On Monday night, U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) formally introduced a motion to “vacate the chair” and remove House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA).
“I rise to give notice of my intent to raise a question of the privileges of the House. Declaring the office of Speaker of the House of Representatives to be vacant,” Gaetz made a statement on the House floor. After being filed, the motion will formally be entered into the House record after two legislative days.
As the change finally occurs, speculation regarding Gaetz’s resignation from the position has been put to rest. The House can now choose a new speaker with the simple request of one member.
During an interview on CNN this past Sunday, Gaetz made his formal announcement that he would be challenging McCarthy. He said that the GOP House leader had broken commitments made during the speaker vote in January. “Speaker McCarthy made an agreement with House conservatives in January, and since then he has been in brazen, repeated material breach of that agreement,” he said. “This agreement that he made with Democrats to really blow past a-lot of the spending guardrails we’ve set up is the last straw. And then overnight I learned that Kevin McCarthy had a secret deal with Democrats on Ukraine. So as he was baiting Republicans to vote for a continuing resolution without Ukraine money, saying that we were gonna ‘jam the Senate’ on Ukraine, and then he turns around and makes a separate deal.”
“Let’s rip the band-aid off,” stated the member of the House Freedom Caucus. “I think we need to move on with new leadership that can be trustworthy.” McCarthy, on the other hand, assured critics he is prepared for a battle. During an appearance on Face The Nation, the speaker remarked, “Bring it on.”
The conclusion of the most recent contest for House speaker is still up in the air. Politico reports that while House conservatives predict at least seven votes opposing McCarthy’s continued speakership, the actual number may be anything between 12 and 24.
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U.S. Rep. Eli Crane (R-AZ), who voted against McCarthy on early votes with Gaetz and 18 of their fellow Republicans this past January, has publicly stated his support for the proposal. U.S. Reps. Chip Roy (R-TX) and Byron Donalds (R-FL), two other McCarthy detractors and prior “no” voters, have cast doubt on the proposal.
