House Speaker chaos delays CA congressional offices and work + New Senate leadership
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HOUSE SPEAKER CHAOS DELAYS CA CONGRESSIONAL OFFICES AND WORK
There is no U.S. House of Representatives until there is a Speaker, and members-elect don’t appear close to picking one.
House members failed to push Kevin McCarthy, a Republican representative from Bakersfield, over the majority threshold for the 11th time Thursday evening — the most ballots used to elect a speaker since the Civil War.
Because a speaker must swear in members, no one in the 118th Congress’ House has taken the oath. That means there are no House members. They can still meet, but the presiding officer is the clerk of the House. For now, they have to “just keep going” on their speaker ballots, Modesto’s John Duarte said.
As long as members are not officially members, they cannot get paid, though paychecks are not issued until later in the month anyway. Then, “the pressure goes up — for some, quite a bit,” said Duarte, a newly-elected Republican who will represent part of the San Joaquin Valley.
Members who served in the previous Congress do not retain membership in this one unless they were newly elected and sworn in. Technically, that means the members-elect should not get priority in dealing with federal agencies when they seek help for constituents.
Lawmakers said that they’re proceeding anyway. “We’re helping out as we always do,” said Jim Costa, a Democratic representative from Fresno.
Asked if she could proceed with her normal operations, Zoe Lofgren, a Democratic representative from San Jose, said without hesitation, “I am.”
ATKINS ANNOUNCES SENATE LEADERSHIP
Senate President pro Tempore, Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) announced the Senate leadership team for the 2023-24 Legislative session.
Senator Mike McGuire (D-Healdsburg) will keep his position as Senate Majority Leader. This will be his second term after replacing former Los Angeles Sen. Robert Hertzberg in 2022.
Senator Monique Limón (D-Santa Barbara) is the new Democratic Caucus Chair, and Senator Lena Gonzalez (D-Long Beach) will be the new Majority Whip.
“I am honored by the confidence Pro Tem Atkins has placed in me to lead our Democratic Caucus,” said Limón. “Our caucus represents different and diverse parts of our state: inland, coastal, rural, urban, and so much more. “
Atkins also announced this session’s Assistant Majority Whips: Senator Angelique Ashby (D-Sacramento), Senator María Elena Durazo (D-Los Angeles), and Senator Susan Rubio (D-Baldwin Park).
With the exception of McGuire, Atkins has lined up a mostly women-run Senate Leadership team, and tapped in newcomer Ashby.
“I am humbled that President pro Tempore Atkins has put her trust in me to serve as Assistant Majority Whip,” said Ashby in a statement on Thursday. “I thank her, and Senate Leadership, for giving me the opportunity to be a part of the leadership team. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Senate to move California forward.”
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“We’ll find an agreement. We’ll all get together. We’ll work through this, and we’ll get it done.”
- Rep. Kevin McCarthy, via KGET-17 News
Best of The Bee:
Two major storms have pummeled California over the past week and led to at least six deaths. The first storm began New Year’s Eve, causing floods and toppling trees; the second storm began Wednesday and caused serious damage in the Bay Area. Here’s what we know about the six people who have died in the storms — the youngest was a toddler, and the oldest was a man in his 70s, via Ariane Lange
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