The historic failure of the House of Representatives to elect a speaker for much of the first week of the new session has delayed many functions of Congress.
Once a candidate finally surpasses the 218-vote threshold, however, a flood of activity will commence.
The first order of business will be swearing in members. Because the speaker is the one to swear them in, members of the House of Representatives have not been sworn in and thus are unable to legislate. The election of the speaker on the first day of the new Congress is usually just a formality followed by the swearing-in of new members. The historic delay has thrown a wrench in things.
The next step will likely be rushing through delayed business that has worried onlookers — mainly passing a House rules package that decides the pay of staffers. A memo sent to staffers warned that if the speakership crisis was not solved by Jan. 13, payments for staff would be in danger.
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“Committees need to be aware that should a House Rules package not be adopted by end of business on January 13 no committee will be able to process payroll since the committee’s authority for the new Congress is not yet confirmed,” a memo sent out to House committees and obtained by Politico said.
scoop: House committees are getting new guidance today about impact a protracted speaker’s race could have on staff, student loans, etc.
It’s going to be messy, especially if House Rules aren’t adopted by Jan. 13. story TK. pic.twitter.com/vZxpacuRLE
— Jordain Carney (@jordainc) December 29, 2022
Next on the docket will likely be unfreezing critical committees such as the House Intelligence Committee, which is “currently offline,” member Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) told CNN.
Of equal importance to the Republican majority will be passing legislation regarding its priorities, such as investigating the Biden administration and revamping immigration policies.
A House speaker is expected to be elected Friday when the House reconvenes at 10 p.m. If that happens, the first orders of business will keep representatives on the floor until around 3 a.m., according to a Whip floor update from Majority Whip-elect Tom Emmer (R-MN).
Walk off the floor anticipated between 2:30-3 am. pic.twitter.com/48n690UUjo
— Juliegrace Brufke (@juliegraceb) January 7, 2023
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If Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) is elected, it remains to be seen how he will treat the 20 Republican rebels that humiliated him in full view of the country. He has say over committee assignments, meaning he could isolate them from vital congressional work in retaliation. It could also vary on a case-by-case basis; he may show leniency to the first representatives to switch their votes to him, such as Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) and Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ), while being harsher on those like Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL), who pledged to never support him as speaker.
