janea4old

House Democrats news conference, earlier this morning today January 5, before the day's voting began...

Seventh vote results: Nobody got the 218 votes required to win Speaker. 201 - Repub. Kevin McCarthy 212 - Dem. Hakeem Jeffries 19 - Byron Donalds (Republican from Florida) 1 vote for Donald Trump (by Matt Gaetz) 1 vote as "present" (by Victoria Spartz of Indiana) 434 total. (There are 435 seats but one member from Virginia died and there will be a special election to fill his seat in February). (Byron Donalds has served only two years in the House.) ___________ These are the same results as the prior few votes - except that Gaetz switched from Byron Donalds to Donald Trump.

For Speaker of the House: they are now conducting the seventh vote in three days. For the rollcall vote, each member's name is called by the Clerk, and then the member stands up and says their choice. Gaetz just stood up and said "Trump". Really.

Thursday Jan 5. Today's Speaker selection session began at noon Eastern time. They just finished the speeches to nominate the same three people.

From this To this: to this To this:

^ tweet from C-SPAN director of editorial operations

Yes Getty Images was on the House floor and that's George Santos and Marjorie Taylor Greene. https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/rep-elect-george-santos-stands-with-to-rep-elect-marjorie-news-photo/1454256589?phrase=george santos

20 votes for Byron Donalds. Byron Donalds has served only two years in the House. They're promoting (using) him because he's Black and very right wing. The Freedom Caucuas nominator had the gall to mention Frederick Douglass.

C-SPAN likes to go in and show close-ups (without audio) of various congresspersons chatting between votes. But that's not allowed when Congress is formally in session. This isn't the case during Speaker elections. C-SPAN has been showing all sorts of (no audio) conversations in the past two days. Fascinating. People have been tweeting out the closeups of the congresspersons and others have been tweeting out replies with humorous guesses as to what they are saying.

Normally, the Speaker would call to adjourn for the day, but there is no Speaker...

Sixth vote - results same as fourth and fifth votes. Nobody got the 218 votes required to win Speaker. 201 - Repub. Kevin McCarthy 212 - Dem. Hakeem Jeffries 20 - Byron Donalds (Republican from Florida) 0 - Others 1 vote as "present"( Victoria Spartz of Indiana was the one who voted "present".) 434 total. Byron Donalds has served only two years in the House.

What's scary is that the Republicans who oppose McCarthy say he's not conservative enough.

Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs (D): In one of her first official actions, Hobbs signed an executive order setting in motion a process to update the state’s policies barring discrimination in state employment and contracting. Hobbs is adding new protections based on gender identity, political affiliation, military service or veteran status, marital status, culture and other characteristics. https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/democrat-katie-hobbs-to-take-office-as-arizona-governor/ Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs (D) on Tuesday in her first official act as governor moved to strengthen worker protections for LGBTQ state employees and contractors, signing an executive order that expressly prohibits workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/3798816-hobbs-signs-executive-order-protecting-lgbtq-state-employees-from-discrimination/

Fifth vote results same as fourth vote. Nobody got the 218 votes required to win Speaker. 201 - Repub. Kevin McCarthy 212 - Dem. Hakeem Jeffries 20 - Byron Donalds (Republican from Florida) 0 - Others 1 vote as "present"( Victoria Spartz of Indiana was the one who voted "present".) 434 total.

No. 100 years ago (1923) was the last time it took more than one vote, but that was only 9 votes. It was 1855 when it took 133 votes. Here is the list of all the times it's taken more than one vote: From the US House's history page: https://history.house.gov/People/Office/Speakers-Multiple-Ballots/#

Results of fourth vote for Speaker 201 - Repub. Kevin McCarthy 212 - Dem. Hakeem Jeffries 20 - Byron Donalds (Republican from Florida) 0 - Others 1 vote as "present" __________ 434 total. They all showed up to vote. (There are 435 seats, but one representative is deceased with an upcoming election to replace him.) I guess they are all voting without being sworn in. Nobody got the 218 votes required to win Speaker. Victoria Spartz of Indiana was the one who voted "present". _______________ They are now going directly into starting the process again for nominations for a fifth vote for Speaker.

They plan to. https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/brazil-to-reopen-probe-of-george-santos-in-2008-checkbook-fraud-case/

House Dems press conference earlier today: They point out that since there is no Speaker, the rules say that nobody can be sworn in, and no work can get done.

https://raskin.house.gov/2022/12/statement-of-congressman-jamie-raskin-to-the-people-of-maryland-s-8th-district December 28, 2022 WASHINGTON, DC - Congressman Jamie Raskin (MD-08) today released the following statement. “After several days of tests, I have been diagnosed with Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma, which is a serious but curable form of cancer. I am about to embark on a course of chemo-immunotherapy on an outpatient basis at Med Star Georgetown University Hospital and Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center. Prognosis for most people in my situation is excellent after four months of treatment. “I expect to be able to work through this period but have been cautioned by my doctors to reduce unnecessary exposure to avoid COVID-19, the flu and other viruses. In addition to destroying cancer cells, chemotherapy impairs natural antibodies and undermines the body’s immune system. I am advised that it also causes hair loss and weight gain (although I am still holding out hope for the kind that causes hair gain and weight loss). “With the benefit of early detection and fine doctors, the help of my extraordinary staff, the love of Sarah and our daughters and sons-in-law (actual and to-be) and family and friends, and the support of my beloved constituents and my colleagues in the House, I plan to get through this and, in the meantime, to keep making progress every day in Congress for American democracy. “My love and solidarity go out to other families managing cancer or any other health condition in this holiday season—and all the doctors, nurses and medical personnel who provide us comfort and hope.”