McCarthy Offers Compromise In Exchange For Speakership Votes

Now it is debatable whether Kevin McCarthy, House Republican Leader, thought he was a sure-fire candidate for Speaker when the Republicans regained control of the majority in 2022’s midterm elections. The embattled Californian is presently engaged in the most important battle of his political career — and he just blinked.

As I reported in early December as the GOP circular firing squad continued to rage, McCarthy sided with 13 conservative Republicans who vowed to kill proposed legislation from all Senate Republicans who voted in favor of Biden’s 4,155-page, $1.7 Trillion omnibus billThe House could not assume control of a new Republican majority without negotiating with Democrats. Why? McCarthy warned in a tweet:

When I’m Speaker, their bills will be dead on arrival in the House if this nearly $2T monstrosity is allowed to move forward over our objections and the will of the American people.

Nonetheless, the monstrosity passed on December 20 — with the support of nine House Republicans.

While the Republicans’ internecine war continues, McCarthy continues to scramble for the 218 votes necessary to secure the gavel when the 118th Congress convenes on January 3.

According to a report CNN reported that McCarthy, in a series private meetings, promised to a number House Republicans this week that the required number votes would be reduced to call a Floor vote to oust a House Speaker. It was his latest effort to win back critics while still retaining support from others in the party.

As an aside, have you ever thought about how much more successful it would be if the Republican Party fought as hard for the Constitution? Democrat Party it fights against itself? You’re right. Thing is, we ain’t seen nuttin’ yet — with the 2024 GOP primary season promising to be a no-holds-barred bloodbath, but I digress.

Under current House rules, a majority of lawmakers in the majority party is required to call for a floor vote to vacate the Speaker’s chair. McCarthy proposes to reduce that threshold, which gives critics an opportunity to remove him from the position of Speaker. According to sources familiar with the discussions, the Republican Leader has not yet provided a number that would change the threshold. However, it could be as low at five lawmakers.

Interesting, isn’t it? Given that McCarthy is already on thin ice with multiple House Republicans, he’s willing to put himself into an even more precarious position in return for the honor of Finally ripping the gavel from Nancy Pelosi’s defiant bony hand.

While some battleground Republicans have made their loyalties clear, including more than a dozen GOP lawmakers who won their races in states that Biden won in 2020, at least five GOP members have publicly said they won’t back McCarthy’s bid — and he can’t afford to lose more than four.

Olivia Beavers wrote a letter on Thursday.

More than a dozen House Republicans who won in battleground/districts won by Biden in 2020 issued a letter today to colleagues saying they are supporting McCarthy and will not support a “consensus candidate.”

That’s fair enough. What happens when push comes to shove?

NEW: More than a dozen House Republicans who won in battleground/districts won by Biden in 2020 issued a letter today to colleagues saying they are supporting McCarthy and will not support a “consensus candidate.”

Led Rep.-elect Lawler, it includes quite a few incoming freshmen pic.twitter.com/cNObzvigBa

— Olivia Beavers (@Olivia_Beavers) December 29, 2022

The song is the same. But, hey — did we really expect anything more from the circular firing squad?

The Bottom Line

For argument’s sake, let’s assume McCarthy does become the next Speaker of the House. What if he does? His job is going to be anything but a walk in the park — and I mean just within the GOP Caucus.

The Republican legislators from different factions are not going to just vote for the new Speaker. This reality will only get more contentious as the 2024 GOP primary season begins in earnest. The NobodyThe -but Trump faction and AnybodyBut-Trump faction are moving butt heads bigly — and for the entire country to see, of course.

Kevin McCarthy may find his job as Speaker not too dissimilar to tending to angry geese.

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