According to reports, U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Saks) is leading a charge to make an unprecedented move to work with his counterparts on the other side of the aisle to elect a new House Speaker.
Earlier this month, U.S. Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) was ousted from the post after U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) successfully pushed his motion to vacate. That left a void the House GOP has been unable to fill in the days since.
Rogers told reporters last week that House Republicans may be forced to broker a deal with their Democrat colleagues because, assuming Democrats remain united, Republicans can only afford to lose four votes.
U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) has signaled a willingness to form a coalition with so-called moderate Republicans. Jeffries called on those potential Republicans to break with "MAGA extremism" to create the bipartisan coalition in a recent Washington Post oped.
According to a Bloomberg News report, Rogers called on Jeffries to "spell out" the terms of a deal to have Democrats help elect a speaker.
"They put us in this ditch along with eight traitors," Rogers said to Bloomberg, referring to the eight who voted to oust McCarthy as "traitors." "We're still the majority party, we're willing to work with them, but they gotta tell us what they need."
Rogers' plea has caught the attention of many political watchers, given that he chairs the House Armed Services Committee.
His actions have also drawn the ire of some conservatives for not backing the House Republican caucus' nominee, U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio).
Jeff Poor is the editor in chief of 1819 News and host of "The Jeff Poor Show," heard Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-noon on Mobile's FM Talk 106.5. To connect or comment, email jeff.poor@1819News.com or follow him on Twitter @jeff_poor.
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