The House of Representatives started its fourth day of voting for a speaker, amid an impasse between Kevin McCarthy and dissident conservatives that has stalled congressional business.
Before members embarked on a 12th vote for speaker, there was a ceremony on the steps of the Capitol to mark the second anniversary of the January 6th attack. House Minority Hakeem Jeffries and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi gave brief remarks at the ceremony, followed by family members of those who died as a result of the siege.
In the chamber, House chaplain Margaret G. Kibben devoted her opening prayer to the “memory of inconceivable unrest,” while Rep. Mike Garcia (R-CA), while nominating McCarthy, paid tribute to the Capitol Police, drawing a standing ovation in the chamber, and Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-SC), also commemorated the anniversary in his remarks nominating Jeffries.
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It was two years ago that many of the members in the room, along with journalists and staff, were rushed from the chamber after rioters broke through barricades and a group attempted to break through entrances to the House floor.
McCarthy and his allies have been engaged in talks with some of the dissidents, including Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX), but it was unclear whether the apparent progress translate into holdouts switching their votes.
Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) was not swayed. Putting Rep. Jim Jordan’s name forward as a nominee, he suggested that McCarthy’s decision to keep trying for the speakership was an “exercise in vanity.” He said that McCarthy’s ambition was “paralyzing the House.” He also attacked the negotiations with McCarthy, contending that his concessions would weaken the position to a largely ceremonial role.
Tensions between Republicans are flaring up on the floor. At one point, as Gaetz spoke, Rep. Mike Bost (R-IL) stood up and shouted that he was out of order in devoting so much of a nominating speech to blasting McCarthy.
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