By Steven Allen Adams, The Parkersburg News and Sentinel
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Whether the goal is to prevent the next government shutdown in the middle of November or providing funding to allies in the middle of conflicts, the lack of a sitting speaker of the U.S House of Representatives is causing gridlock.
Republicans in the House returned to Capitol Hill Monday trying to select a new speaker after they voted a few weeks ago to discharge former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., from the podium.
Lawmakers already rejected two speaker candidates over the last two weeks in the House, where the Republicans hold the majority by five seats. Now, there are as many as nine different House Republicans seeking the speaker’s gavel. Speaking during a tele-town hall with constituents Saturday morning, Rep. Alex Mooney, R-W.Va., said he and his colleagues need to pick a new speaker soon.
“Now we have to move forward,” Mooney said. “We’re back in D.C., back to the Republican conference. We have at least five, maybe 10, of my colleagues running for Speaker now. I’ve not picked who I will vote for next…but we’ll keep voting until we get a speaker.”
