AFPPelosi with McCarthy
NOS Nieuws•vandaag, 09:05
In the Republican battle for leadership in the US House of Representatives, former Speaker Pelosi has lost a prestigious office. According to the Democrat, it is an exercise in revenge because her successor McCarthy lost his position, but the Republicans call it a routine procedure.
Because office space is scarce in the Capitol, almost all members of Congress have offices in the surrounding office buildings. Only the highest leaders are also allocated a space in the building itself. It is customary for a departed chairman to also be given a place. Pelosi, now 83, resigned as speaker at the beginning of this year when Republicans regained control of the House.
Her successor Kevin McCarthy lasted only nine months as Speaker of the House. Dissidents within his own party forced a vote of confidence and managed to get him out with the help of the Democrats. Immediately afterwards, Pelosi was told to evacuate her office in the Capitol.
Two hours after McCarthy’s departure, the Democrat received an email saying she had to be out of the office within a day. It was immediately reported that the locks would be replaced afterwards. Pelosi’s second in command Steny Hoyer received a similar message.
‘Wrong priorities’
“This goes against all tradition,” Pelosi said in a response. “When I was chairman, I granted my predecessor Hastert a larger office for as long as he wanted.” She does have her own office in one of the surrounding buildings.
Pelosi thinks it’s a shame that her office is one of the first priorities of the new House leadership. “There are so many important decisions to make, but the first thing they did was kick me out of my office.”
She adds that she isn’t even able to clear out her own office because she is currently in California for Diana Feinstein’s funeral. That Democratic senator died last week at the age of 90.
‘Own fault’
Republicans point out that the privilege of having their own office only applies to the previous chairman. That is no longer Pelosi, but McCarthy. According to them, it is therefore completely in line with tradition.
Yet a Republican Representative also adds that Pelosi and her Democratic colleagues “made it happen” by helping to oust McCarthy. “I don’t know why they are complaining. They created this situation themselves.”
Following the bickering between Republicans themselves and with Democrats, President Biden yesterday called for an end to the “toxic atmosphere” in Washington. “There are big differences of opinion but we should not see each other as enemies,” he told the press. “We still have a lot to do in a short time.”
Tough negotiations
For example, difficult negotiations are expected about the federal government’s budget. Last week, Chairman McCarthy, with the help of Democrats, temporarily prevented civil servants from being forced to stay at home, but his successor must find a definitive solution within forty days.
Two Republicans have now filed for the position. Steve Scalise, who was the second-in-command of Republicans in the House under McCarthy, and Representative Jim Jordan, who has recently been pushing for a corruption investigation into President Biden.
It is not yet known when the election will be for McCarthy’s successor. It has never happened before that a chairman has been voted out, so the precise course of the procedure has yet to be determined.
2023-10-05 07:05:43
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