North Central College in the News
North Central College political science professor interviewed on WGN-TV
Jan 30, 2023
Suzanne Chod discussed the controversy of the new Speaker of the House election
House Republicans’ failure to elect a speaker after days of voting froze business in the chamber in early January—and GOP members warned that the initial impasse has implications on national security-related briefings and oversight. The speaker position is traditionally filled on the first day of a new Congress, followed by the swearing-in of members. But when the floor fight over Kevin McCarthy’s speakership bid having spilled into multiple days—members-elect took a while before they took the oath of office.
Suzanne Chod, professor of political science at North Central College, interviewed with WGN-TV, where she discussed the controversial start to the new Congress and its long-term implications.
“I would say it’s not all that surprising given the fracture within the Republican Party over the last couple of years and how that has intensified since the poor showing of further right Republicans in the 2022 midterms,” said Chod. “Kevin McCarthy has always had a difficult job wrangling in the freedom caucus and I think that is what is particularly troubling about the situation. Those 20 or so members and maybe five or six that will never put their weight towards potential Speaker McCarthy results in a paralysis right now and is so indicative of what legislating might look like in this very slim majority. This isn’t a smart strategic move as this new majority is getting its legs underway, and what signal does that send to the American people if they can’t even get over this first hurdle to get to actual legislating.”
