The Associated Press (“AP News”) reports that House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) has ended his bid to become Speaker of the US House of Representatives (“House”) late today (10/12/2023) after Republican hardliners refused to back him – throwing the House’s Republican majority into deeper chaos as the House remains adjourned.
Majority Leader Scalise declined to announce backing for anyone else, including his chief rival, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH).
Next steps are uncertain as the House is essentially closed while the Republican majority tries to elect a speaker after ousting Kevin McCarthy from the job.
The AP News article may be read HERE.
Fox News reports that during a press conference following his decision to step aside, Majority Leader Scalise said that “this House of Representatives needs a speaker and we need to open up the House again. But clearly, not everybody is there. And [there are] still schisms that have to get resolved. I never came here for a title [and] I’ve had some great titles. I’m the Majority Leader of the House and I love the job I have.”
The Fox News article may be read HERE.
My brothers and sisters, as this writer mentioned in a FGGAM article yesterday, it’s hard to overstate the importance for the United States (“US”) to have a fully-functioning Congress during this time of internal political instability and ongoing wars in Israel and Ukraine. Nor should it be forgotten that the Speaker of the House is second in line for the presidency under the US Constitution, following Vice President Kamala D. Harris.
Hope that the entire House would vote today and elect a new Speaker was quickly dashed.
Let’s pray that the House comes together in some form of unity to elect a new Speaker. This can be accomplished even without the help of Democratic votes, if Republicans will stand in unity and vote for a single candidate, such as Congressman Jim Jordan. The continuation of this stalemate and chaos – valid principles notwithstanding – is becoming a detriment to the needs of the nation and an embarrassment.
It’s clear that we need wise leaders of integrity in our civil government. This is ordained of God. Even Moses established government to address matters of society (see Deuteronomy 1:13-15). Let’s pray that our leaders do not trust in the wisdom of this world more than the wisdom of God, so they would not fall prey to the trap of “being too smart for one’s own good” (see 1 Corinthians 3:19) or thinking too highly of themselves (see Romans 12:3).
Deuteronomy 1:13-15 (Amplified Bible)
Moses Appoints Wise Leaders
“‘Choose for yourselves wise, understanding, experienced, and respected men from your tribes, and I will appoint them as heads (leaders) over you.’ And you answered me, ‘[t]he thing which you have said to do is good.’ So I took the leaders of your tribes, wise and experienced men, and made them leaders over you, commanders of thousands, and hundreds, and fifties, and tens, and officers (administrators) for your tribes.”
1 Corinthians 3:19 (NLT)
“For the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God. As the Scriptures say, ‘He traps the wise in the snare of their own cleverness.’”
Romans 12:3 (Amplified Bible)
“For by the grace [of God] given to me I say to everyone of you not to think more highly of himself [and of his importance and ability] than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has apportioned to each a degree of faith [and a purpose designed for service].”
Praise Jesus forevermore!
