{"id":2236037,"date":"2024-05-02T21:52:02","date_gmt":"2024-05-03T01:52:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/house-gop-vote-counter-herds-cats-with-little-legislative-cushion\/"},"modified":"2024-05-02T21:54:10","modified_gmt":"2024-05-03T01:54:10","slug":"house-gop-vote-counter-herds-cats-with-little-legislative-cushion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/house-gop-vote-counter-herds-cats-with-little-legislative-cushion\/","title":{"rendered":"House GOP vote counter manages a challenging task with limited legislative support"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fhouse-gop-vote-counter-herds-cats-with-little-legislative-cushion%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2236037&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>In Pittsburgh, House Republican Rep. Guy Reschenthaler, serving as chief vote counter for 16 \u200bmonths, plays a crucial role in managing GOP votes. Appointed by Rep. Tom Emmer, he navigates a slim majority of 217 GOP members against 213 Democrats, ensuring \u2062unity on critical legislative priorities. With the upcoming elections, Reschenthaler \u2062focuses on \u200caligning the party&#8217;s stance \u200bagainst current challenges.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<div>\n<p><strong>PITTSBURGH <\/strong>\u2014 House Republicans aren\u2019t the most unified political family, to put it mildly. This has kept <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/2948976\/house-republicans-renaming-dc-airport-trump\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Rep. Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA)<\/a> plenty busy over the past 16 months as a chief vote counter.<\/p>\n<p>As <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/exclusive-house-republican-leaders-bidens-build-back-better-agenda-is-dead\/\" title=\"Exclusive -- House Republican Leaders: Biden's Build Back Better Agenda Is 'Dead'\">chief deputy whip<\/a>, Reschenthaler is effectively an understudy to the House majority whip, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/tom-emmer\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Rep. Tom Emmer (R-MN)<\/a>. Emmer chose Reschenthaler, 41, for the role after Republicans captured a narrow House majority in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/midterms-2022\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>2022 midterm elections<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The pair are charged with managing the legislative plans of the House majority, which stands at 217 GOP members to 213 Democrats. That ultra-slim House Republican edge will grow a bit in the coming members with special elections in mostly red districts. But even then, the party won\u2019t be able to lose more than three or four seats on a legislative priority bill, assuming little or no Democratic support.<\/p>\n<figure><figcaption>Howie Rep. Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA) speaks to reporters on Capitol Hill on Oct. 24. (Alex Wong\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The House Republican whip team\u2019s handiwork was on display most vividly in its successful effort to get a bill passed, since cleared by the Senate and signed into law by President Joe Biden, for $95 billion in foreign aid for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. The measures, spread over four back-to-back House votes, included fresh rounds of funding for the three U.S. allies along with another bill meant to sweeten the deal for conservatives that could result in a nationwide ban on TikTok.<\/p>\n<p>The Ukraine aid portion of the law opened a schism among House Republicans, with support from traditional foreign policy conservatives, including Reps. Michael McCaul (R-TX) and Michael Turner (R-OH), chairmen of the House Foreign Affairs and Intelligence committees, respectively, while Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) led opposition to Ukraine aid.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/clerk.house.gov\/Votes\/2024151\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>In the end<\/a>, 101 House Republicans backed the Ukraine aid portion while 112 voted no. All 210 Democrats voting backed it.<\/p>\n<p>Even GOP leadership was split. Reschenthaler supported the proposal, along with Emmer, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA), House Republican Conference Vice Chairman Blake Moore (R-UT), and Rep. Richard Hudson (R-NC), chairman of the House GOP campaign arm, the National Republican Congressional Committee.<\/p>\n<p>House GOP leaders voting no on Ukraine aid were Republican Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik (R-NY); Rep. Lisa McClain (R-MI), secretary of the House Republican Conference; and Rep. Gary Palmer (R-AL), chairman of the House Republican Policy Committee.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Republican rising star<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Part of Reschenthaler\u2019s job as chief deputy whip is setting up contrasts between House Republicans and the Biden administration. That means moving bills meant to crystalize differences over economic growth, immigration, the environment, and other matters, even if the proposals stand little chance of getting through the Senate, where Democrats have a 51-49 majority, let alone garnering Biden\u2019s signature to become law.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe American people elected a House Republican majority to put a check on President Biden and congressional Democrats\u2019 failing agenda,\u201d Reschenthaler said in an interview. \u201cOur conference has members from every walk of life and corner of the country who each bring unique perspectives to the table.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Under the leadership of Emmer, the GOP whip operation \u201cmaintains an open-door policy and consistent communication with members,\u201d Reschenthaler said. The group is constantly facilitating discussions to find consensus, he added.<\/p>\n<p>Reschenthaler represents the southern and eastern Pittsburgh exurbs, Pennsylvania\u2019s 14<sup>th<\/sup> Congressional District. Voters there in 2020 backed former President Donald Trump over Biden, 63% to 36%, and Reschenthaler is a loyalist to the 2024 Republican nominee-in-waiting. The congressman <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/2948976\/house-republicans-renaming-dc-airport-trump\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>introduced a bill<\/a> earlier this year to rename Washington Dulles International Airport after the former president.<\/p>\n<p>Reschenthaler now is working to unite the party before November\u2019s general election, in which House control is up for grabs. The fight will no doubt be influenced by the presidential race, with Biden and Trump both needing to win Pennsylvania to capture an Electoral College majority.<\/p>\n<p>House Republicans have a big advantage, with the world on fire in a series of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/exclusive-house-gop-chairwoman-elise-stefanik-launches-digital-ad-campaign-on-bidens-state-of-the-union-in-crisis\/\" title=\"EXCLUSIVE: House GOP Chairwoman Elise Stefanik Launches Digital Ad Campaign On Biden\u2019s \u2018State Of The Union In Crisis\u2019\">foreign policy crises<\/a>, and lingering inflation at home.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cUnder President Biden\u2019s failed leadership, Americans face crises at home and abroad,\u201d Reschenthaler said. \u201cWe have record-high prices on gas and groceries, an invasion at our southern border, and foreign adversaries creating unrest across the globe.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Reschenthaler said he feels that the November election is a critical moment for voters to \u201cend the chaos and get our country back on track.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>House Republicans \u201cmust be laser-focused on our shared goal of countering the far-left\u2019s radical agenda that is destroying the nation we know and love,\u201d Reschenthaler added. \u201cToo much is at stake for anything less.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Western Pennsylvania born and bred<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>A graduate of the Pennsylvania State University at Erie, The Behrend College, Reschenthaler went on to law school at Duquesne University and joined the U.S. Navy Judge Advocate General Corps. He served in Iraq, where he prosecuted al Qaeda terrorists.<\/p>\n<p>Back home, he was a Pennsylvania magisterial district judge before winning a state Senate special election in 2015. Three years later, he captured a newly drawn, deep-red western Pennsylvania House seat, covering the southern part of the Pittsburgh metropolitan area and the southwest corner of Pennsylvania.<\/p>\n<p>Reschenthaler said he has secured $61 million for southwestern Pennsylvania through the House appropriations process for fiscal 2023, which he called \u201ca huge win for our district.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The funding will <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/vp-harris-helping-funnel-money-to-central-america-to-slow-illegal-immigration\/\" title=\"VP Harris Helping Funnel Money To Central America To Slow Illegal Immigration\">support workforce development programs<\/a>, library improvements, law enforcement and fire departments, locks and dam construction, sewer and waterline infrastructure, and economic development.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMy position in House Republican leadership also puts a local Pennsylvanian at the\u00a0leadership\u00a0table who knows our shared values and interests, which creates a unique and important opportunity for our commonwealth,\u201d said Reschenthaler, who is a member of the House Appropriations and Rules committees.<\/p>\n<p>However, not everyone is so impressed. Reschenthaler faces a November challenge from Democrat <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dziadosforcongress.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Chris Dziados<\/a>, an Iraq combat veteran, retired Army major, and former Pentagon policy analyst. Dziados said in an interview that he decided to run for office primarily because of the events of Jan. 6, 2021. He was stationed at the Pentagon that day, and after being directed to go home for curfew, he witnessed the dispersion of the mob that participated in the attack on the Capitol.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cLater that night, my congressman refused to certify the election for President Biden, setting a foundation that continues to undermine people\u2019s faith in our democracy,\u201d Dziados said. \u201cI did not spend the last 20 years of my life protecting and defending our country to watch politicians undermine Americans\u2019 faith in our democracy for political gain.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Still, the district\u2019s strong Republican lean makes Reschenthaler the strong favorite for November. He brushed off his Democratic opponent\u2019s criticism.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere\u2019s a saying I often go back to: \u2018Dogs don\u2019t bark at parked cars,\u2019\u201d the congressman said. \u201cIf far-left radicals are outraged, it means I\u2019m doing something right.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>More leadership opportunities could arise for Reschenthaler. Relatively recent Republican chief House deputy whips have gone on to bigger things politically, including two who rose to House speaker and former Sen. Roy Blunt, a Missouri Republican who spent 12 years on the other side of the Capitol in statewide elected office after his House leadership years.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>First, though, Reschenthaler has seven more months of this Congress to push through House priorities \u2014 not an easy task with a perilously slim majority, and lawmakers of the same party who sometimes act like they\u2019re from warring tribes.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAs a member of the House Appropriations and House Rules committees, and in my capacity as the Chief Deputy Whip for the 118th Congress, I have the ability to promote commonsense policies and deliver significant results for Americans across the country \u2014 particularly southwestern Pennsylvanians,\u201d Reschenthaler said.<\/p>\n<p><em>Kate Oczypok is a writer in Pittsburgh.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In Pittsburgh, House Republicans, known for their lack of unity, have kept Rep. Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA) occupied as a chief vote counter for 16 months. Serving as chief deputy whip under Rep. Tom Emmer (R-MN), Reschenthaler, 41, plays a crucial role in managing party votes<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3116,"featured_media":2236038,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/wex-s3.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/WB.Congress-1024x591.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2236037","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/wex-s3.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/WB.Congress-1024x591.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2236037","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3116"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2236037"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2236037\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2236038"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2236037"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2236037"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2236037"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}