Patrick McHenry is now the Speaker Pro Tem of the House, because Kevin McCarthy put him first on the list of replacements in the event of McCarthy being unable to act as Speaker, or being removed.
McHenry’s first action yesterday was to order Speaker Emerita Pelosi out of her “hideaway office”—an office near the floor that has been traditionally provided to former Speakers. (Pelosi provided former Speaker Hastert with such an office.)
As ‘acting Speaker,’ McHenry’s authority seems to be spelled out (hazily) and limited by the House Rules. In particular, Rule 1, Section 8, 3A tells us:
(3)(A) In the case of a vacancy in the Office of Speaker, the next Member on the list described in subdivision (B) shall act as Speaker pro tempore until the election of a Speaker or a Speaker pro tempore. Pending such election the Member acting as Speaker pro tempore may exercise such authorities of the Office of Speaker as may be necessary and appropriate to that end. [Highlighting mine]
The eviction of Pelosi is neither necessary nor appropriate. McHenry is acting well beyond his authority. I urge Dems to demand an end to this vindictiveness and hyper-partisanship, highlighting how things have worked before.
I believe a motion to vacate the Speakership will fail on a party-line vote. Nonetheless, I believe a shot across the bow is due.