A Day at the Races
It's going to be a long day for Congress.
Happy Tuesday Morning!Â
The 118th Congress has begun!
The Alaska Congressional Delegation, two-thirds of who are fresh off of re-election, have a long day ahead of them as leaders are elected, parliamentary rules packages are considered, and legislation is introduced. We here at The Delegation will keep our eyes on Senators Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, and Congresswoman Mary Peltola. We'll bring you a roundup of newsy items you might have missed.
The elephant in the room
One of the first orders of business for the House of Representatives is the election of a new speaker. With a slim majority in the chamber, Republicans have nominated Congressman Kevin McCarthy (R-CA-23) for the top spot in the House. As expected, the hard-conservative House Freedom Caucus (HFC) has largely come out in opposition to McCarthy, casting doubt on his prospects. Negotiations between McCarthy and his right flank haven't produced any new answers as to who will secure the votes to become the next Speaker of the House. Among his concessions to the HFC, McCarthy has lowered the threshold to invoke a motion known as "vacating the chair." This concession, which empowers any five members to force a vote on ousting the Speaker, could imperil McCarthy's own speakership, should he win.
Follow along with House Floor proceedings here.
Calmer waters across the hall
Vice President Kamala Harris has already sworn in U.S. Senators for the 118th Congress. Democrats held the Senate in the 2022 midterms, expanding their majority by one seat. There isn't much Senate news yet to share, as proceedings on that side of the hallway are relatively drama-free compared to the House.
Follow along with Senate Floor proceedings here.
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