Republicans were the primary engineers behind the Berks County Democrat’s candidacy and announcement — and even wrote his acceptance speech.
Republicans could have elected a speaker of their choosing, but only if they kept their entire caucus unified. If one member defected to the Democrats, it would have produced a 100-100 deadlock, and possibly no speaker at all until special elections. If two or more Republicans had agreed to vote for Democrats’ choice of speaker, the party would have won.
At 101 votes, Republicans could have elected their preferred candidate if they had complete party unity, even if just for the short term. In a series of private votes in a Tuesday morning meeting, House Republicans whittled down four candidates for speaker to a final pick: state Rep. Carl Walker Metzgar , a backbencher with a libertarian streak.
In the hours leading up to Rozzi’s speaker nomination, state House Democratic members and staff told Spotlight PA that the party was aware that Republicans were trying to flip one of their members. Instead, by late afternoon Democrats settled on adjourning without voting on a speaker until after special elections filled vacancies. Those elections would likely bring Democrats a narrow majority and the ability to name their preferred candidate.
Gregory, who is not in leadership, is a close legislative ally of Rozzi’s, particularly on an effort to pass a constitutional amendment that would give victims of sexual abuse more options to sue their abusers. He said he knew Rozzi was worried that a speaker deadlock could delay the amendment’s final passage and that the two had been talking for “months” about ways to get it to voters.
Members learned about the vote “literally as it unfolded,” one Democrat said. “It was a total surprise.”“As long as Joanna endorses it, we are going to follow it,” said another Democratic lawmaker.Republicans still nominated Metzgar, and most of the rank-and-file GOP members voted for him. One of the lawmakers of that group said while they knew some members had “reservations,” they assumed the caucus was still unified behind Metzgar.
As the dust settled, members began to realize that this could be a big deal for chamber control. It had been assumed that after special elections, Democrats would control the chamber 102 to 101. Now, it looked like the parties could be evenly split. House Democratic Appropriations Committee Chair Matt Bradford said that Rozzi assured Democrats in a private caucus meeting a few hours after the vote that he’s still a member of their party.
“Members are pissed, felt betrayed,” one state House Democrat in the latter camp, who spoke on condition of anonymity to freely criticize leadership, said in a text. “There’s some serious disappointment [and] frustration re: how Dem leadership failed our caucus.” Cutler said that switch will keep Democrats from ever fully controlling the chamber this session, and suggested both parties could be equally represented on committees. Usually, the majority party gets more seats, providing an important advantage in moving legislation.Not all Republicans buy that.
But even without legislative rules agreed to or a second voting session day in the books, some Democrats inside the legislature are banging the drum for the party to remove Rozzi as soon as possible. State Rep. Donna Bullock of Philadelphia, chair of the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus, was diplomatic.
Singapore Latest News, Singapore Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
House members blocking McCarthy speaker bid meet at offices of ex-Trump chief Mark MeadowsSeveral Republican House members fighting to stop Rep. Kevin McCarthy from becoming speaker of the House met Friday morning at the offices of the Conservative Partnership Institute, an organization run by Mark Meadows and Jim DeMint.
Read more »
House members blocking McCarthy speaker bid meet at offices of ex-Trump chief Mark MeadowsSeveral Republican House members fighting to stop Rep. Kevin McCarthy from becoming Speaker of the House met Friday morning at the offices of the Conservative Partnership Institute, an organization run by Mark Meadows and Jim DeMint.
Read more »
Conservative heavyweights call for new House GOP leadership after McCarthy failed to clinch House speakerA group of nearly 50 conservative heavyweights co-signed a statement Wednesday supporting lawmakers who voted against Kevin McCarthy in his bid for House speaker.
Read more »
Illinois House committee passes assault weapons ban, advances to full HouseBREAKING: The Illinois House committee has passed an assault weapons ban bill Thursday night, which will now advance to the full House for a vote.
Read more »
How long will the house vote for a new speaker?US House of Representatives struggles to confirm a speaker of the house.
Read more »