Jordan's floor failure strengthens private push to empower McHenry

The size of the GOP opposition to Jim Jordan’s speakership bid has revived serious bipartisan talks to empower acting Speaker Patrick McHenry.

And the members pushing it could pull the trigger as soon as Jordan’s second failed ballot.

Centrist Republicans and Democrats are once again backchanneling about a possible vote to strengthen McHenry’s abilities to bring legislation to the floor — particularly spending bills, given a Nov. 17 funding deadline — amid the weeks-long impasse in selecting a speaker. They’re pushing a short-term measure that would grant McHenry added powers and could pass the House by majority vote, though they have not coalesced around specific language.

“I think we should empower Patrick McHenry,” said Rep. Carlos Giménez (R-Fla.), who is a member of the Republican Governance Group and opposed Jordan on the floor. “The House shouldn’t be closed.”

“I do think there comes a time when that issue becomes ripe and I’m certainly continuing to advocate for that,” echoed Rep. Dave Joyce (R-Ohio), who leads that group of self-described pragmatic Republicans.

Joyce, who voted for Jordan on the floor, said he should be given time to reevaluate where to go following the outcome of the first ballot, in which the Ohioan lost 20 GOP votes. But Joyce added: “I’m not sure whether he expected the number to be as high as it was.”

The push by centrist Democrats to work with Republicans to elevate McHenry — at a certain price — was first reported by POLITICO. Those Democrats are all leaders of the Problem Solvers Caucus.

The idea, though, had received little public interest from the House GOP as Jordan spent the weekend trying to land the 217 votes needed on the floor. The idea would need the support of at least several Democrats — if not more — given pushback from the House GOP’s right flank. That includes ardent Jordan supporters like Reps. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) and Thomas Massie (R-Ky.).

With 20 Republicans opposed to Jordan in his first floor vote, however, the idea has gained some traction. And some predict even more GOP defections on the second ballot.

“Do I think that we should at least try to look for a way to move our agenda forward? I think that’s probably a very prudent smart move,” said Rep. Mario Díaz-Balart (R-Fla.), who opposed Jordan’s speakership bid on the floor.

It’s unclear exactly what resolution the two parties could back: Rep. Mike Kelly (R-Pa.), who opposed Jordan on the floor, has introduced a resolution to formally elect McHenry speaker pro tempore. He told colleagues in a letter that “by formally electing him, we as a body give him the power to move legislation to the floor for consideration.”

Democrats, though, are privately looking at other options.

Republicans warned that Democratic support could imperil any intraparty desire to push McHenry as a more permanent option. And not everyone in the GOP conference, even ardent backers of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, are ready to sign on to an enhanced set of powers for McHenry.

“You’ve got to run out of options first,” said. Rep. Garret Graves (R-La.), who shook his head when asked if he’d back more powers for McHenry.

Caitlin Emma and Nicholas Wu contributed.

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