To mark International Woman’s Day, U.S. House Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) was given the speaker’s gavel. She opened the House this morning as “Speaker pro tempore”.
This was the first time Greene has filled in for Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (R-CA). Greene took to the floor of the House, gaveled, and announced, “The House will be in order”.
Former U.S. Rep Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) was bothered by Greene gaveling in the House, he made sure to try to minimize the moment.
“Here’s a funny truth: presiding over the house is NOT something most people want to do. It’s typically a chore reserved for Freshmen… then they tweet about it like it’s a powerful thing. Most turn down the ask to preside. I was required to twice. I only did twice.”
Kinzinger decided against running to keep his seat after he came out strongly against former President Donald Trump. Kinzinger along with Liz Cheney sat on the January 6th committee and along with all the Democrats on the committee targeted the former president.
This move to make Greene Speaker pro tempore on International Women’s Day was seen by many as a statement that symbolized her comeback. Former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) took her off all committees for some of her controversial statements.
With Republicans taking control of the House Greene has been placed back on committees and seems to have gained some influence within the Republican party.
After opening the floor Greene left to attend a hearing of the COVID-19 select committee.
Greene has been criticized for chumming up with McCarthy however. When many of her “America First” friends in congress opposed a McCarthy speakership, Greene bashed them and stuck by McCarthy, not participating in what ended up being a way to get concessions from McCarthy for the more nationalist wing of the GOP.
