House GOP Leaders Consider Expanding Powers of Interim Speaker Pro Tempore

The House of Representatives is currently without a permanent speaker, and as a result, Rep. Patrick McHenry has been serving as the interim speaker pro tempore. However, some Republican leaders are now considering expanding and formalizing McHenry’s powers beyond his limited role. They are contemplating backing a resolution that would empower McHenry until January or until a new speaker is elected.

Currently, as speaker pro tempore, McHenry is responsible for presiding over the vote and selection of the chamber’s next speaker. However, his powers are restricted. He can only recess or adjourn the House, recognize speaker nominations, and committees can continue to operate. He does not have the authority to bring bills or even nonbinding resolutions to the floor.

This limited role poses challenges for Congress, particularly in light of President Joe Biden’s intention to seek approval for additional funding to support Israel’s defense efforts following the recent Hamas attack. Without a new speaker, moving forward with such funding becomes difficult.

The selection of McHenry as the interim speaker pro tempore came about due to the ousting of Rep. Kevin McCarthy as the speaker, preceded by McCarthy submitting a confidential list of potential successors to the clerk of the House. With McCarthy’s removal, McHenry, being the first name on the list, assumed the role.

McHenry has made it clear to his colleagues that his role is narrow and solely focused on assisting in the election of the next speaker. He has emphasized that taking actions such as putting a resolution supporting Israel on the floor is beyond his scope. Nonetheless, there are some who have raised questions about this limitation.

To address the situation, some Republican leaders are considering expanding McHenry’s powers. The aim is to provide more time for Rep. Jim Jordan, a candidate for the speaker position, to build support without the challenges of a speaker-less House. Jordan has no plans to drop out of the race and wants to remain the speaker designee. However, it is uncertain whether empowering McHenry will convince Jordan’s most vocal opponents to support him.

McHenry has been a staunch ally of Rep. Kevin McCarthy. He played a crucial role in negotiating McCarthy’s speakership in January, gaining the support of conservative lawmakers who had previously opposed McCarthy’s leadership. Additionally, he has been an important negotiator for House Republicans, working with the White House to prevent the United States from defaulting on its debts.

Born in Gastonia, North Carolina, McHenry began his political career in 1998 after an unsuccessful bid for the North Carolina state House of Representatives. He later served as a special assistant to the labor secretary and was elected to the state House in 2002. In 2004, at the age of 29, McHenry was elected to Congress, becoming one of the youngest lawmakers at that time. He is currently serving his 10th term and holds the position of chair of the House Financial Services Committee.

As the House GOP continues to navigate the process of selecting a new speaker, the resolution to expand and formalize McHenry’s powers remains under consideration. It is yet to be determined if this proposal will gain enough support and resolve the challenges and uncertainties currently facing the House of Representatives.