Minnesota political analyst David Schultz (Hamline University)
ST. PAUL, Minn. (KFGO/WCCO) – One political scientist said the country—without a Speaker of the House—is on the verge of a constitutional crisis.
David Schultz, Professor of Political Science and Legal Studies at Hamline University, said the U.S. has only failed to elect a Speaker of the House on the first ballot 15 times. It’s been 100 years since it went on as long as it has this week, with Rep. Kevin McCarthy failing to win the necessary votes in ballot after ballot and multiple days of voting.
“Right now, we’re probably not in crisis stage,” Schultz said Thursday. “If this goes on much longer, it gets to be scary and dangerous.”
Schultz said without a Speaker, there is no House of Representatives. Not only can routine matters not pass, but in the event of an emergency – an attack or a natural disaster – Congress would not be able to pass declarations of war or appropriate money to those in need. He also said the country could suffer other consequences if this doesn’t resolve soon.
“Let’s say we needed to raise the debt limit – that’s going to be an issue that’s going to come down in a couple of months,” Schultz said. “Without Congress being able to vote on it, the U.S. could go into default.”
Schultz said the longest the votes for Speaker went on was back in the 1850s. That was 130 votes over three months.
“This is verging on a government, if not a constitutional, crisis right now in terms of our government being crippled or stalemated at this point,” Schultz said.
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