All articles tagged with #speaker kevin mccarthy
The House Republicans who ousted Speaker Kevin McCarthy are facing the consequences of their actions, as their preferred replacement, Jim Jordan, lost another floor vote. Some dissenters are still upset about the treatment of McCarthy and Steve Scalise, while others believe Jordan is too extreme to be the party's frontman. Half of the Republicans in districts carried by President Biden in 2020 voted against Jordan.
Republican Congressman Matt Gaetz of Florida gained national attention for his role in the historic vote that removed Speaker Kevin McCarthy from his position. Despite facing criticism from fellow Republicans, Gaetz remains defiant and believes his actions are necessary to get Congress back on track. While his disruptive tactics have earned him a reputation as a political firebrand, Gaetz enjoys strong support from his constituents in his heavily Republican district. However, some conservatives have questioned his effectiveness in delivering results. Gaetz's combative and conservative style aligns with the current strain of Republican politics, and he has been a staunch ally of former President Donald Trump. Although Gaetz has no interest in becoming Speaker himself, his actions have raised speculation about his future political ambitions, potentially including a run for governor.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries is considering using a procedural move called a discharge petition to force a short-term spending patch onto the House floor, even if Speaker Kevin McCarthy does not allow it. This comes after a group of 21 GOP hardliners helped sink their own party's short-term spending bill. A short-term bill, known as a continuing resolution (CR), is the most likely option to avoid a government shutdown. Jeffries said all options are on the table, including the discharge petition, to prevent a shutdown. Moderate Republicans have signaled they would be open to joining the discharge petition if all other options were exhausted, but Jeffries expressed skepticism. House Democrats would need a few GOP lawmakers to sign onto the petition to secure a majority.
The passage of a measure to prevent a government shutdown is at risk as conservative opposition within the GOP threatens its approval. At least eight House Republicans are against or leaning against the short-term funding stopgap, and with Democrats expected to universally oppose it, Republicans can only afford to lose four votes. The opposition comes despite the looming expiration of government funding on Saturday night, increasing the likelihood of a government shutdown. Speaker Kevin McCarthy's efforts to fund the government and unite his party are undermined by the conservative pushback.
House Republicans failed to start debate on a military funding bill as five conservative rebels blocked the measure over demands for additional spending cuts, causing another public embarrassment for Speaker Kevin McCarthy and House Republicans. With a government shutdown looming, moderate Republicans warned that pragmatists would work with Democrats to keep the government funded, criticizing their colleagues for being unable or unwilling to govern. Despite reported progress and a new strategy proposed by McCarthy, it remains uncertain if House Republicans can pass a short-term funding bill that can also get through the Democratic-controlled Senate and earn President Joe Biden's signature before the Sept. 30 deadline.
House Democrats are privately discussing whether to save Speaker Kevin McCarthy from a potential right-wing revolt that could cost him his job. While no decisions have been made, some moderate Democrats are willing to cut a deal with McCarthy if he meets their demands. The Democrats' asking price for saving McCarthy's speakership is a bipartisan deal to avoid a government shutdown, which McCarthy is not yet prepared to take. If McCarthy's position is threatened with a motion to vacate and there are five Republicans backing it, Democrats would have a major role in deciding McCarthy's fate. However, any Democratic help would come at a cost, as they don't want to be seen as saving McCarthy, especially after he launched an impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell warns that government shutdowns have always been a political disadvantage for Republicans, as Congress faces a September 30 deadline to keep the government open. McConnell supports Speaker Kevin McCarthy's efforts to avoid a shutdown and hopes the House can pass a short-term funding bill. However, with opposition from hard-line conservatives and conservative policy provisions, the bill is unlikely to pass the Senate. A shutdown at the end of the month appears increasingly likely.
House Republicans are in open warfare over a spending plan brokered by Rep. Byron Donalds, with more than a dozen Republicans, mostly from the conservative Freedom Caucus, publicly opposing the plan. Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who can only afford to lose a handful of votes, is caught in the middle of a full-on House Republican rebellion. The internal revolt is bigger than a clash between centrist and right-wing factions, as even the Freedom Caucus is divided. McCarthy is facing criticism from both sides, with some conservatives threatening to oust him if he relies on Democratic votes to avoid a shutdown. With just 12 days left, McCarthy has no viable plan to keep the government open without risking his own position.