Steve Scalise dares reluctant GOP to vote against him: 'Let's have this in full view'

Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA) issued a challenge before going into a closed Republican Party caucus meeting on the upcoming vote for speaker of the House.

The Louisiana Republican won the GOP nomination for the post, but he's facing what ousted House speaker Kevin McCarthy calls "a big hill" to reach the 217 votes he needs to claim the gavel.

Despite this, Scalise vowed he wouldn't give up concessions to win the job, reported Punchbowl News founder Jake Sherman.

"Members still want to talk through a number of things about the direction of the conference," Scalise said. "We’re going to do that … No side deals … let’s have this in full view of everybody. No side deals. No secret meetings.”

More than a dozen GOP lawmakers have said they would not vote for Scalise, and he may have additional holdouts.

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