WASHINGTON, D.C. – October 7, 2015 (Gephardt Daily) — Rep. Mia Love has spoken out in favor of Utah’s 3rd District Congressman Rep. Jason Chaffetz’ bid for Speaker of the House of Representatives.
“The House of Representatives was designed to be closest to the people,” Love (R., Utah) said in a press release. “I believe the Speaker of the House should be committed to raising the voice of the hardworking people who make this country great.
“With my vote for Speaker of the House, I want to put Utah first, and have someone whose priority is to vote on behalf of the people of Utah’s 4th district—who I live with and represent. That’s why I’m supporting Rep. Jason Chaffetz. If chosen, Jason would raise Utah’s voice in Washington in a most powerful way.”
House Republicans will vote for a new speaker Thursday, October 8.
Love added: “When it comes to other leadership positions, I am determined to explore every possibility and not be content to accept the status quo as the only option. I remain in support of Rep. Trey Gowdy, R-South Carolina for Majority leader, and hope he will consider getting in the race.”
Chaffetz, (R., Utah) current chairman of the U.S. House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, made the announcement on “Fox News Sunday” on October 4.
The four term Utah congressman hopes to fill the position left by long time speaker John Boehner (R., Ohio). Boehner announced in September he’ll be stepping down October 31.
It had long been expected House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R., California) would succeed Boehner, but recent statements by McCarthy linking Hillary Clinton’s sliding poll numbers to a congressional inquiry of Benghazi embassy attack have drawn sharp fire from both sides of the aisle.
Democrats say McCarthy’s statements are proof the Benghazi hearings are a political witch hunt designed to derail Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign.
Republican critics, including Chaffetz, say McCarthy’s statements have not only undercut the hearings’ legitimacy, but have also called into question McCarthy’s leadership abilities.
“I’m very supportive of Kevin McCarthy,” Chaffetz said Thursday on MSNBC, “but those statements are just absolutely inappropriate, they should be withdrawn.”
McCarthy’s office issued a statement denying the hearings were merely political, but the damage may have already been done.
“I think the American public wants to see a change,” Chaffetz said Sunday on FOX News. “They want a fresh start. You don’t just give an automatic promotion to the existing leadership team. That doesn’t signal change. I think they want a fresh face and a fresh new person who is actually there at the leadership table in the speaker’s role.”
Chaffetz also said he was also poised to salve the ideological wounds within the GOP’s congressional ranks.
“That’s why I’m offering myself as a candidate,” Chaffetz said, “to try to bridge that divide. I’m a fair, even-balanced person, that can bridge the divide between our more centrist members and some of our more right wing members.”
