Budzinski: Some Dems Would Vote for GOP Speaker Alternative
Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (D-Springfield), center, speaks at a forum at the City Club of Chicago Monday with Congressman Jonathan Jackson (D-Chicago). Former broadcaster and former Dept. of Natural Resources Director Colleen Callahan moderated. (Photo: The Illinoize)
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Freshman Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (D-Springfield) says she is among a group of fellow moderate Democrats who could potentially vote to install a Republican House Speaker, but it wouldn’t be current the current GOP nominee for the post, Ohio Congressman Jim Jordan.
Speaking with The Illinoize after a speech to the City Club of Chicago Monday, Budzinski said the paralyzation in the House is hurting Congress’ ability to address major upcoming issues.
“This is not a good time for a complete mess,” Budzinski said, referring to the expiration of government funding in November along with ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Israel and the continued crisis on the southern border. “We need a leader to get on with the work of the people. But the type of leadership does matter, too.”
Jordan, the founder of the right-wing Freedom Caucus and one of Donald Trump’s most vociferous allies in attempting to overturn the 2020 election, will attempt to get enough votes to become Speaker sometime today. Though, Jordan was denied the gavel on his first attempt Monday after numerous GOP holdouts refused to vote for him. Jordan has vowed to continue to attempt to win the vote.
If the controversial figure becomes Speaker of the House, Budzinski said she wouldn’t regret her vote on the motion to vacate that removed McCarthy because, she says, he backed out a debt ceiling compromise earlier this year that imposed spending cuts to push for larger cuts to appease his most conservative members.
But, if the fight continues, Budzinski says she’s willing to team up with Republicans to nominate a consensus GOP candidate.
“I would be supportive of a bipartisan arrangement with a moderate Republican,” Budzinski said, not specifically identifying any GOP members she could get behind. “It is someone who would abide by the compromise we’ve already reached, a two year spending freeze, work requirements added to SNAP. That was an agreement that then-Speaker McCarthy made with President Biden. A speaker that would keep that commitment is something that I would be looking for.”
It isn’t clear, though, how many Democrats would be willing to make such a deal.
Budzinski says she’s concerned what would happen if Jordan does manage to win enough votes to claim the Speakership.
“If it ends up being Congressman Jordan, I am very afraid of the extreme that he will represent within that conference and the leadership that will come out of that,” she said.