WASHINGTON, D.C. -- House Republicans are considering Ohio Representative Jim Jordan as the next choice for Speaker of the House, after Louisiana lawmaker Steve Scalise withdrew his name from consideration Thursday night.
They held a conference meeting this morning to determine whether Jordan could collect the 217 votes needed to become the Speaker. Fourth District Congressman Bill Huizenga said on West Michigan's Morning News it isn't going to be an easy process.
"I'm not sure that he's going to be able to do that ... they're going to be ordering dinner. In other words, we're staying and we're not leaving until we get this figured out. And I would expect it's probably going to be Saturday - maybe even Sunday - before we emerge with a final, hopefully, a final solution to this," Huizenga said.
The West Michigan Republican said this morning he would propose a rules amendment that whichever Speaker candidate emerges next would be required to demonstrate internally that he or she will be able to get the necessary support before it is brought to the House Floor for a vote.
WMMN Host Steve Kelly asked Huizenga point blank: "Is there, in your opinion, a Republican Congressman who has the ability to unite this party?"
Huizenga responded, "At this point, no."
He said the process to elevate Scalise to be the person replacing Kevin McCarthy as House Speaker was going smoothly, at first.
"And then, the wheels kind of came off. There's still way too many egos and pinched fingers - all kinds of other things that are going on with that," Huizenga said.
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