WASHINGTON – Addressing major issues was always going to be challenging in a government divided along party lines. However, it becomes impossible without a speaker at the helm.
The clock is ticking with Congress having just three-and-a-half weeks to secure government funding or face yet another damaging shutdown. But with no speaker in place, the House is paralyzed, unable to conduct its business as its to-do list grows and critical deadlines approach.
Even after 21 days of House Republicans, and still counting, searching for a replacement since ousting their last speaker, they are no closer to finding a successor. On Tuesday, their third nominee to replace him, Rep. Tom Emmer of Minnesota, dropped out shortly after securing the nomination.
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“We’re wasting time. We’re burning daylight. This has set us back on the approps process, so we’re moving up against the Nov. 17” deadline to fund the government, said Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla., the chair of the influential Rules Committee. “I don’t think we’ll shut down, but I do think we’ve wasted a lot of time where we could put bills on the floor and made progress.”
Meanwhile, the Senate has found a way to move forward with a vote on three funding bills, although it cannot prevent a shutdown by itself.
The Biden administration has also sent a request for a $105 billion package to Congress, including aid to Israel in the midst of an escalating conflict in the Middle East, as well as funding for Ukraine amid its defense against Russia, international initiatives aimed at curbing China’s influence, and additional funding to bolster U.S. border security.
“The Senate will probably act on the president’s proposal this week. We need to be in a position to deal with that,” said Cole. “And if we don’t like what we see — which I suspect will be the case — we need to be able to reshape the package and engage in a normal congressional back-and-forth until we reach an agreement. But we can’t do that without a speaker. We have international friends facing serious challenges, and we have our own domestic economy to consider. We need to step up.”
In addition to government funding and aid for foreign allies, Congress must pass a new farm bill, reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration, and pass a National Defense Authorization Act to prevent major disruptions in the daily lives of Americans.
Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., one of the opponents of Emmer, expressed his desire for a speaker who will advance conservative values and oppose earmarks and supplemental bills.
“This country is in serious financial trouble, ladies and gentlemen,” he said, calling for a speaker who will use their role to drive real change. “We need someone who will be a standard-bearer, someone who won’t just talk, but will take action to advance conservatism.”
The ongoing chaos has sowed mistrust and resentment within the House GOP, leading to concerns that it will further complicate the narrow majority’s ability to govern effectively once a new speaker is elected.
“We’re getting nowhere on the Israel issue. We’re not making progress on appropriations bills. And we need to move forward,” said Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., representing a swing district in Omaha. “There’s animosity.”
Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., argued that House Republicans, by failing to elect a speaker, are putting themselves in a weak position when it comes to negotiating concessions in the funding fight with a Senate and White House controlled by Democrats.
“What it means is that the appropriations process will likely see more input from Democrats — because they control the Senate and the presidency — than if the House had its leadership team in place and could negotiate in good faith,” Rounds explained, emphasizing that the House is running out of time to play a substantial role in the process.
Many Republicans are livid that a group of eight rebels took down former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., who played a pivotal role in helping many of them get elected and secure the majority. Supporters of House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, R-La., feel he was treated unfairly after winning the nomination only to be forced to withdraw.
Right-wing lawmakers feel aggrieved by being labeled as bullies for attempting to pressure members into voting for Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, the subsequent nominee who faced opposition from moderates and institutionalists.
“We currently have two factions within a party,” Bacon said. “We have Reagan conservatives and a populist wing. They don’t see eye to eye on certain issues, and we only have a four-seat majority. That’s what makes it so challenging.”
Democrats, on the other hand, are united behind House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., for the speaker position and argue that the GOP’s internal turmoil has real-world consequences.
“These are perilous times. The dysfunction within the Republican conference may have been tolerable for a few days, but now we’re entering weeks. The world is in turmoil, and we’re quickly approaching the government shutdown deadline if we don’t take action,” said Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass., the ranking member of the Rules Committee. “Enough with the nonsense. They need to come together and find a way forward.”
McGovern and other Democrats expressed their preference for a bipartisan path and willingness to support a Republican speaker if they commit to changing the House’s functioning, rejecting far-right demands, and bringing bipartisan legislation to the floor for a vote.
“I am proud to be part of Team Normal. They, however, belong to Team Out Of Their F—ing Minds. I’ve never seen anything like this before,” McGovern stated. “It’s embarrassing for our country, and they should all be ashamed”
This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
