Republicans 'need to hit rock bottom': Dem says talks on possible speaker compromise are 'quietly happening'

13 October 2023

Rep. Annie Kuster (D-NH) on Friday said discussions between Democrats and Republicans regarding a potential compromise for House speaker are “quietly happening,” according to The Messenger reporter Stephen Neukam.

“‘I think they (Republican) need to hit rock bottom,’ Kuster said,” Neukam wrote on X.

The latest development comes after Democrats unanimously joined 8 Republicans earlier this month to oust former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA). Last week, Time reported that despite talks suggesting a potential deal with Democrats to save McCarthy prior to his ouster, the former speaker “ultimately refused to offer members of the opposition party any concessions, leaving Democrats united against him.”

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But some Republicans, anxious for a path forward, appear interested in engaging with Democrats.

Bloomberg on Thursday reported that Armed Services Chairman Mike Rogers (R-AL) “suggested Republicans might have to cut a deal with Democrats and called on [House Minority Leader Hakeem] Jeffries (D-NY) to spell out what concessions he would require to help the GOP elect a speaker.”

“[Democrats] put us in this ditch along with eight traitors,” Rogers said. “We’re still the majority party, we’re willing to work with them, but they gotta tell us what they need.”"

According to Bloomberg, while “Jeffries has offered discussions on a bipartisan path forward,” Rogers complained Democrats “haven’t offered jack” in terms of specific demands to nominate a speaker.

READ MORE: 'A bunch of idiots': GOP rep challenging Jordan for speaker rages at colleagues who 'like to go on TV'

House Republicans are currently holding a closed door meeting where they’re expected to hear from Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) and challenger Rep. Austin Scott (R-GA).

Scott on Thursday criticized the process and his colleagues, some of whom, “like to go on the TV and are not necessarily negotiating for anything other than TV time.”

“It makes us look like a bunch of idiots,” Scott told CNN’s Manu Raju.

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