Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) ultimately received the support he required to become speaker of the House after nearly a week of intense behind-the-scenes drama, a close call on the House floor, and 15 rounds of voting.
McCarthy had to give up a long list of demands in order to get the coveted gavel, which ultimately reduced his influence in the lower house of Congress and gave the “Republican rebels” who continually stood in his way cause to rejoice.
A single politician was given the authority to request a vote at any time to remove the speaker from office, and it was agreed to allow floor votes on a border security bill.
CLICK HERE FOR AN AD FREE EXPERIENCE AND ACCESS TO VIP ARTICLES
McCarthy had 21 holdouts at the beginning of the week, and by the time the House reconvened on Friday at 10 p.m., he still lacked the necessary votes. McCarthy was finally elected to his new position early on Saturday after two dramatic roll calls, but some are unsure of the price.
Rep. French Hill (R-AR) and a handful of carefully chosen McCarthy loyalists met with conservative Republicans who had voted against him on Thursday night in an effort to make amends. Representatives Scott Perry (R-PA), Chip Roy (R-TX), and Byron Donalds were among the group’s holdouts (R-FL).
Hill described the visit as “encouraging” and said he thought they had made “progress,” but he didn’t elaborate.
Another McCarthy negotiator from Louisiana, Rep. Garret Graves (R-LA), reportedly made a commitment to conservatives earlier in the week that the House GOP would offer a budget that balanced over the next ten years and limited discretionary spending to levels seen in fiscal 2022.
At least three seats on the influential House Rules Committee was another temporary compromise that McCarthy’s allies offered. With three conservative members on the committee, they would be able to block legislation that was essential to President Joe Biden’s agenda.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM WAYNEDUPREE.COM
McCarthy also made the concession that any House member might ask for a vote to remove him, which was one of the holdouts’ initial requests. Additionally, he promised to support legislation pertaining to term limits and other conservative issues.
According to Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-AL), who had been in line for important positions based on seniority, several of the McCarthy holdouts had also wanted subcommittee chairmanships. This proposal rankled a number of congressmen, including Aderholt.
In response to requests from the party’s conservative wing not to meddle in open GOP primaries, McCarthy’s super PAC, the Congressional Leadership Fund, also got engaged.
McCarthy won over the Club for Growth, a powerful conservative organization that had been opposed to his candidacy, by promising to remain neutral.
Even though the holdouts eventually changed their minds, several rank-and-file Republicans believe that the price McCarthy paid for his concessions was too high and that this will lead to shutdown battles later this year.
