McCarthy makes gains, voting tonight

WASHINGTON - While Republicans continue to squabble over who will be the next speaker, there are no members in the U.S. House of Representatives - only members-elect. Without a speaker, none can be sworn in, and the 118th Congress can’t convene or vote on any rules. Parliamentary procedure has been jettisoned. Members of both parties are unsure whether they can call votes or make motions because there is no speaker to rule on their requests. The rule-less/member-less House may only be a blip in history if Republicans find speaker this week, which is a possibility, but seemed distant Jan. 4 as Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) lost a second roll call of votes on the floor. In 1923, the process of selecting a speaker lasted three days. In 1855, it dragged on for two months and 133 ballots. (The AP 01/05/23) US House has no members, no rules as speaker race drags on | AP News  

UPDATE: The standoff is stretching into a third day on Jan. 5 after six failed votes to decide on a House speaker.

UPDATE2: 

EZELL PLEDGES SUPPORT OF MCCARTHY

WASHINGTON, D.C. (WLOX) - In a statement released by Mike Ezell on Jan. 5, Ezell pledged his support for Rep. Kevin McCarthy to become the Speaker of the House. Ezell was originally to be sworn in as Mississippi’s newest Congressman on Tuesday. However, due to a historically long vote for a new Speaker of the House, his oath has been postponed until the vote can reach its conclusion.

UPDATE3:

MCCARTHY MAKES GAINS, VOTING AGAIN TONIGHT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican leader Kevin McCarthy flipped 15 colleagues to support him in dramatic votes for House speaker on Jan. 6 making extraordinary gains on the fourth day and the 12th and 13th ballots in a historic standoff testing American democracy and the GOP majority’s ability to govern. The switched votes from conservative holdouts put McCarthy closer to seizing the gavel for the new Congress — but not yet. Republicans voted to adjourn until 10 p.m. to try again. “I believe at that time we’ll have the votes to finish this once and for all,” McCarthy told reporters. The turnaround came after McCarthy agreed some of the detractors’ demands, including the reinstatement of a longstanding House rule that would allow any single member to call a vote to oust him from office.