House Republicans flailed through a long second day of fruitless balloting Wednesday, unable to either elect their leader Kevin McCarthy as House speaker or come up with a new strategy to end the political chaos that has tarnished the start of their new majority.
Yet McCarthy wasn't giving up, even after the fourth, fifth and sixth ballots produced no better outcome and he was left trying to call off a night-time session. Even that was controversial, as the House voted 216-214 amid shouting and crowding to adjourn for the night.
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What happens if a House has no speaker?
Without a speaker, the House cannot fully form as the speaker is the chamber's presiding officer and the institution’s administrative head. Without a speaker to oversee the adoption of rules, House Rules will technically not exist.
If a House Rules package isn't approved by January 13, committees won't be able to pay staff. Also if the rules package isn't adopted by mid-January, student loan payments for committee staff wouldn’t be disbursed
Until a speaker is elected and sworn into office, swearing in of members, naming committee chairs, engaging in floor proceedings and launching oversight investigations will be delayed. There will be little legislating since there won't be any committees to amend and approve bills before they are put to the floor for a vote.
--With PTI inputs
