POLITICS
Matt Gaetz Files Motion To Oust Kevin McCarthy As House Speaker
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Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) on Monday evening took to the House floor to announce a motion to vacate the chair, forcing a vote on whether to keep Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) as Speaker of the House.
McCarthy struggled to unite House Republicans behind a budget deal to avoid a government shutdown, as the more conservative flank pushed for deep domestic spending cuts and objected to sending more aid to Ukraine.
McCarthy won the speakership in January after a drawn out battle and multiple rounds of voting, which Gaetz noted in his announcement.
On this very floor in January, the whole world witnessed a historic contest for House Speaker, Gaetz said.
I rise today to serve notice. Mr. Speaker, you are out of compliance with the agreement that allowed you to assume this role. The path forward for the House of Representatives is to either bring you into immediate total compliance or remove you, pursuant to a motion to vacate the chair, Gaetz said.
I know that Washington isnt a town where people are known for keeping their word. Speaker McCarthy, Im here to hold you to yours, Gaetz said.
On Saturday, McCarthy put forward a clean continuing resolution, or CR, to keep the government funded at current levels until Nov. 17, while negotiations continue on the full year budget. The move came after multiple failed attempts to pass spending packages that would appease conservatives, but would be dead on arrival in the Democratic-led Senate.
The CR passed the in the House with 209 Democratic votes and 125 Republican votes.
Gaetz indicated that he has the Republican votes to remove McCarthy from the Speaker’s chair, but noted that Democrats could save him. The Republicans hold a slim majority in the House.
“I have enough Republicans where, at this point next week, one of two things will happen: Kevin McCarthy wont be the speaker of the House, or hell be the speaker of the House working at the pleasure of the Democrats. And Im at peace with either result, because the American people deserve to know who governs them,” Gaetz told reporters on the steps of the Capitol.
After Gaetz filed the motion, McCarthy posted on X, formerly Twitter, saying simply, Bring it on.
The resolution declaring the Office of Speaker vacant is considered privileged, and takes precedence over other matters before the House. Under House rules, a vote must take place within two legislative days, but it’s unclear when that might take place. McCarthy and his allies may yet try to delay the vote.
TMX contributed to this article.
