RUFUS - As voting got underway in the House at 2:00 AM, newly-minted House Speaker Matthew Carrington ordered his first session of Congress as the new Speaker Of The House, where the House voted on several bills including the 2024 Wasteful Government Spending Prevention Act, which didn't pass during the first round of voting. A second round is expected to take place by noon today.

Speaker Carrington is currently serving without a Deputy Speaker, while Speaker Pro Tempore Yolanda Upton returns to her role following Carrington's election to the Speakership. Due to continuity reasons, Yolanda Upton is serving as an "unofficial Deputy Speaker," until the speaker can appoint his next Deputy. Several names have been thrown around including Representative Braden Harris who served as Speaker of the House from 2019 to 2022. Other names include Representatives Nolan Burmaster, Fredrick DeMont, David Haitus, and David Killkrest. These men are being weighed and we can expect to learn who he has chosen later this afternoon.

"I know the Deputy Speaker is the second in charge of the House when the Speaker is not President," said Speaker Carrington. "It is therefore pertinent to get the right person in the seat. It is also important that my decision isn't rushed. I will announce who I will select to serve as my Deputy later this afternoon. I thank the House for this honor to serve as the Speaker and I know we will able to accomplish a lot together.