Marjorie Taylor Greene says she won’t back Steve Scalise for speaker because he has blood cancer and would ‘sacrifice his health’
Marjorie Taylor Greene says she won’t support Steve Scalise for speaker because he has blood cancer and would ‘sacrifice his health’
- I like Steve Scalise, and I like him so much that I’d rather see him beat cancer than sacrifice his health in the toughest position in Congress,’ she said
- Until Greene’s posting on X, concerns about Scalise’s health affecting his ability to lead the House had spread only in whispers
Marjorie Taylor Greene, a firefighter from Georgia, said she will not vote for Steve Scalise for speaker β even though he is the GOP choice β because he is battling blood cancer.
She said she will continue to support Rep. Jim Jordan to vote on the House floor β despite Jordan dropping out of the race after losing 99-113 in a Republican conference vote.
“I like Steve Scalise, and I like him so much that I’d rather see him beat cancer than sacrifice his health in the toughest position in Congress,” Greene wrote on X.
Georgia firefighter Marjorie Taylor Greene said she won’t vote for Steve Scalise for speaker β even though he’s the GOP pick β because he’s battling blood cancer.
“I lost my father to cancer and it’s a very serious battle,” she continued. ‘We need a Speaker who can put all their efforts into defeating the communist democrats and saving America.’
Until Greene’s posting on X, concerns about Scalise’s health affecting his ability to lead the House circulated only in whispers.
In September, Scalise was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a treatable form of blood cancer.
Greene is one of an unprecedented number of Republicans who do not intend to vote for Scalise on the House floor β which could complicate the path to electing a House speaker and getting congressional business back on track. Last week she was against the expulsion of Kevin McCarthy.
In September, Scalise was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a treatable form of blood cancer
Republicans only have a four-vote majority and can only afford to lose a few votes and still push through a speaker.
Rep. Carlos Gimenez, R-Fla., said he would vote for ousted Kevin McCarthy on the floor – Reps. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., Bob Good, R-Va., and Max Miller, R-Ohio, said they would continue to vote for Jordan despite his loss.
The Libertarian-leaning Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., told reporters he was still “very reluctant” to vote for Scalise on the House floor and predicted that about 20 Republicans could refuse to vote for the Louisiana Republican on the House floor.
Some other members did not want to rush the vote to the House floor – and did not want Scalise to take their vote for granted without concessions.
“It’s about not rushing to the floor to vote,” said Rep. Freedom Caucus member Chip Roy, R-Texas, told reporters. ‘Just to make it very clear if you rush to this floor, I am a resounding no. So we’ll go and have some talks now.’