Boebert Would Scrap Motion To Vacate For Jim Jordan
On top of his endorsement by former President Donald Trump, Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) picked up another key supporter on Thursday. Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) even went a step further than advocating for Jordan to become the new Speaker of the House.
She posted on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, that she would be willing to “ditch the motion to vacate” if he assumed the gavel.
That ability doomed the position of Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), who accepted the challenge in January after Republican conservatives insisted on having the ability to make such a motion.
Boebert said there is a faction in the House GOP who will not choose any speaker as long as that rule is in place. She indicated her willingness to part with that option “if we get a Speaker who is trustworthy — and Jim Jordan is absolutely trustworthy.”
She added that the necessary 218 votes will not be reached unless the motion to vacate rule is abolished.
Rep. Garret Graves (R-LA) declared that it would be unfair to install another Speaker under current rules. “We can’t put a new Speaker in place with this structure that is completely dysfunctional. You can’t do that. That’s wrong. It would be unjust to another Speaker.”
Opposition to the current rule bled over from the Senate. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) stated his preference that the next Speaker does not operate under the motion to vacate.
He said, “I think it makes the Speaker’s job impossible.”
Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) enacted that rule last week by proposing that the office of Speaker be made vacant. That motion was allowed because under current rules, it takes only one House member to meet the threshold.
Ultimately, seven other GOP representatives joined a wall of Democrats in voting to oust McCarthy.
The current race features Jordan and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA). Rep. Kevin Hern (R-OK) is also expected to be a candidate for Speaker.
House business is currently on hold as legislation cannot be passed until a new Speaker is installed. A candidate forum is expected to be held by the GOP on Tuesday to review prospective nominees, and the first vote is likely on Wednesday.
