(DCWatchdog.com) – Conservative GOP members of the US House of Representatives are revolting against Speaker Kevin McCarthy by voting with the Democrats to derail several bills.
Eleven House Republicans, most of whom are part of the House Freedom Caucus, used Tuesday’s voting to demonstrate their protest against the recent debt ceiling deal that McCarthy (R-CA) cut with President Joe Biden, The Hill reports.
The dissenters thus joined the Democrats to reject a rule that would have advanced four draft laws on gas stoves and regulatory reform.
According to the report, the right-wing revolt was marked by “a dramatic confrontation on the House floor,” with House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) trying to convince about a dozen conservatives to back the measures with a “huddle” “in the back of the chamber.”
Eventually, the eleven dissenters still opposed the rule, for a 220-206 vote that rejected it. Scalise saw himself forced to change his vote and vote “no,” meaning he could reintroduce the rule later.
As a result of the internal GOP opposition, the report points out that the routine rule vote, which was expected to take five minutes, took almost an hour.
Right-wing House Republicans have made clear their outrage that the debt ceiling deal that McCarthy negotiated doesn’t slash deficit spending. The bill was passed by Congress and signed by Biden into law last week.
“We’re frustrated at the way this place is operating,” Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL), one of the eleven Freedom Caucus rebels, told reporters as the vote was still happening.
“We took a stand in January to end the era of the imperial Speakership, and we’re concerned that the fundamental commitments that allowed Kevin McCarthy to assume the Speakership have been violated as a consequence of the debt limit deal,” he elaborated.
The other Freedom Caucus members who voted against the rule were Reps. Andy Biggs (AZ), Dan Bishop (NC), Lauren Boebert (CO), Ken Buck (CO), Tim Burchett (TN), Eli Crane (AZ), Bob Good (VA), Ralph Norman (SC), Matt Rosendale (MT) and Chip Roy (TX).
The report forecasts their revolt could spur trouble for the GOP, with many vital bills up for votes in the coming weeks.
Do you agree or disagree with the stand the conservatives have taken in the House? Share your thoughts and views by emailing [email protected]. Thank you.
