Dems take advantage of GOP House power vacuum with plot to EXPAND temporary House Speaker Patrick McHenry’s powers, as Jim Jordan looks to replace Kevin McCarthy

A group of moderate Democratic lawmakers have extended an offer to temporary House Speaker Patrick McHenry, proposing to enhance his authority in exchange for allowing more bills to be presented on the House floor.

Four House Democrats affiliated with the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus wrote to McHenry, a Republican from North Carolina, expressing their concerns about the limited authority granted to the House Speaker Pro Tempore following the removal of former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy last week.

They called for an immediate vote to expand the Speaker Pro Tempore’s powers, specifically focusing on pressing national issues.

The Democrats, led by New Jersey Democratic Rep. Josh Gottheimer, suggested implementing temporary, expanded authorities in 15-day intervals until a Speaker of the House is elected. 

The expanded powers would direct the Speaker Pro Tempore to introduce proposed legislation in specific areas.

‘In light of our nation’s pressing issues, a looming government shutdown, and the attacks on our key ally, Israel, we strongly support an immediate vote to expand the Speaker Pro Tempore’s authorities to allow for the consideration of a legislative agenda limited to the most pressing issues,’ the letter read. 

‘Unless and until a Speaker of the House is elected, Congress should implement temporary, expanded authorities — at fifteen calendar day increments — directing the Speaker Pro Tempore to bring before the House proposed legislation only covering the following specific areas,’ the lawmakers continued. 

‘The government cannot continue to be hamstrung — leaving American families, our economy, and national security at risk,’ the Democrats wrote. 

‘We hope you’d agree that we must restart the business of the House of Representatives without delay,’ they continued. 

House Democrats, including Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) (C), rally on the East Steps of the U.S. Capitol, critical of their Republican counterparts after they were unable to elect a Speaker of the House, 10 days after ousting Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) from the post

 House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) speaks while rallying with fellow Democrats. Four Democratic members told McHenry, in exchange for an increase in the number of bills brought to the House floor for consideration they would back him

U.S. Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-NC) leaves after the House Republicans held a series of meeting to vote for their nominee for Speaker of the House on Friday. The full House of Representatives is expected to vote next week to replace ousted former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA)

It includes foreign aid funding for Ukraine and Israel, an extension of the current continuing resolution through January 2024 to prevent a government shutdown, and the consideration of appropriations bills at the committee and floor levels.

In exchange for McHenry gaining additional powers, the Democrats requested that they receive half of the suspension bills on the legislative calendar to facilitate the House’s operation. 

They emphasized the necessity of restoring the House’s functionality promptly, citing the potential risks to American families, the economy, and national security.

Aside from Gottheimer, the letter also featured signatures from three other Democratic lawmakers: Reps. Ed Case of Hawaii, Susie Lee of Nevada, and Jared Golden of Maine.