https://sputnikglobe.com/20230922/mccarthy-may-find-unlikely-allies-in-democrats-to-save-his-speakership-1113595103.html
McCarthy May Find Unlikely Allies in Democrats to Save His Speakership
McCarthy May Find Unlikely Allies in Democrats to Save His Speakership
Sputnik International
Some Democrats seem open to the idea of supporting Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy if a vote to vacate is brought up.
2023-09-22T22:26+0000
2023-09-22T22:26+0000
2023-09-22T22:24+0000
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kevin mccarthy
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Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, facing a possible vote to vacate from the hardline House Freedom Caucus wing of his party, may get some help from an unexpected source: members of the Democratic Party.However, any help from the Democrats would come with significant conditions to receive their support. During a podcast with a US outlet, Rep. Katherine Clark (D-MA) listed disaster relief, further funding for Ukraine and ending “this sham of an impeachment inquiry [against US President Joe Biden].”McCarthy is not expected to fulfill those demands, especially the demand to end the impeachment inquiry. Ending that would not only infuriate larger parts of his caucus, it would also anger Republican voters who overwhelmingly support the inquiry and former President and current frontrunner for the 2024 Republican nomination, Donald Trump.Meanwhile, several Democrats have stated they would be happy to see McCarthy go.But others see it as an opportunity to limit the influence of the House Freedom Caucus. “A small number of Freedom Caucus members have been able to do a ton of damage,” Rep. Greg Casar (D-TX) said. “I think that a significant number of progressive members hopefully can stop a bunch of that damage.”It was also reported in US media earlier this week that “small groups” of centrist Democrats were meeting with McCarthy’s allies in the GOP to pass the spending bill that has dominated US politics for months. McCarthy’s position as speaker was reportedly brought up during those talks, though they were not the focus.The US government faces a shutdown on September 30 if a compromise spending bill cannot be passed by then. The House Freedom Caucus, a group of Republicans whose total membership is unknown, along with a selection of libertarian-minded Republicans, have been holding up the bill over spending issues, particularly more funding for Ukraine.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20230921/mccarthy-says-he-rejected-zelenskys-request-to-address-congress-1113561733.html
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mccarthy, vote to vacate speaker, budget debate, government spending bill, funding bill
mccarthy, vote to vacate speaker, budget debate, government spending bill, funding bill
McCarthy May Find Unlikely Allies in Democrats to Save His Speakership
If a vote to vacate the House speakership is held, as Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) has recently threatened, a simple majority will be required to certify the motion. A new vote for speaker will then be held, with a simple majority also being needed to appoint a new lawmaker to the post.
Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, facing a possible vote to vacate from the hardline House Freedom Caucus wing of his party, may get some help from an unexpected source: members of the Democratic Party.
However, any help from the Democrats would come with significant conditions to receive their support. During a podcast with a US outlet, Rep. Katherine Clark (D-MA) listed disaster relief, further funding for Ukraine and ending “this sham of an impeachment inquiry [against US President Joe Biden].”
McCarthy is not expected to fulfill those demands, especially the demand to end the impeachment inquiry. Ending that would not only infuriate larger parts of his caucus, it would also anger Republican voters who overwhelmingly support the inquiry and former President and current frontrunner for the 2024 Republican nomination, Donald Trump.
Meanwhile, several Democrats have stated they would be happy to see McCarthy go.
“I mean, if that vote comes up, I’ll vote to vacate,” Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-FL) said last week.
But others see it as an opportunity to limit the influence of the House Freedom Caucus. “A small number of Freedom Caucus members have been able to do a ton of damage,” Rep. Greg Casar (D-TX) said. “I think that a significant number of progressive members hopefully can stop a bunch of that damage.”
21 September 2023, 14:04 GMT
It was also reported in US media earlier this week that “small groups” of centrist Democrats were meeting with McCarthy’s allies in the GOP to pass the spending bill that has dominated US politics for months. McCarthy’s position as speaker was reportedly brought up during those talks, though they were not the focus.
The last time a vote to vacate the speaker position was raised - for then-House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) in 2015, Democrats hinted they would not support his removal despite his unpopularity with Democrats because they feared a more conservative figure taking the role.
The US government faces a shutdown on September 30 if a compromise spending bill cannot be passed by then. The House Freedom Caucus, a group of Republicans whose total membership is unknown, along with a selection of libertarian-minded Republicans, have been holding up the bill over spending issues, particularly more funding for Ukraine.
