117th House Opening Sessions Thread - January 3&4

[Attorney General & LGC Deputy Dwarven Dragon]

Well, it's time to dispose of the old house and bring forth the new House. Will Nancy Pelosi keep her job as Speaker? We'll soon find out. Here's the schedule for the opening of the 117th House (all times eastern):

10 AM Jan 3:  The old house (116th) meets briefly. They will complete any last minute business and then adjourn sine die.

12 PM Jan 3: The 117th House convenes:

-  There will first be a quorum call, to establish that a majority of members are present. Usually, this means everyone crowds the chamber, complete with former members and various other guests. Not this time, because all hail the pandemic. Instead, Freshmen are only allowed one guest ticket, and returning members aren't allowed any. No other non-members on the floor except essential staff. Members have been asked to come in, electronically record their presence, and then go somewhere else until the Speaker Vote.

- Following the quorum call, we will have the Speaker election. There will be nomination speeches for Pelosi and Kevin McCarthy, and other nominations are possible too. Then the vote begins. Except, not like usual, because the pandemic. Rather than everyone all in the room at once, members will be called in by groups to announce their vote. The threshold to win is the same though - a majority of the votes cast.

- If no one obtains a majority (plurality is insufficient), the House would re-vote until someone does.

- Members can vote for anyone, even for those who were not nominated and/or aren't a member of the US House.

- Abstentions, "Present", and Absences do not count as votes. A majority of the votes cast for someone by name is sufficient. The threshold will be no higher than 217, because of vacancies in NY-22 and LA-5. If members are gone, etc., the threshold may come down.

- Republicans are expected to vote for Kevin McCarthy

- Most Democrats are expected to vote for Pelosi. However, keep an eye on the 10 who didn't do so last time and are still House Dems:

Golden*
Sherrill (Voted Present)
Spanberger (Voted Present)
Crow
Kind
Lamb*
Schrader
Rice (NY)
Cooper
Slotkin (Voted Present)

During the vote, I'll be adding a * to anyone on the list that doesn't vote for Pelosi. I'll also add any other Dem Defections.

- It is more likely than not that Pelosi has the votes. But if there are sufficient absences/defections, a second ballot would result. Perhaps this would mean some other dem ends up as speaker, if it's clear Pelosi can't obtain a majority of the votes cast. In the worst possible scenario, Kevin McCarthy ends up as Speaker, though that's highly unlikely.

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Following the election of a speaker, the second place finisher will introduce the winner, who will then take the gavel, give a brief address, and then take the oath of office. Then the oath will be administered to members by groups - again, all hail the pandemic.

The day will conclude with some busy work resolutions to elect the clerk and chaplain and inform the Senate and President that the house has convened. This is done by voice vote and will finish quickly.  

Until a speaker is decided upon, the clerk of the 116th House leads all proceedings.
----

10 AM Jan 4: The House will debate and approve its rules package. Text:
https://rules.house.gov/sites/democrats.rules.house.gov/files/BILLS-117hresPIH-hres7.pdf

Please note that until a rules package is adopted, proxy voting will not be allowed. Members will attend the Jan. 3&4 sessions in person and cannot participate by other means.


Discuss all proceedings here.

General info:
https://www.majorityleader.gov/content/weekly-leader-friday-january-1-2021
https://www.majorityleader.gov/content/daily-leader-sunday-january-3-2021
https://www.rollcall.com/2020/12/31/house-prepares-for-an-opening-day-unlike-any-other/
https://www.majorityleader.gov/content/daily-leader-monday-january-4-2021

[Indy Texas 🇺🇦🇵🇸]

I've never understood the "not voting for Pelosi" kabuki theater.

Voters aren't stupid. If you're voting for a Democrat, you are voting for Nancy Pelosi to be the Speaker.

I don't recall there ever being any Republicans in Democratic-leaning districts who voted against Hastert/Boehner/Ryan.

[Attorney General & LGC Deputy Dwarven Dragon]

I've never understood the "not voting for Pelosi" kabuki theater.

Voters aren't stupid. If you're voting for a Democrat, you are voting for Nancy Pelosi to be the Speaker.

I don't recall there ever being any Republicans in Democratic-leaning districts who voted against Hastert/Boehner/Ryan.

Well the type of vote you just described didn't exist, but at least with respect to Boehner and Ryan, there were republicans who didn't vote for them, they just argued from a "not hardline enough" perspective rather than a  "not moderate enough" perspective, which is honestly more  concerning then the vote against Pelosi thing.

[Indy Texas 🇺🇦🇵🇸]

I've never understood the "not voting for Pelosi" kabuki theater.

Voters aren't stupid. If you're voting for a Democrat, you are voting for Nancy Pelosi to be the Speaker.

I don't recall there ever being any Republicans in Democratic-leaning districts who voted against Hastert/Boehner/Ryan.

Well the type of vote you just described didn't exist, but at least with respect to Boehner and Ryan, there were republicans who didn't vote for them, they just argued from a "not hardline enough" perspective rather than a  "not moderate enough" perspective, which is honestly more  concerning then the vote against Pelosi thing.

That's what I'm saying.

None of the Republicans who got elected in districts Biden won will vote against McCarthy.

Republican votes against leadership are always from the right. Democratic votes against leadership are rarely/never from the left.

Why does that kind of defection-from-the-center only happen in the Democratic caucus?

[brucejoel99]

Thanks for the comprehensive rundown, Dwarven Dragon!

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

I wonder if Trump will get any votes?

[Amenhotep Bakari-Sellers]

Tim Ryan would have been a better Speaker, it's sad that Black and Hispanic Congressial caucuses want a blue dog as Speaker than Pelosi whom is old news, I am not watching

Many AA like Tim Ryan

[Vespucci]

I've never understood the "not voting for Pelosi" kabuki theater.

Voters aren't stupid. If you're voting for a Democrat, you are voting for Nancy Pelosi to be the Speaker.

I don't recall there ever being any Republicans in Democratic-leaning districts who voted against Hastert/Boehner/Ryan.

Well the type of vote you just described didn't exist, but at least with respect to Boehner and Ryan, there were republicans who didn't vote for them, they just argued from a "not hardline enough" perspective rather than a  "not moderate enough" perspective, which is honestly more  concerning then the vote against Pelosi thing.

That's what I'm saying.

None of the Republicans who got elected in districts Biden won will vote against McCarthy.

Republican votes against leadership are always from the right. Democratic votes against leadership are rarely/never from the left.

Why does that kind of defection-from-the-center only happen in the Democratic caucus?

Pelosi has been Speaker twice and almost everyone knows who she is. McCarthy is definitely less of a household name; nobody runs ads tying House Republicans to McCarthy.

[Attorney General & LGC Deputy Dwarven Dragon]

The 116th congress has ended, and the 117th is coming into session. Quorum call beginning momentarily.

[Sir Mohamed]

Does David Perdue lose his seat for now? His term has officially expired.

[AndyHogan14]

Does David Perdue lose his seat for now? His term has officially expired.

Yes.

[Tender Branson]

Why is the quorum vote consisting of 434 votes instead of 433 ?

Was Tenney added ?

[AndyHogan14]

Why is the quorum vote consisting of 434 votes instead of 433 ?

Was Tenney added ?

LA-5 has a certificate of election, but he will (obviously) not be present to take his seat. The clerk said that there is no certificate for NY-22.

[Tender Branson]

Why is the quorum vote consisting of 434 votes instead of 433 ?

Was Tenney added ?

LA-5 has a certificate of election, but he will (obviously) not be present to take his seat. The clerk said that there is no certificate for NY-22.

Ok, thx.

[Tender Branson]

Just 5 minutes remaining and 280 members have not voted present yet ...

[Attorney General & LGC Deputy Dwarven Dragon]

Just 5 minutes remaining and 280 members have not voted present yet ...

The timer isn't actually enforced during the pandemic

[Tender Branson]

About half have voted present now.

[Tender Branson]

Some swearing-in going on in the Senate ...

[AndyHogan14]

C-SPAN said that there are 221 Democrats and 210 Republican present (431 total), so if that is true, each party has one absence and the threshold for a majority is 216.

[Skill and Chance]

C-SPAN said that there are 221 Democrats and 210 Republican present (431 total), so if that is true, each party has one absence and the threshold for a majority is 216.

The other 2 seats are NY-22 and LA-05, right?

[AndyHogan14]

C-SPAN said that there are 221 Democrats and 210 Republican present (431 total), so if that is true, each party has one absence and the threshold for a majority is 216.

The other 2 seats are NY-22 and LA-05, right?

That is correct.

[Tender Branson]

The quorum vote is still ongoing ...

426 of 431 expected to be present voted so.

5 still missing.

4 expected vacancies (3x R, 1x D)

[GeorgiaModerate]

https://twitter.com/JakeSherman/status/1345782585927098370

[Horus]

https://twitter.com/JakeSherman/status/1345782585927098370

Guessing either Good or Boebert. Outside shot at Burgess Owens.

[Tender Branson]

3 Rs and 2 Ds have not voted present yet (other than the 4 vacancies).