Kiggans reveals why she voted against Jordan

Rep. Jen Kiggans (R-Va.) revealed yesterday evening why she voted against Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) for Speaker of the House. But in her statement she revealed much else, and perhaps more than she would have, had she thought it through. For she definitely articulated the RINO ideology, such as it is, if anyone could give it a sincere defense.

Jen Kiggans speaks

Jen Kiggans issued this statement explaining why she voted against Jordan. In essence, her rationale for being a Member of Congress differs markedly from Jordan’s. She outlined two primary concerns:

• Funding of the defense budget, which she regards as inadequate (but will not say what level would be adequate), and
• Whether leveraging a government shutdown was right or proper to win spending and other concessions from a Democratic White House.

Jen Kiggans does not support leveraging a shutdown.

She went on to support the notion of granting to Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.), Speaker pro tempore, the full authority of a Speaker. McHenry’s authority extends to choosing another Speaker – and no further. He has in fact said he would sooner resign than take on such powers on an interim basis.

Furthermore, Kiggans criticized Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) and his allies for moving to vacate the Chair “without a plan to control the chaos that followed.” Then she said she had a plan – the details of which she did not specify – to:

• Avoid a government shutdown (the implication being she would do so at all costs),
• Secure the border, and
• Support the State of Israel in the Fourth Arab-Israeli War.

Again, her statement was long on what but not on how. Nor did she even hint at which of the six or eight current Speaker candidates she would support.

A bad reputation

Jen Kiggans did not address recent revelations that she and twelve other “noes” took money from the scandal-ridden FTX firm.

Her concern abou the defense budget could reflect her Navy experience. She spent ten years in the Navy, piloting helicopters and fulfilling other roles in various commands. But she never held a line command other than piloting a helicopter, if one can call that a command. The closest she came to a line command was as Assistant Chief Operations Officer.

Jen Kiggans does not show up at all on the detailed listing of politicians who trade stocks by Unusual Whales.

Herewith her full statement:

After failing to win the votes of a majority of House Members on the Floor and failing to earn the support of 112 of the 221 Members of our Republican Conference this afternoon, it’s clear that Congressman Jordan was not the right person to unite our Republican Majority. During our three votes on the Floor of the U.S. House, I did not support Congressman Jordan. Our world becomes more dangerous by the day. During my multiple conversations with Congressman Jordan, he could not commit to – at a minimum – keeping our defense budget at current levels, which I believe are already inadequate. Additionally, my concerns that a government shutdown could be used for leverage were not addressed.

I remain supportive of empowering the Speaker Pro Tempore Patrick McHenry so that we can get back to the people’s work while we reunify and refocus our Republican Conference. Unlike my eight Republican colleagues – who voted with every Democrat to vacate the Speaker without a plan to control the chaos that followed – my plan will allow us to get back to work on avoiding a government shutdown, securing our border, and supporting our ally Israel.

I’d like to thank Congressman Jordan for stepping up to run for this important position and graciously withdrawing his candidacy when there was no path forward for him. We both share conservative values our country needs and I look forward to seeing him continue his important work as the Chairman of the Judiciary Committee.

I came to Congress to fight for Virginia’s Second District, which is a unique part of our Commonwealth. That will never change.

Update

Jake Sherman dropped this post naming nine Representatives now in the running to be Speaker of the House: