WASHINGTON – A group of 11 conservative House rabble-rousers took the unusual step on Tuesday of joining with all Democrats to oppose a pair GOP bills to Protect gas stoves in order to express their anger at the Debt Deal cut made by Speaker Kevin McCarthy, and President Joe Biden.
The procedural vote failed 206-220. This was a shock to longtime legislators and journalists who had not witnessed a rule vote, which is a procedural measure that’s usually supported by the majority, in over two decades.
After voting, members of the House Freedom Caucus and a conservative ally from Florida, Rep. Matt Gaetz (R), gathered at the Capitol steps to criticize McCarthy’s leadership team for the way they handled the negotiations to raise the debt ceiling.
The group warned all Republican legislation may come to a halt unless the internal problems are resolved.
Hard-right legislators specifically accused GOP leadership of retaliating on one of their members, Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-Ga). Clyde, they said, was told that his bill to protect pistol stabilizing brackets wouldn’t be brought to the floor of the House this week due to his vote against the rule regarding the debt deal.
“Today, we removed the rule because we are frustrated with the way the place operates.” Gaetz, flanked with his allies on the far right, said: “We took a stand last January to end the era where the imperial speakership ruled.”
He added: “We are concerned that fundamental commitments which allowed Kevin McCarthy to become speaker have been violated by the debt limit agreement.” “The solution for us is reasserting House conservatives as an appropriate coalition partner for the leadership of our party, rather than them making common cause to Democrats.”
McCarthy’s political future is more uncertain after Tuesday’s rule battle, which has occurred less than six months since he became speaker.
Some Freedom Caucus Members said that after the bipartisan debt agreement passed last week they would be in favor of removing McCarthy from the Speaker’s Office by using what is known as ” motions to vacate” But on Tuesday some of these same Republicans avoided questions about removing McCarthy, and said that they had other ways to exercise their power. They said, for example, they could block legislation by voting against future rules.
Freedom Caucus Member Rep. Dan Bishop (R-N.C.) said, “There are a lot of ways we need to work together to make the Republican majority function well.”
McCarthy, just before conservatives voted down the rule vote on Tuesday, told reporters that he was confident of his ability to overcome any attempt to remove him from office.
He said that anyone can file a motion for eviction. “I am confident that I will beat any of their opponents.”
Gaetz and Bishop are among the 11 Republicans who voted in opposition to the rule. Also included were Reps. Chip Roy and Matt Rosendale from Texas, Ken Buck and Lauren Boebert both from Colorado, Eli Crane, Andy Biggs and Tim Burchett, both from Tennessee, Ralph Norman and Bob Good, both Virginians.
A 12th Republican, Majority leader Steve Scalise (R-La. ), also voted against the rule, a procedure that allows leaders to bring it to the floor later.
Gas stove bills that will be voted this week are primarily messaging bills, and they’re unlikely to pass in the Senate.
Boebert complained that the leadership had not allowed votes on amendments for the debt ceiling package. Others were angry that more Democrats than Republicans voted in favor of the debt limit package.
Bishop told reporters that “the majority cannot function without Unity.” Bishop told reporters that it was unacceptable for leaders to pin a grenade on a sledgehammer and then roll it under the tent representing Republican unity as they did last week with the debt ceiling package.
