On Monday, Florida Representative Matt Gaetz initiated a motion to remove House Speaker Kevin McCarthy from his position.
This move was met with opposition from fellow conservatives, Representatives Marjorie Taylor Greene and Thomas Massie, who expressed concerns about the potential disruption of legislative business and the lack of a viable replacement.
Gaetz took to social media to voice his frustration, stating, "Some of my wonderful conservative friends wont be voting to #VacateMcCarthy. They worry it might disrupt legislative business. I would remind them that the full scope of legislative work on the floor yesterday was Renaming 2 Post Offices."
In response, Greene expressed her agreement with the need for change but highlighted the lack of a clear plan and a capable successor. "I agree with you we need serious change, but there is no plan and no one capable even stepping up. Last time freedom caucus threw out a Speaker, we ended up with Paul Ryan who did not support President Trumps agenda. Nothing can truly change until Trump is back in the WH," she stated.
Massie shared a similar perspective, suggesting that the problems plaguing the House would only worsen if McCarthy were removed. "From my perspective, the House has been functioning better, more transparently, and more conservatively, with Speaker McCarthy than it did with Speaker Boehner or Speaker Ryan. We have issues, but replacing Speaker McCarthy wont magically fix them. In fact, it could get worse," he said.
He further elaborated on the potential negative outcomes, stating, "Some are asking how could it get worse. Heres one bad scenario: In the new Speaker election, a candidate wins not by getting 218 Republican votes but instead by getting some Democrat votes in exchange for letting their bad bills come to the floor or otherwise sharing power."
Gaetz's motion came in the wake of McCarthy's collaboration with Democrats to pass a 45-day stop-gap measure to prevent a government shutdown. Gaetz and other conservatives had hoped for a shutdown as leverage to secure their desired provisions, including an end to Ukraine funding and measures to secure the US border.
Addressing Congress, Gaetz declared, "Mr Speaker, Pursuant to Rule 2(a)(1) of Rule 9 I rise to give notice of my intent to raise a question of the privileges of the House." He then stated the resolution: "Declaring the office of the Speaker of the House to be vacant. Resolved that the office of the Speaker of the House of Representatives to be vacant."
Outside Congress, Gaetz criticized the stop-gap measure, stating, "You don't know chaos until you've seen where this Congress and this uniparty is bringing us."
In response to Gaetz's motion, McCarthy confidently retorted, "Bring it on."
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