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☆ Biden-McCarthy debt ceiling talks to set tone for divided Washington rule
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-01 | by ( Trevor Hunnicutt | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/3] U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy meets with Jordan's King Abdullah II at the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, U.S., January 31, 2023. REUTERS/Leah MillisWASHINGTON, Feb 1 (Reuters) - President Joe Biden and Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy are set to discuss the nation's $31.4 trillion debt ceiling on Wednesday, a meeting that will give a first sign of how the two will work together, or fail to, in a divided Washington. House Republicans want to use the debt ceiling as leverage to exact cuts in spending by the federal government, though they have not united around any specific plan to do so. McCarthy, 58, leads a fractious House Republican caucus with a narrow 222-212 majority that has given a small group of hardline conservatives outsized influence. The 2011 crisis was resolved with a bipartisan deal that cut spending and raised the debt limit but left Obama administration officials smarting.

☆ Veterans of 2011 U.S. debt-ceiling fight see tougher battle ahead
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-31 | by ( Andy Sullivan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

As in 2011, Republicans aim to pair this year's debt-ceiling hike with sharp spending cuts to narrow annual budget deficits that have ballooned in recent years due to tax cuts and COVID-19 relief. 2 House Republican spent hours with Biden trying to find a solution, said the president's no-negotiations stance may prove unsustainable. Any agreement that emerges from that chamber will need bipartisan support, which could prove difficult for a Republican House majority to accept. Some House Republicans protested when McConnell in December 2021 cut a deal to raise the debt ceiling and avoid default. "That's what things like the debt ceiling are built for - they're forcing mechanisms that create an artificial deadline," he said.

☆ Big Tech's wipeout sends workers scrambling
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-22 | by ( Matt Turner | Dave Smith | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Hi, I'm Matt Turner, the editor in chief of business at Insider. Up first: I just returned to New York after a few days in Davos, Switzerland, for the World Economic Forum. It was intense and informative, packed with meetings with business leaders and government ministers from around the world. Davos, Switzerland Hanna Erasmus and EyeEm/Getty ImagesMore than 1,500 business leaders descended on Davos in the Swiss Alps last week. Saumya Khandelwal/Hindustan Times via Getty ImagesIt was a wipeout at Silicon Valley's tech giants this week.

Rep. Dan Bishop of South Carolina , one of 13 holdouts who flipped to back McCarthy on the 12th ballot, will continue to serve on the Judiciary Committee. , one of 13 holdouts who flipped to back McCarthy on the 12th ballot, will continue to serve on the Judiciary Committee. , who flipped to McCarthy on the 12th ballot, won a seat on the Homeland Security Committee. , who also flipped to McCarthy on the 12th ballot, won a new seat on the powerful Appropriations Committee, which controls federal spending. Rep. Mary Miller of Illinois , who flipped to McCarthy on the 12th ballot, will remain on the Agriculture Committee.

☆ White House ask House Republicans to "come clean" on McCarthy deals
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

WASHINGTON, Jan 17 (Reuters) - The White House asked House Republicans on Tuesday to reveal details of concessions made by Representative Kevin McCarthy to far-right fellow Republicans in exchange for their support in his run for the top speaker position. White House spokesperson Andrew Bates said McCarthy promised a vote on a 23% national sales tax in exchange for support from some of the holdouts, as reported by media outlets. McCarthy also supported abortion restrictions and allowed House Republicans to use the threat of a U.S. debt default to force President Joe Biden and his fellow Democrats in Congress to agree to certain spending cuts, Bates said. "An unprecedented tax hike on the middle class and a national abortion ban are just a glimpse of the secret, backroom deals" McCarthy made to win the speaker's gavel, he said. McCarthy was elected speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives on Jan. 7 after making extensive concessions to right-wing members of his party that raised questions about the party's ability to govern.

☆ Trump claimed credit, but a GOP congressman says the former president had 'no influence' over anti-McCarthy conservatives during the contentious vote for the House speakership
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-15 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Former President Trump has claimed credit for helping Kevin McCarthy win the House speakership. However, several ardent conservatives told ABC that Trump had no real impact during the process. "President Trump had no influence on the votes, myself or any of my colleagues," Rep. Bob Good said. However, Trump backed McCarthy's bid and claimed credit for helping get the GOP leader over the finish line. However, McCarthy personally thanked Trump immediately after winning the speakership, stating that no one "should doubt his influence."

☆ Op-ed: Did House Speaker Kevin McCarthy really gain any power?
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-12 | by ( Heidi Heitkamp | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Last week, after ceding control to the ultra-right wing of his party, Rep. Kevin McCarthy became the 55th Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives. This happened after the dysfunction and division of the Republican House majority was placed in full view to the American public. Most news coverage has focused on the historical uniqueness of this drama — the personality and sometimes physical conflicts — and the embarrassment to the House Republican Caucus. The U.S. Treasury estimates that the debt limit vote will be needed in August. Finally, securing a Republican majority in the House gave the Republican party the opportunity to move beyond Donald Trump as it's leader.

☆ The furor over Biden's classified documents rekindles House Republicans' sweeping impeachment agenda
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-12 | by ( Warren Rojas | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

House Republicans sought to impeach Biden, Merrick Garland, Alejandro Mayorkas and others last year. 57; H. Res. 596; H. Res. 597; H. Res. 598; H. Res.

WASHINGTON, Jan 9 (Reuters) - The Republican-led U.S. House of Representatives on Monday adopted a package of internal rules that give right-wing hardliners more leverage over the chamber's newly elected Republican speaker, Kevin McCarthy. All 212 Democrats voted against the rules package, saying it was full of concessions to the right-wing of the Republican Party. The legislation includes key concessions that hardliners sought and McCarthy agreed to in his quest for the speaker's gavel. Democrats denounced the legislation as a rules package for “MAGA extremists” that would favor wealthy corporations over workers, undermine congressional ethics standards and lead to further restrictions on abortion services. Republicans have a narrow majority of 222-212 in the House, after winning fewer seats than expected in November's midterm elections.

☆ Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries says he's hopeful about building a relationship with Kevin McCarthy: 'We can agree to disagree without being disagreeable'
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-08 | by ( Sarah Al-Arshani | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

House Minority leader Hakeem Jeffries says he can have a better relationship with McCarthy than Pelosi. Kevin McCarthy was elected House Speaker early Saturday after five days of voting. McCarthy had a very contentious relationship with former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. On Sunday, NBC News's "Meet the Press," host Chuck Todd asked Jeffries: "Speaker Nancy Pelosi didn't have a great relationship with Rep. Kevin McCarthy. "Kevin McCarthy and I have had some positive, forward-looking conversations over the last few weeks.

☆ House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries says Democrats will offer 'maturity over Mar-a-Lago' — a dig at Trump's influence over the GOP
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-08 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Jeffries on Saturday gave an A-Z explainer on how he felt House Democrats would differ from the GOP. The new Democratic leader contrasted the two parties before handing the speaker's gavel to McCarthy. "House Democrats will always put American values over autocracy," Jeffries said in kicking off his speech. Not as Democrats, not as Republicans, not as Independents, but as Americans," he said. But McCarthy still elicits distrust from several conservative lawmakers within the party, making those members highly consequential in such a narrowly-controlled Congress.

Share this -Link copiedMcCarthy elected speaker in 15th round McCarthy was elected House speaker Saturday shortly after midnight on the 15th ballot. Share this -Link copiedHouse reconvenes to hold 14th round of speaker votes The House has reconvened to begin the 14th round of speaker votes. Read the rest of the story, The House speaker election, in three charts. Share this -Link copiedHouse begins 13th round The House is beginning the 13th round of speaker votes. At least 14 House GOP flip to support McCarthy in twelfth speaker vote Jan. 6, 2023 01:52 Share this -Link copied

☆ U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy pledges to tackle immigration, 'woke' education policies and IRS funding
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-07 | by ( Ashley Capoot | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Jon Cherry | ReutersNewly elected U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy took the gavel of the chamber after a bruising weeklong battle within his own party, promising to carry out a conservative, America-first agenda, tackling the immigration crisis at the Mexican border, cutting back funding at the IRS and fixing "woke indoctrination in our schools." He said the first legislation he plans to tackle will repeal funding for more than 87,000 new IRS agents. McCarthy said the tense showdown on the House floor this week was proof that he is not someone who gives up easily. Though his election marked the end of a long week and night in Washington, McCarthy said it was also a new beginning for the nation. Republican members-elect celebrate as House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) is elected Speaker of the House in the House Chamber at the U.S. Capitol Building on January 07, 2023 in Washington, DC.

☆ Kevin McCarthy elected speaker of the House, ending days of Republican chaos and division in Washington
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-07 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Kevin McCarthy finally realized his goal and was elected speaker of the House. McCarthy was elected after days of failure amid the most chaotic speaker election in over a century. McCarthy clinched the speaker's gavel after 15 ballots and in the wee hours of the fifth day of voting. House GOP leaders then scrambled to delay future votes until Monday before abruptly reversing and forcing an immediate 15th vote. He'll also have to grapple with a Democratic-controlled Senate and White House, which will certainly block many conservative priorities.

☆ Kevin McCarthy says Republicans 'learned how to govern' and will 'be more effective' after the party's infighting to select a speaker
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-07 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Kevin McCarthy on Friday brushed off any concerns about fallout from the GOP leadership battle. "Because it took this long, now we learned how to govern," the California Republican said. McCarthy clinched the House speakership early Saturday morning after a 15th ballot. "Because it took this long, now we learned how to govern. McCarthy on early Saturday morning eventually won the speakership over House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York after 15 ballots and a 216-212 vote.

☆ GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz on his decision to vote 'present' in the final House speaker roll call vote despite his opposition to McCarthy: 'I ran out of things I could even imagine to ask for'
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-07 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Matt Gaetz was one of the last holdouts in backing challengers to Kevin McCarthy's speakership bid. Gaetz told CNN that he "ran out of things" to ask for by the end of the public leadership fight. However, by the 14th ballot — when the vast majority of the conservative holdouts had finally moved behind McCarthy — Gaetz shifted his vote from Jordan and instead recorded himself as "present." Rep. Mike Rogers of Alabama after the 14th round of voting then confronted Gaetz and appeared to lunge at the Floridian over the vote. CNN reported that Gaetz on Monday had asked McCarthy to chair a House Armed Services subcommittee, but the GOP leader had declined the request.

☆ Nancy Pelosi says Kevin McCarthy might need a 'doctor or a psychiatrist' after 'really sad' losses on the speakership vote
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-06 | by ( Cheryl Teh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Kevin McCarthy has failed to secure the 218 votes he needs to become speaker after 11 votes. Nancy Pelosi said McCarthy might need a "doctor" or a "psychiatrist" after so many losses. Insider saw a message from the "Nancy Pelosi for Congress" team, sent with the subject line: "RE: Kevin McCarthy." No love lost between Pelosi and McCarthyThere is no love lost between Pelosi and McCarthy. Representatives for McCarthy and Pelosi did not immediately respond to Insider's requests for comment.

WASHINGTON, Jan 6 (Reuters) - Republican Kevin McCarthy's perilous quest to become speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives entered the fourth day on Friday, with a scale of congressional dysfunction not seen since before the U.S. Civil War. This week's 11 failed votes marked the highest number of ballots for the speakership since the late 1850s. But the holdouts want a deal that would make it easier to oust the speaker and give them greater influence within the House Republican caucus and on congressional committees. Some Republicans believed the agreement under discussion might give McCarthy as many as 10 additional votes. Some of McCarthy's opponents showed no sign of yielding.

House Dem whip says caucus will keep voting in speaker race House Democratic whip Rep. Katherine Clark, D-Mass, said her caucus will stick around and continue voting in the speaker race. Davidson suggested there are "a couple procedural paths" where McCarthy could become speaker if Republicans changed the threshold needed to win the election. The polarization is too great.” Cole said that for all the House GOP divisions, “there’s no question” that most members in the caucus are closer in policy and vision to the anti-McCarthy rebels than they are to centrist Democrats. As Biden celebrated an upgrade to an aging bridge linking Kentucky and Ohio, House Republicans deadlocked on the basic task of electing a speaker, foreshadowing what is likely to be two years of infighting. The McCarthy-aligned Congressional Leadership Fund and the conservative Club for Growth agreed to not pick sides in some competitive House GOP primary races in exchange for supporting McCarthy's bid for speaker.

On Thursday, the House enters its third day of the new Congress without a speaker under the new GOP majority. Until Republicans have enough votes for a candidate, all other House business remains at a standstill. During the six speaker votes this week, 20 conservatives have stuck together to deny GOP leader Kevin McCarthy of California the 218 votes needed to win the speaker's gavel. House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., leaves the House Chamber following a day of votes for the new Speaker of the House at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday. Kevin Dietsch / Getty ImagesAfter the sixth failed vote, McCarthy and his must trusted allies huddled with his most fervent opponents for more than two hours in the first-floor Capitol office of Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn.

☆ The ambitious career of Kevin McCarthy, GOP hopeful for Speaker of the House
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-03 | by ( Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert | Lauren Frias | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Kevin McCarthy, a California Republican, is the GOP nominee for Speaker of the House. But the GOP House leader's bid for Speaker hangs in the balance as he scrambled for support to lock down the role. Democratic nominee for Speaker Hakeem Jeffries didn't lose a single Democratic vote in the House, getting 203 votes, but also failing to meet the 218-vote threshold to become Speaker. The last time a speaker election has gone to multiple votes was in 1923 when a Speaker of the House was elected after nine ballots. Just hours before the vote, McCarthy delivered an impassioned speech to his party in a last-minute attempt to secure support to cement the role.

☆ McCarthy's dream of being U.S. House speaker faces a political nightmare
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-03 | by ( David Morgan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

McCarthy has spent his adult life in politics, first as a congressional staffer and then state legislator before being elected to the House in 2006. At the same time, McCarthy, who has been House minority leader since 2019, would need to work with a Democratic Senate and the Biden White House on must-pass legislation. House Republicans and Democrats will then move quickly to a floor election for speaker, at which McCarthy will need support from a majority of members present to obtain the top congressional post. But already there is speculation that incoming House Majority Leader Steve Scalise or conservative leader Jim Jordan could emerge as a Republican compromise candidate. The House Freedom Caucus is pushing for rule changes that would make it easier to control the speaker and enhance the hard-line group's influence within the Republican conference.

Three weeks ago, conservative Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., was defeated by GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy in their party’s private, internal vote for speaker of the House. “I’m running for Speaker to break the establishment,” Biggs tweeted, linking to an op-ed in the conservative Daily Caller outlining his opposition to McCarthy. Democrats are expected to back their own leader for speaker, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., and five conservative lawmakers are already on record saying they will not vote for McCarthy under any circumstance. The last time a speaker vote went multiple ballots was exactly a century ago. Some moderate GOP McCarthy allies say it would never reach that point.

☆ House Republicans brace for leadership struggle as Democrats tap Pelosi heir
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-01 | by ( David Morgan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

A senior House Republican aide predicted that McCarthy would be elected speaker without a protracted contest. There may be multiple ballots," said Republican Representative Fred Upton, who is retiring from Congress. House speakers are elected on the floor by the full 435-seat chamber, including Republicans, Democrats and independents, with 218 votes needed for success. "We're willing to do multiple, multiple, multiple, multiple votes. "And if they refuse to compromise ... we'll work with Democrats to put in an agreeable Republican," Bacon added.

☆ New poll suggests Americans' support for Ukraine is softening as GOP vows to slow the massive aid effort
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-29 | by ( John Haltiwanger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A new Morning Consult poll shows Ukraine is not a top foreign policy priority for US voters. The Ukraine war ranks sixth among Democrats and 10th among Republicans in foreign priorities. This comes as House Republicans signal they'll move to slow US aid to Kyiv. Earlier on in the war, polling showed strong support among US voters for US aid to Ukraine. The incoming Republican majority in the House has signaled that it won't support massive aid packages to Kyiv.

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