Lauren Boebert would drop motion to vacate rules if Jim Jordan becomes speaker.
Rep. Lauren Boebert Signals Willingness to Repeal House Rules on Motions to Vacate
Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) has made a bold statement, expressing her willingness to repeal House rules on motions to vacate. However, there is a catch. Boebert insists that House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) must be selected as the next House speaker, replacing Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA).
Earlier this year, McCarthy made concessions to gain support from fellow lawmakers during the speaker election. One of these concessions was a rule change allowing a single member to raise a motion to vacate, which would trigger a vote on the matter. This change prompted some Republicans to call for a higher threshold to prevent a repeat of McCarthy’s removal.
“I’m willing to ditch the Motion To Vacate with Jim Jordan as Speaker,” Boebert tweeted. ”The House has a lot of work ahead, let’s get this over with and take our country back!”
Several members have indicated that this rule could be up for negotiation as they consider a new speaker. It is likely that candidates will include their stance on this issue as part of their platform. McCarthy’s closest allies argue that the current rule hampers effective governance and needs to be addressed.
“We can’t put a new speaker in place with this completely dysfunctional structure. That’s wrong. It would be unjust to another speaker,” said Rep. Garret Graves (R-LA). “Let’s keep in mind, there is a conference rule that says that you cannot bring a motion to vacate without the support of the conference.”
Jim Jordan recently announced his candidacy for House speaker, joining House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) as the only declared candidates. Rep. Kevin Hern (R-OK) is also expected to enter the race.
The House is currently at a standstill until a new leader is elected. No legislative business can be completed until a speaker is chosen. House Republicans have scheduled a candidate forum to consider nominees, with the first speakership election vote expected the following Wednesday.
“We’re going to have a real contest to see who the best person is,” said Rep. Bob Good (R-VA), one of the Republicans who voted to oust McCarthy. “We will absolutely choose a speaker with 218 votes. Now, does it take a couple of days? I don’t know. A couple of hours? I don’t know. But we’re gonna have a speaker that’s chosen by the body.”
Why does Rep. Boebert believe that the power to initiate a motion to vacate should not be in the hands of a single member?
E a motion to vacate the chair, which would effectively remove the House speaker from their position. This rule change, known as House Rule XVII, Clause 2, has been a topic of discussion among Republicans ever since its implementation.
Now, Boebert is taking a stand and signaling her willingness to repeal this rule altogether. She believes that the power to initiate a motion to vacate should not be in the hands of a single member, but rather in the hands of someone like Rep. Jordan, who she believes would be a better choice for House speaker.
In making this statement, Boebert is demonstrating her strong support for Rep. Jordan. She believes that he has the qualities and leadership skills necessary to serve as House speaker. She sees him as a powerful voice for the Republican Party and someone who can effectively challenge the policies and actions of the Democratic majority.
While Boebert’s statement may have caught the attention of many, it is important to note that she is just one member of Congress. Repealing House rules requires the support and approval of a majority of House members, which is not an easy feat. It remains to be seen whether Boebert’s proposal will gain enough traction for serious consideration.
It is also worth noting that motions to vacate the chair are relatively rare in the House of Representatives. They are typically seen as a last resort, a way for members to express their dissatisfaction with the House leadership. However, should this rule be repealed, it could potentially open the floodgates for more frequent use of this parliamentary procedure.
House Rule XVII, Clause 2 was put in place to provide members with a mechanism to hold the House speaker accountable. It grants individual members a way to challenge the leadership and voice their concerns. Repealing this rule would undoubtedly change the dynamics of the House and potentially limit the ability of members to hold the speaker accountable.
As the discussion around House rules continues, it is important for lawmakers to carefully consider the implications of any proposed changes. While some may see the motion to vacate as a powerful tool to keep the speaker in check, others may argue that it could lead to instability and constant challenges to the House leadership.
For now, Boebert’s statement serves as a signal of her strong support for Rep. Jordan and her willingness to challenge the status quo. It remains to be seen how this proposal will be received by her colleagues and whether it will gain enough support for serious consideration. Regardless, it sparks a conversation about the power dynamics within the House of Representatives and the role of individual members in holding the leadership accountable.
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