Four Democratic representatives, namely Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey, Ed Case of Hawaii, Susie Lee of Nevada, and Jared Golden of Maine, all members of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus, drafted a letter addressed to House Speaker Pro Tempore Patrick McHenry (R-NC).
The contents of this letter, obtained by US media, express a willingness to grant McHenry limited powers in a bid to restore essential government functions.
The proposal put forth by these Democrats offers temporary emergency powers to McHenry, which would last for 15-day increments and only until a permanent Speaker is chosen. The lawmakers stress the necessity of restarting the business of the House of Representatives promptly, asserting that the government cannot remain in a state of inaction, which poses risks to American families, the economy, and national security.
Within the Republican camp, the quest for a new Speaker has been marred by divisions and struggles to rally behind a single candidate. House Majority Leader Rep. Steve Scalise, despite winning an internal vote, could not secure enough support to claim the gavel in a floor vote, ultimately withdrawing from the Speaker race.
Meanwhile, Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio, the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee and a favorite among conservatives, has faced resistance from moderates, making it a challenging path to victory.
While some House Republicans may dismiss the idea of collaborating with Democrats as improbable, Jordan is still far from securing unanimous support, with at least 20 "hard nos" among his colleagues. The situation remains fluid, leaving the House Speaker position in limbo and the path forward uncertain.