TL/DR –
Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz plans to vote to remove Speaker Kevin McCarthy as a consequence of his support for a bipartisan stopgap funding bill. Gaetz argued that the stopgap legislation did not include border security provisions or broader spending cuts, which some Republicans had demanded and which McCarthy had previously supported. The move has the potential to halt all legislative business in the House until a new Speaker is chosen.
Rep. Matt Gaetz Plans Vote to Remove Speaker Kevin McCarthy
Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz announced his plans to hold a vote this week to remove Speaker Kevin McCarthy for backing a bipartisan funding bill to avoid a partial government shutdown. Gaetz, a known McCarthy critic, criticized his leadership during spending fights.
He stated, “Kevin McCarthy, at one point or another, has lied to all of us,” highlighting the dissatisfaction with McCarthy’s decisions, including support for the stopgap legislation that lacked border security provisions or broader spending cuts.
Government Funding and Vote Results
The temporary bill, passed on Saturday hours before the government ran out of funds, funds the government through mid-November. All Democrats but one and 126 Republicans approved the bill, while 90 Republicans voted against it. McCarthy, aiming to downplay the threat to his position, invited challengers against him via a motion to vacate.
Due to Republicans’ five-seat majority, a small group of detractors could potentially remove McCarthy from his leadership role, impacting legislative work in the House. Gaetz pledged his unwavering commitment to his cause, regardless of the vote’s outcome.
Democrats’ Stand on the Vote
Democratic lawmaker, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, stated she would vote to remove McCarthy as he had “clearly lost control”. Other Democrats may vote “present” on a motion to vacate, easing McCarthy’s path to victory.
Despite lacking a clear replacement for McCarthy, Gaetz believes there are many talented individuals in the conference. He did not rule out the possibility of Majority Leader Steve Scalise as a potential replacement.
Criticisms and Rebuttals
New York Rep. Mike Lawler, a moderate Republican, described Gaetz’s position as “delusional”. Gaetz defended his stance, stating that his efforts were not personal but rooted in McCarthy’s failure to deliver on promises, particularly in terms of pursuing broad spending cuts and rejecting funding through continuing resolutions.
He also rebutted criticism for not supporting an earlier funding bill that included spending cuts, justifying that it wasn’t backed by the Senate and would be vetoed by President Biden. Gaetz advocated for the necessity of compromise in the divided Washington while emphasizing the importance of single-subject spending bills.
Read More US News