A member of the U.S. House of Representatives said Wednesday that Washington lobbyists are to blame for holding up the election of Representative Jim Jordan (R-OH-04) as Speaker of the House.
“Since the lobbyist (K STREET) are coming out full force AGAINST [Jordan] I know I made the right decision voting for him,” Representative Tim Burchett (R-TN-02) said Wednesday morning on Twitter/X.
Since the lobbyist (K STREET) are coming out full force AGAINST @Jim_Jordan I know I made the right decision voting for him.
— Tim Burchett (@timburchett) October 18, 2023
Burchett is the only Republican member of the U.S. House delegation from Tennessee who voted to oust former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA-20) from his position.
On Tuesday, Jordan garnered 201 votes to become the next House Speaker, with 20 Republican holdouts. A second vote was cast Wednesday, and Jordan only garnered 199 votes, with 22 Republican holdouts.
Every Democrat member of the U.S. House has voted for House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY-08) to replace McCarthy.
It is unclear exactly who Burchett was referring to in his mention of K Street lobbyists, but some of the most infamous among the firms that occupy that street in Washington are Ernst & Young, Podesta Group, and Covington & Burling.
Despite the votes against him on Tuesday and Wednesday, Jordan enjoys support from his colleagues in Tennessee, as reported by The Tennessee Star.
“Jim Jordan is the proven conservative champion that America needs as Speaker of the House and has my full support,” Representative Diana Harshbarger (R-TN-01) said on Monday. “Under his leadership, Republicans will stand united in our fight to secure our borders, rein in reckless government spending, and hold the Biden administration accountable. The Democrats’ disastrous policies are destroying our country and Republicans must support our conference’s nominee so that we can get back to work for the American People.”
“[Jim Jordan] is my good friend and a strong conservative. I was proud to vote for Jim to be our Speaker-designate last week, and I look forward to voting for him to be our Speaker on the House Floor,” said Representative Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN-03). “I urge my colleagues to unite around Jim Jordan to be the next Speaker of the House of Representatives so we can get back to work delivering for the American people.”
“I have heard from many of you over the past several days & share equally in your frustration. I’m calling on Republicans to unite & support Jim Jordan for speaker,” said Representative Scott DesJarlais (R-TN-04). “We must get back to work & apply maximum pressure to Biden to solve our border crisis & protect our citizens.”
Similar statements of support for Jordan have poured in from Representative Mark Green (R-TN-07) and Representative Andy Ogles (R-TN-05).
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Pete D’Abrosca is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Pete on X / Twitter.
Photo “Tim Burchett” by Tim Burchett.
Self serving politicians have run the US into the ground. Their deep pocketed self serving supporters have been delighted to fleece the taxpayers. Washington is broken.