Molinaro says debate over House Speaker needed was healthy for Congress

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POUGHKEEPSIE – After four days of voting, the House of Representatives elected California Republica Kevin McCarthy as Speaker of the House for the 118th Congress.  The election required 15 different ballots which is the most in 164 years.  McCarthy’s bid was originally blocked by 20 hardline conservative Congressmen.  After lengthy negotiations, McCarthy was able to win a majority of them over to win the election.

Until the Speaker was elected, no other business could take place in the House of Representatives, including the administering of the oath of office to each of the members.  Marc Molinaro (NY-19) did not take his oath until early Saturday morning before returning to New York to speak at a ceremony for State Senator Rob Rolison.

Molinaro, the freshman Republican Congressman told Mid-Hudson News that the first four days in Washington did not go as he had planned but the process was healthy.  “Despite the time it took, don’t mistake it for wasted time,” noting that “There are ideological differences within the majority but they were confronted very early.”

Molinaro said that Congress can now get on with the work they were sent to do.  “Americans want us to work on driving down costs, protecting and securing communities, the safety and security at our borders, energy independence, and education.”

Expressing little frustration about the process, the longtime public servant said “This is what democracy sometimes looks like and the differences of opinions were aired out in full view of the public,” adding “The American people delivered a divided government and that means we’re always going to have our differences and sometimes that means we’re going to air them out in public – rightfully so.”

The members of the House of Representatives are slated to vote on its rules package on Monday.




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