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On Monday, Matt Gaetz took a significant step in attempting to remove Speaker Kevin McCarthy from his top House leadership position. Gaetz put forth a motion on the House floor to vacate McCarthy’s chair, a rare procedural maneuver that could lead to a vote for his removal.
The outcome of this challenge to McCarthy remains uncertain, but it represents the most serious threat to his speakership thus far. To succeed in a floor vote, a majority would need to support the motion. Following the announcement, McCarthy responded with a defiant message, saying “Bring it on,” while Gaetz expressed his readiness with a succinct “Just did.”
Gaetz’s Statement
Gaetz, a Florida Republican who frequently criticized McCarthy, had been advocating for the removal of the speaker through the congressional procedure of vacating the chair. This procedure grants any member the authority to call for a new speaker election, although GOP leadership possesses several options to impede or delay such an attempt.
Gaetz informed reporters after filing the motion that he had sufficient support among Republicans. He stated that by the following week, one of two outcomes would occur: either Kevin McCarthy would no longer hold the position of Speaker of the House, or he would continue as Speaker, but in a capacity influenced by the Democrats. Gaetz expressed contentment with either possibility, emphasizing that it was essential for the American people to be aware of who was in charge of governing.
The announcement was made two days after the House passed a stopgap spending bill to extend government funding until 17 November, avoiding a shutdown that could have left hundreds of thousands of federal workers without pay. Both the House and the Senate passed the bill, referred to as a continuing resolution, with strong bipartisan support before Joe Biden signed it into law late on Saturday evening.
Gaetz had previously cautioned that he would take action to remove McCarthy if the speaker collaborated with Democrats to keep the government operational. He carried out this threat on Monday evening by introducing a motion to vacate the chair. As a result, House leadership will need to schedule a vote on the matter within two legislative days.
Following his highly anticipated move on the House floor, Gaetz spontaneously held a press conference. During this conference, he acknowledged the possibility of his endeavor failing, at least initially. “I think that’s the likely outcome,” Gaetz stated. However, by not ruling out the potential for multiple attempts to oust McCarthy, Gaetz foresaw the potential for increasing support. He believed that the initial vote to remove McCarthy would serve as a starting point rather than a definitive conclusion.
McCarthy’s Fate
The extent of Republican support for Gaetz’s effort to remove McCarthy remains uncertain, but at least one other conservative lawmaker, Eli Crane of Arizona, has indicated his backing for the motion. In the hours leading up to Gaetz’s announcement, House Republican leaders publicly expressed their support for McCarthy.
Steve Scalise, the House majority leader, emphasized, “We have a lot of work to do. Now is not the time for distractions.” He reaffirmed his commitment to collaborating with McCarthy and the entire leadership team on priorities such as budget reduction, border security, and advocating for hardworking Americans.
When asked about his preference for a replacement for McCarthy, Gaetz mentioned, “I hold Steve Scalise in very high regard. I would support Steve Scalise,” along with several other Republicans. Currently, Scalise holds the position of House majority leader, which is the second-highest role in the chamber.
This move signifies a substantial escalation in the ongoing tensions within the House GOP conference, which has been grappling with internal conflicts. If McCarthy were to be removed from his position, it could potentially throw the conference into disarray. This development comes as a group of conservative House members has consistently opposed McCarthy, voting against key GOP leadership priorities and repeatedly obstructing the speaker’s agenda.
It’s worth noting that no House speaker has ever been removed through a resolution, but the threat of using a “motion to vacate” can be a potent tool for exerting pressure on a speaker.
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