important legislation hostage to their priorities.

Some ambitious members already in leadership vying to move up the ladder, but the position of Majority Leader seems to have the greatest horse race in the likely event the current officeholder, McCarthy, succeeds Boehner as Speaker. Thus far, McCarthy appears to have little, if any competition.

Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-LA) and GOP Conference Chairwoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) have all been speculated to want to the job and have not been hiding their ambitions. They used the weekend to make calls to colleagues to get commitments of support, and they solidified their whip teams to help make the rounds and nudge undecideds.

Late yesterday, Rep. Tom Price, Chairman of the House Budget Committee, announced his intention to run for Majority Leader with two high profile endorsements of Rep. Jeb Henserling (R-TX), Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, and Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI), Chairman of the House Ways and Means committee and Vice Presidential candidate in 2012. With those endorsements, McMorris Rogers announced her intention not to run for Speaker and remain Caucus Chair.

Thus far, it is a horserace between Whip Scalise and Pryce for the Majority Leader position. Both are staunch conservatives from southern states. It should be noted that the House GOP conference does not require the current seat holder to withdraw from leadership to run for higher office, so conceivably if Price wins, Scalise could remain the GOP Whip.

Who takes the helm to lead the GOP will have tremendous impact and shape the eventual FY2016 appropriations as well as impact if the functioning of the government.