1.   The House vote on electing a speaker is traditionally on party lines.

2.   We now have Congressman Forbes, who has clearly said he will not elect the speaker.

3.   And while the House must elect a speaker every two years, the only competitive races occur with a political sea change.

4.   In its first day of business, the new Communist-dominated Parliament concentrated on procedures to elect a speaker.

5.   Laney said he expects any speaker would be elected by a bi-partisan coalition.

6.   Later, he said he planned to step down at various times during the session if elected speaker.

7.   Parliament meets Wednesday to elect a speaker of the House of Commons, currently Labour legislator Betty Boothroyd, and to swear in legislators.

8.   Republicans will now focus on trying to change the rules to allow the party in the majority to elect the speaker.

9.   Speakers are elected at the start of each two-year term, and in some respects it is more difficult to replace one midterm.

10.   The Assembly cannot conduct other business until it elects a speaker.