Wisconsin lawmakers weigh in on Speaker of the House impasse
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The historic vote for speaker of the house will drag into at least a fourth day.
California Republican Kevin McCarthy was again unable to unify his party's support, suffering five more election losses Thursday. McCarthy has now failed to win a majority on 11 ballots. Democrats have remained steadfast in supporting New York Congressman Hakeem Jeffries.
The vote will now go to a 12th ballot Friday, tied for the fifth-longest in US history.
Each unsuccessful vote for Speaker is further preventing the house from taking any other action.
That could soon force serious consequences nationally and in Wisconsin.
For now the House is paralyzed. Electing a Speaker is the only action members can take right now. They can't even be officially sworn in until a Speaker is elected.
One Wisconsin Republican said his party is still unified on policy, but we're starting to see some concerning repercussions created by the fractured battle for the speakership.
Rep. Scott Fitzgerald said, "This is a healthy process. Maybe a little more elongated than we're comfortable with."
While this vote is now the longest in 164 years, Fitzgerald said the process does not surprise him. He experienced multiple leadership votes during his time in the state assembly. He said, "What people might be surprised by is this process is so public and out in the open."
Until a Speaker is elected, all other official business is on hold.
This week Wisconsin Representative Mike Gallagher was supposed to meet with the Chair of the Joint Chiefs in a secure House location. Gallagher said, "But I'm informed by House security that, technically, I don't have a clearance. I'm a member of the Intel Committee, I'm on the Armed Services Committee, and I can't meet in the SCIF to conduct essential business."
Republican leaders previously unveiled a list of 12 bills House Republicans expect to act on this session, including border security issues and pro-life measures. Congressman Fitzgerald says the party's support for those agenda items will not waver even as the vote for speaker exposes cracks within the caucus. "As soon as we get the Speaker's race behind us and are able to hit the floor, you're going to see a ton of unity around those issues."
Negotiations are ongoing, but several Republican lawmakers are expected to be absent Friday due to prior family engagements. That could alter the math and impact how many votes are needed for a majority.