Lawmaker Tom Emmer Throws Hat in Ring for House Speaker Role

Congressman Tom Emmer (R-Minn.), who's sponsored a fig of crypto-related bills implicit the past fewer years and is simply a co-chair of the Congressional Blockchain Caucus, said Saturday he's making a bid for the vacant Speaker of the House position.

The Speaker of the House runs the House of Representatives, scheduling votes and moving legislation. Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) took connected the relation earlier this year, but was ousted earlier this month. Democrat Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) was the erstwhile Speaker, until her enactment mislaid the bulk successful the 2022 election.

An idiosyncratic acquainted with the substance told CoinDesk that Emmer, who's currently the bulk whip – meaning he's the second-highest ranking subordinate of the House Republican caucus – was making calls for the Speaker connected Friday.

Emmer has sponsored authorities that would make crypto-specific definitions for however tokens mightiness acceptable into existing securities frameworks, arsenic good arsenic to block the issuance of a cardinal slope integer currency. He's signed onto letters and different initiatives likewise pushing clarity for the crypto industry.

The relation has been vacant for implicit 2 weeks, aft Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) mislaid a question to vacate sponsored by a subordinate of his ain party, Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.).

Two candidates person already failed to unafraid capable votes to triumph the speakership – Congressmen Steve Scalise (R-La.) and Jim Jordan (R-Ohio). Jordan's bid ended earlier Friday aft helium mislaid a 3rd ballot successful the House (and past a concealed caucus vote). A fistful of different lawmakers are besides running for the position, though the House won't ballot connected immoderate different candidates until adjacent week.

Congressman Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.), the seat of the House Financial Services Committee and Speaker Pro Tempore aft McCarthy's ouster, acceptable a tentative Tuesday greeting vote. Republican candidates person to corroborate their bids by Sunday, and volition conscionable Monday to contiguous their respective cases.