UPDATED 3:52 P.M.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. House of Representatives voted on Tuesday to oust Speaker Kevin McCarthy from his job, as infighting among his fellow Republicans plunged Congress into further chaos just days after it narrowly averted a government shutdown.
The 216 to 210 vote marked the first time in history that the House removed its leader, driven by a relatively small group of right-wing Republicans. No clear successor has emerged.
The rebellion was led by Representative Matt Gaetz, a far-right Republican from Florida and McCarthy antagonist who accused the party leader of not doing enough to cut federal spending.
It was the latest moment of high drama in a year that has seen the Republican-controlled House bring Washington to the brink of default and the edge of a partial government shutdown.
McCarthy’s party controls the chamber by a narrow 221-212 majority, meaning that it can afford to lose no more than five votes if Democrats unite in opposition.
That happened on Tuesday, as eight Republicans voted with 208 Democrats to remove McCarthy from his post.
In debate on the House floor, Gaetz and a handful of allies criticized McCarthy for relying on Democratic votes to pass temporary funding that headed off a partial government shutdown.
“We need a speaker who will fight for something – anything – other than staying on as speaker,” said Republican Representative Bob Good.
McCarthy’s supporters, including some of the chamber’s most vocal conservatives, said he had successfully limited spending and advanced other conservative priorities even though Democrats control the White House and the Senate. They warned their gains would be at risk if they removed their leader.
“Think long and hard before you plunge us into chaos, because that’s where we’re headed,” said Republican Representative Tom Cole.
Democrats said they would not help Republicans resolve their own problems. They broadly view McCarthy as untrustworthy after he broke an agreement on spending with Democratic President Joe Biden, and are angered by his decision to green-light an impeachment investigation of the president.
“Let them wallow in their pigsty of incompetence,” Representative Pramila Jayapal told reporters before the vote.
Gaetz was one of more than a dozen Republicans who repeatedly voted against McCarthy’s bid for speaker in January. McCarthy ultimately secured the gavel after 15 rounds of voting. In order to win the job, McCarthy agreed to rules that made it easier to challenge his leadership.
McCarthy supporters have said Gaetz was motivated by a hunger for publicity, a chance to win higher office, or resentment over an ongoing ethics probe into possible sexual misconduct and illicit drug use. Representative Garret Graves pointed out that he has been fundraising off his effort to oust McCarthy. “It’s disgusting,” he said.
Gaetz, who has denied wrongdoing and said he is not motivated by a dislike of McCarthy.
“This isn’t a critique of the individual — it’s a critique of the job. The job hasn’t been done,” he said.
(Reporting by Makini Brice, David Morgan, Richard Cowan, Nandita Bose, Moira Warburton, Susan Heavey and Doina Chiacu; Writing by Andy Sullivan; Editing by Jonathan Oatis, Alistair Bell and Howard Goller)
————————————————–
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s grip on power was in question on Tuesday as the House of Representatives, driven by Republican infighting, was holding a historic vote that could remove him from his job.
If the rebellion by right-wing fellow Republicans against McCarthy is successful, it would be the first time in U.S. history that House lawmakers voted their leader out. No clear successor has emerged.
McCarthy’s fate was uncertain after the House earlier rejected by a vote of 218-208 a motion that would have blocked the leadership challenge to him, brought by Representative Matt Gaetz, a far-right Republican from Florida.
Some 11 Republicans joined with the chamber’s Democrats to allow the challenge to go forward. “We’ll see what happens,” McCarthy, 58, told reporters before the vote.
Voting proceeded slowly as lawmakers were called individually by name. “Yeas” and “Nays” echoed through the otherwise silent chamber.
The speakership challenge was the latest moment of high drama in a year that has seen the Republican-controlled House bring Washington to the brink of default and the edge of a partial government shutdown.
McCarthy’s party controls the chamber by a narrow 221-212 majority, and it would take as few as five Republican defections to threaten his hold on power if all Democrats also voted against him.
In debate on the House floor, Gaetz and a handful of allies criticized McCarthy for relying on Democratic votes to pass temporary funding that headed off a partial government shutdown. They also said he had not pushed hard enough to cut spending.
“We need a speaker who will fight for something – anything – other than staying on as speaker,” said Republican Representative Bob Good.
McCarthy’s supporters, including some of the chamber’s most vocal conservatives, said he had successfully limited spending and advanced other conservative priorities even though Democrats control the White House and the Senate. They warned their gains would be at risk if they removed their leader.
“Think long and hard before you plunge us into chaos, because that’s where we’re headed,” said Republican Representative Tom Cole.
Democrats said they would not help Republicans resolve their own problems. They broadly view McCarthy as untrustworthy after he broke an agreement on spending with Democratic President Joe Biden, and are angered by his decision to green-light an impeachment investigation of the president.
“Let them wallow in their pigsty of incompetence,” said Representative Pramila Jayapal, who leads a group of progressive Democratic lawmakers.
Gaetz was one of more than a dozen Republicans who repeatedly voted against McCarthy’s bid for speaker in January. McCarthy ultimately secured the gavel after 15 rounds of voting.
Some Republicans say they should focus on legislating, rather than infighting.
“This country does not need more drama,” said Republican Representative Steve Womack.
McCarthy supporters have said Gaetz was motivated by a hunger for publicity, a chance to win higher office, or resentment over an ongoing ethics probe into possible sexual misconduct and illicit drug use. Representative Garret Graves pointed out that he has been fundraising off his effort to oust McCarthy. “It’s disgusting,” he said.
Gaetz, who has denied wrongdoing and said he is not motivated by a dislike of McCarthy.
“This isn’t a critique of the individual — it’s a critique of the job. The job hasn’t been done,” he said.
(Reporting by Makini Brice, David Morgan, Richard Cowan, Nandita Bose, Moira Warburton, Susan Heavey and Doina Chiacu; Writing by Andy Sullivan; Editing by Jonathan Oatis, Alistair Bell and Howard Goller)
——————————————
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday voted to allow a leadership challenge to Republican Kevin McCarthy, in a sign that he could be removed from his job as speaker.
By a vote of 218-208, the Republican-controlled House rejected a motion advanced by McCarthy allies that would have derailed an effort by Representative Matt Gaetz, a McCarthy antagonist, to potentially remove him from his post.
McCarthy now faces a vote by the full House on whether to strip him of his speakership. That vote could come later on Tuesday following debate.
If successful, it would be the first time in U.S. history that House lawmakers voted their leader out.
“We’ll see what happens,” McCarthy, 58, told reporters before the vote.
Three days ago Republican infighting took Washington to the brink of a partial government shutdown.
McCarthy’s party controls the chamber by a narrow 221-212 majority, and it would take as few as five Republican defections to threaten his hold on power if all Democrats also voted against him.
Some 207 Democrats and 11 Republicans rejected the effort to defeat Gaetz’s motion. No Democrats sided with McCarthy.
Democrats broadly view McCarthy as untrustworthy after he broke an agreement on spending with Democratic President Joe Biden, and are angered by his decision to green-light an impeachment investigation of the president.
Several said they would not help Republicans resolve their own problems.
“Let them wallow in their pigsty of incompetence,” said Representative Pramila Jayapal, who leads a group of progressive Democratic lawmakers.
There is also little inclination in the White House to help McCarthy, according to two administration officials who spoke on condition of anonymity.
McCarthy said he did not expect Democratic support.
Gaetz, 41, and other far-right Republicans are angered that McCarthy relied on Democratic votes to pass a temporary funding extension on Saturday that headed off a partial government shutdown. A faction of about 20 Republicans, Gaetz included, had forced McCarthy’s hand by repeatedly blocking other legislation.
Gaetz was one of more than a dozen Republicans who repeatedly voted against McCarthy’s bid for speaker in January. McCarthy ultimately secured the gavel after 15 rounds of voting.
Gaetz allies said they were frustrated by the slow pace of spending legislation on McCarthy’s watch.
But over the past few days, other Republicans have said Gaetz was motivated by a hunger for publicity, a chance to win higher office, or resentment over an ongoing ethics probe into possible sexual misconduct and illicit drug use.
“It seems very personal with Matt. It doesn’t look like he’s looking out for the country or the institution,” McCarthy said.
Gaetz has denied wrongdoing and said he is not motivated by a dislike of McCarthy.
Other Republicans said they should focus on legislating, rather than infighting.
“This country does not need more drama,” said Republican Representative Steve Womack.
(Reporting by Makini Brice, David Morgan, Richard Cowan, Nandita Bose, Moira Warburton, Susan Heavey and Doina Chiacu; Writing by Andy Sullivan; Editing by Jonathan Oatis, Alistair Bell and Howard Goller)
