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WASHINGTON (AP) — Lawmakers who had been sitting in stunned silence gasped at the declaration: The office of speaker “is hereby declared vacant. ”For the first time ever, a House speaker had been voted out of the position, plunging Congress into a new degree of turmoil. “Chaos is Speaker McCarthy,” Gaetz said on the floor, suggesting a series of reforms could make Washington work better. “Shocking … just the finality of it," said Rep. Michael McCaul, a Texas Republican who chairs the House Foreign Relations Committee. Republicans will try to coalesce around a new leader after McCarthy ruled out another bid to become speaker.

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☆ Ex-House Speaker Newt Gingrich says he could 'afford to have five or six people be idiots' during standoffs in the 1990s, a contrast to the numerous GOP hardliners creating challenges for McCarthy
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-30 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Newt Gingrich recently told Politico of the difference between the '90s-era House GOP and today's slim majority. The ex-speaker said he could "afford to have five or six people be idiots" in the face of a shutdown. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementAdvertisementAfter the 1994 elections, House Republicans secured a 230-seat majority, and they won 226 seats after the 1996 elections. During the Clinton administration, Gingrich told Politico that he could "afford to have five or six people be idiots."

Persons: Newt Gingrich, Kevin McCarthy, —, Dianne Feinstein, Kevin McCarthy of, shutdowns, Bill Clinton, Gingrich, Clinton, Darrell Issa of Organizations: Politico, GOP, Service, Senate, California, House, Republicans, Ukraine, Russia, Capitol Hill, Republican Locations: Kevin McCarthy of California, Georgia, Darrell Issa of California

WASHINGTON (AP) — With a government shutdown five days away, Congress is moving into crisis mode as Speaker Kevin McCarthy faces an insurgency from hard-right Republicans eager to slash spending even if it means curtailing federal services for millions of Americans. Against the mounting chaos, President Joe Biden warned the Republican conservatives off their hardline tactics, saying funding the federal government is “one of the most basic fundamental responsibilities of Congress." Political Cartoons View All 1179 Images“We made a deal, we shook hands, and said this is what we’re going to do. With five days to go before Saturday's deadline, the turmoil is unfolding as House Republicans hold their first Biden impeachment inquiry hearing this week probing the business dealings of his son, Hunter Biden. With just days remaining before a shutdown, several of the holdouts say they will never vote for any stopgap measure to fund the government as they push for Congress to engage in the full-scale debate.

Persons: Kevin McCarthy, it's, McCarthy, Joe Biden, Biden, reneging, ” Biden, “, ”, Donald Trump, retakes, Hunter Biden, ” Trump, ” McCarthy, Let’s, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Trump, Ken Buck, Buck, he's, ” Buck, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Matt Gaetz, ” Gatez, “ I’m, McCarthy “, Seung Min Kim, Kevin Freking, Mary Clare Jalonick Organizations: WASHINGTON, Senate, Republicans, Trump, Biden, Capitol, Defense, Homeland Security, Agriculture, Foreign, Republican, Democratic, Ukraine, Washington, Russia, Fox, White, Office of Management, Budget, Associated Press Locations: Ukraine, U.S, “, State, Florida

☆ Explainer-How Could Hardline US House Republicans Strip Kevin McCarthy of His Speakership?
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( Sept. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

If the motion to vacate comes to the House floor for a vote, it would only need a simple majority to pass. Republican Representative Matt Gaetz, a hardline conservative from Florida and perpetual thorn in McCarthy's side, has repeatedly threatened to file a motion to vacate. In a Sept. 14 closed-door meeting of House Republicans, McCarthy dared Gaetz to bring a motion to the floor. Others including Representatives Dan Bishop and Eli Crane have also suggested they would support a motion to vacate. Republican then-Representative Mark Meadows in 2015 filed a motion to vacate against Republican Speaker John Boehner.

Persons: Kevin McCarthy, what's, McCarthy, McCarthy's, Nancy Pelosi, Matt Gaetz, Gaetz, Dan Bishop, Eli Crane, Joseph Cannon, Newt Gingrich, Mark Meadows, John Boehner, Boehner, Moira Warburton, Scott Malone, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: WASHINGTON, Republican U.S . House, Democrat, Republicans, Democratic, WHO, Republican, House Republicans, House Archives Locations: Florida

☆ Motion to vacate: How to strip Kevin McCarthy of his speakership
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Representative Matt Gaetz, a hardline Republican lawmaker, said he would file what's called the "motion to vacate." If the motion to vacate comes to the House floor for a vote, it would only need a simple majority to pass. In a Sept. 14 closed-door meeting of House Republicans, McCarthy dared Gaetz to bring a motion to the floor. Others including Representatives Dan Bishop and Eli Crane have also suggested they would support a motion to vacate. Republican then-Representative Mark Meadows in 2015 filed a motion to vacate against Republican Speaker John Boehner.

Persons: Kevin McCarthy, Ken Cedeno, Matt Gaetz, what's, McCarthy, McCarthy's, Nancy Pelosi, Gaetz, Dan Bishop, Eli Crane, Joseph Cannon, Newt Gingrich, Mark Meadows, John Boehner, Boehner, Moira Warburton, Scott Malone, Lisa Shumaker, Grant McCool Organizations: ., U.S, Capitol, REUTERS, Rights, Republican U.S . House, Democratic, Republican, Democrat, Republicans, WHO, House Republicans, House Archives, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, Florida

☆ How could hardline US House Republicans strip Kevin McCarthy of his speakership?
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

If the motion to vacate comes to the House floor for a vote, it would only need a simple majority to pass. Republicans currently control the House with 221 seats to 212 Democrats, meaning if McCarthy wants to keep his speaker's gavel he cannot afford to lose more than four votes. Republican Representative Matt Gaetz, a hardline conservative from Florida and perpetual thorn in McCarthy's side, has repeatedly threatened to file a motion to vacate. In a Sept. 14 closed-door meeting of House Republicans, McCarthy dared Gaetz to bring a motion to the floor. Republican then-Representative Mark Meadows in 2015 filed a motion to vacate against Republican Speaker John Boehner.

Persons: Kevin McCarthy, Joe Biden, Hunter Biden, what's, McCarthy, McCarthy's, Nancy Pelosi, Matt Gaetz, Gaetz, Dan Bishop, Eli Crane, Joseph Cannon, Newt Gingrich, Mark Meadows, John Boehner, Boehner, Moira Warburton, Scott Malone, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: Republican U.S . House, Democrat, Republicans, Democratic, WHO, Republican, House Republicans, House Archives, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, WASHINGTON, Florida

House Republicans, trying to win support from the far-right wing of the party, have loaded up their government funding packages with spending cuts and conservative policy priorities. Political Cartoons View All 1163 ImagesThe Senate strategy is being led by the first female duo to hold the top leadership spots on the Senate Appropriations Committee, Sens. But as the Senate grinds toward votes on their funding bills, they have won plaudits from leadership in both parties. A few GOP senators allied with conservatives in the House are working to slow the Senate’s work on appropriations bills. They have also loaded the House's appropriations bills with conservative policy wins, ensuring Democratic opposition.

Persons: Patty Murray, Susan Collins, “, ” Murray, Murray, Collins, Chuck Schumer, Mitch McConnell, Collins “, ” Collins, Kevin McCarthy, you’ve, ” McCarthy, Kay Granger, Rosa DeLauro, Conn, McCarthy, gavel, Joe Biden, Biden, ”, Hakeem Jeffries, Republican appropriators, Tom Cole of, ” “ We’re, Don Bacon Organizations: WASHINGTON, Capitol, House Republicans, GOP, Democrats, Associated Press, Republicans, Republican, Caucus, American, Democratic, “, Department of, Social Security Locations: United States, Ukraine, Maine, Washington, Kentucky, Kay Granger of Texas, Texas, New York, Tom Cole of Oklahoma

Angry, frustrated and unable to lead a fractured and unruly Republican majority, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy on Thursday told the colleagues threatening to oust him: Do it. If you’re going to do it, go ahead and try, McCarthy told the Republicans behind closed doors. “File the f——- motion,” McCarthy said, using a profanity for emphasis, according to those in the private meeting. Led by Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida, a core group of McCarthy critics is holding the threat of removal over him unless he meets conservative demands. McCarthy told the lawmakers to go home for the weekend — they are not in session Friday for the Jewish holiday — and be prepared to stay in session next week until they get the job done.

Persons: Kevin McCarthy, McCarthy, ” McCarthy, what’s, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, “, Matt Gaetz, Gaetz, Hunter Biden, ” Gaetz, Kevin, ”, Kevin doesn’t, Brian Mast, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Kevin Freking, Stephen Groves Organizations: Republican, Republicans, Freedom Caucus, Trump, Caucus, Press Locations: Florida

McCarthy called the bill the "most conservative deal we've ever had." The pair, Representatives Chip Roy and Ralph Norman, said they may vote against it if it is not changed to their liking. "I think it's important to keep in mind the debt limit bill itself does not spend money," he wrote on Twitter. A successful vote there would set up a vote by the full House on Wednesday. The debt-ceiling standoff prompted ratings agencies to warn that they might downgrade U.S. debt, which underpins the global financial system.

Persons: Joe Biden, Kevin McCarthy, Calif, Jacquelyn Martin, McCarthy, we've, Chip Roy, Ralph Norman, Roy, MASSIE, Thomas Massie, Biden, Hakeem Jeffries, Jeffries, Republican Mike Lee, White, Moira Warburton, David Morgan, Richard Cowan, Gram Slattery, Andy Sullivan, Scott Malone, Matthew Lewis, Mark Porter Organizations: Capitol, WASHINGTON, Republican, Democratic, U.S . Treasury Department, Republicans, Twitter, Top, Internal Revenue Service, Thomson Locations: Washington

Representative Stephanie Bice, a Republican vote counter, said she was confident it would pass. "I think it's important to keep in mind the debt limit bill itself does not spend money," he wrote on Twitter. At least one, Representative Mary Gay Scanlon, is a member of a moderate group that supports the deal. The debt-ceiling standoff prompted ratings agencies to warn they might downgrade U.S. debt, which underpins the global financial system. Reporting by Moira Warburton and Andy Sullivan; Editing by Kieran Murray and Chris ReeseOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, a candidate for the Republican 2024 presidential nomination, said the deal does not do enough to change the fiscal trajectory. "After this deal, our country will still be careening toward bankruptcy," he said on Fox News. There's no question about that," said Republican Representative Dusty Johnson, who said he had talked to dozens of fellow lawmakers. Some $4 trillion in debt for - at best - a two-year spending freeze and no serious substantive policy reforms," Roy wrote on Twitter. McCarthy has predicted it will draw the support of most of his fellow Republicans, who control the House 222-213.

WASHINGTON, May 28 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden on Sunday finalized a budget agreement with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy to suspend the $31.4 trillion debt ceiling until Jan. 1, 2025, and said the deal was ready to move to Congress for a vote. The deal, if approved, will prevent the U.S. government from defaulting on its debt and comes after weeks of heated negotiations between Biden and House Republicans. "I strongly urge both chambers to pass that agreement," Biden said, adding that he expected McCarthy to have the necessary votes for the deal to pass. The deal has drawn fire from hardline Republicans and progressive Democrats, but Biden and McCarthy are banking on getting enough votes from both sides. McCarthy dismissed threats of opposition within his own party, saying "over 95%" of House Republicans were "overwhelmingly excited" about the deal.

☆ Republicans speak out against U.S. debt-ceiling deal, in sign of rocky road ahead
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-29 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, a candidate for the Republican 2024 presidential nomination, said the deal does not do enough to change the fiscal trajectory. "After this deal, our country will still be careening toward bankruptcy," he said on Fox News. There's no question about that," said Republican Representative Dusty Johnson, who said he had talked to dozens of fellow lawmakers. McCarthy has predicted it will draw the support of most of his fellow Republicans, who control the House 222-213. Most of the savings would come by capping spending on domestic programs like housing, border control, scientific research and other forms of "discretionary" spending.

Hours later, the Democratic president said he was confident the legislation would pass both chambers of Congress to avoid a U.S. government default. Biden and McCarthy were due to speak later on Sunday to finalize the agreement, which has drawn fire from hardline Republicans and progressive Democrats. House Republicans expected on Sunday to unveil legislation to pass the deal. But McCarthy dismissed threats of opposition within his own party, saying "over 95%" of House Republicans were "overwhelmingly excited" about the deal. The deal would also impose a 1% across-the-board spending cut should Congress fail to enact 12 appropriations bills by Oct. 1.

WASHINGTON, May 28 (Reuters) - Republican U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy on Sunday dismissed vehement opposition among party hardliners to a new agreement with President Joe Biden to suspend the $31.4 trillion debt ceiling, predicting that most House Republicans would support the deal. House Republicans expected to unveil legislation to pass the deal later on Sunday. But McCarthy dismissed threats of opposition within his own party, saying "over 95%" of House Republicans were "overwhelmingly excited" about the deal. "This is a good strong bill that a majority of Republicans will vote for," the California Republican told reporters in the U.S. Capitol. Progressive Democrats in both chambers have said they would not support any deal that has additional work requirements for food and healthcare programs.

A failure by Congress to deal with its self-imposed debt ceiling before June 5 could trigger a default that would shake financial markets and send the United States into a deep recession. Hours before the deal was announced, some hardline Republicans balked at McCarthy cooperating with the White House. Progressive Democrats in both chambers have said they would not support any deal that has additional work requirements. This deal does, sources say, adding work requirements to food aid for people aged 50 to 54. But Republicans and Democrats will need to battle over which ones in the months to come, as the deal doesn't specify them.

☆ Republicans criticize McCarthy, Biden debt ceiling deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-28 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

"We're going to try" to stop it from passing the House, Representative Chip Roy, a prominent member of the hardline House Freedom Caucus, said on Twitter. The deal suspends the debt ceiling until January 2025, after the November 2024 presidential election, in exchange for caps on spending and cuts in government programs. Representative Dan Bishop and other hardline Republicans were sharply critical of early deal details that suggest Biden has pushed back successfully on several cost-cutting demands on Saturday, signaling that McCarthy may have an issue getting votes. Progressive Democrats in both chambers have said they would not support any deal that has additional work requirements. But Republicans and Democrats will need to battle over which ones in the months to come, as the deal doesn't specify them.

☆ House Republicans have successfully quashed an effort to hold a vote on expelling George Santos — for now.
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-17 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

House Republicans successfully quashed an effort to hold a vote on expelling George Santos. But Republicans moved to refer it to the House Ethics Committee, effectively tabling it for now. Even House Republicans from New York — some of the strongest intraparty critics of Santos — voted for the referral resolution. There's also the political reality that McCarthy can ill afford to lose a reliable vote: Republicans hold the chamber by a four-vote margin, and McCarthy's grasp of the speaker's gavel depended on Santos in January. In the meantime, the criminally charged congressman will continue to serve as a loyal vote for Republicans.

☆ Stunning endorsement: DeSantis ally Rep. Byron Donalds backs Trump for president in 2024
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-06 | by ( Kimberly Leonard | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Byron Donalds, who has said he'd be interested in becoming governor of Florida, has endorsed Trump. Ron DeSantis, has endorsed Donald Trump for president in 2024. "President Trump is the leader in the clubhouse right now," he said. He added, however, that he thought DeSantis could beat Trump in a primary. "The current legal problems have rallied more Republican voters around Donald Trump," Donalds said.

☆ China warns US House Speaker not to meet Taiwan president
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Leah Millis/File PhotoBEIJING, April 4 (Reuters) - China warned U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy on Tuesday not to "repeat disastrous past mistakes" and meet Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen, saying it would not help regional peace and stability, but only unite the Chinese people behind a common enemy. China, which claims Taiwan as its own territory, staged war games around the island last August after then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat, visited the capital, Taipei. The U.S. says such stopovers are common practice and there is no need for China to overreact. In a statement on Tuesday, Taiwan's foreign ministry said China had no right to complain, as the People's Republic of China has never ruled the island. "Even if the authoritarian government continues with its expansion and intensifies coercion, Taiwan will not back down."

☆ Reaction to Biden's 2024 budget proposal
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-09 | by ( Katharine Jackson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Leah MillisWASHINGTON, March 9 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden on Thursday delivered a budget proposal that includes a robust spending agenda, higher taxes on the wealthy and plans to reduce the deficit, a document that forms the blueprint for his expected 2024 re-election bid. Here is reaction to Biden's budget proposal to Congress for the 2024 fiscal year:HOUSE BUDGET COMMITTEE CHAIR JODEY ARRINGTON, A REPUBLICAN FROM TEXAS:"His policies have led to 40-year record inflation, soaring interest rates, and the prospect of a sustained economic recession. Unfortunately, Biden’s latest budget is more of the same bloated bureaucracy at the expense of working families, while sticking our grandchildren with the bill." HOUSE DEMOCRATIC LEADER HAKEEM JEFFRIES, ON TWITTER:"The Biden budget plan protects Social Security, strengthens Medicare and invests in our children. SENATOR CHUCK GRASSLEY:"Even with near-record revenues, President Biden wants to raise taxes on every segment of America.

☆ House Speaker Kevin McCarthy plans to meet Taiwan's president in the U.S., sources say
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-07 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy wields the speaker's gavel as members of Congress gather to attend U.S. President Joe Biden's State of the Union address on Feb. 7, 2023. Leah Millis | ReutersU.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy plans to meet Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen in the U.S. in coming weeks, two sources told Reuters on Monday, a move that could replace the Republican Speaker's anticipated but sensitive trip to the democratically governed island claimed by China. One of the sources said should the U.S. meeting go forward — likely in April — it did not necessarily rule out McCarthy visiting Taiwan in the future. During a CNBC interview earlier on Monday, McCarthy declined to answer whether he would visit Taiwan, saying he would announce any travel plans when he had them. Taiwan's de facto embassy in Washington said it had "no information to share" when asked about the meeting.

☆ US House Speaker McCarthy plans to meet Taiwan's president in the US
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-06 | by ( Michael Martina | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

REUTERS/Leah MillisWASHINGTON, March 6 (Reuters) - U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy plans to meet Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen in the U.S. in coming weeks, two sources told Reuters on Monday, a move that could replace the Republican Speaker's anticipated but sensitive trip to the democratically governed island claimed by China. One of the sources said should the U.S. meeting go forward - likely in April - it did not necessarily rule out McCarthy visiting Taiwan in the future. During a CNBC interview earlier on Monday, McCarthy declined to answer whether he would visit Taiwan, saying he would announce any travel plans when he had them. Since then, Taiwan has welcomed a wave of U.S. lawmakers, and speculation has swirled around whether McCarthy would travel there this year. McCarthy last year expressed interest in visiting Taiwan if he became speaker, a role he assumed in January after Republicans took control of the House in November's midterm elections.

☆ Kevin McCarthy is working tirelessly and spending a lot of his political capital to win fights that don't actually matter.
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-12 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Kevin McCarthy rallied GOP lawmakers to oust Ilhan Omar from the House Foreign Affairs Committee. But taking Omar off the Foreign Affairs panel took a good deal more effort on his part. The Omar vote was seen as a huge victory for the party, especially coming off McCarthy's protracted 15 rounds of balloting to secure the House speakership. Republicans led a successful effort to remove Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota from the House Foreign Affairs Committee. While Republican leaders were pleased with the outcome, the behind-the-scenes work to push through a successful vote against Omar took up a lot of political oxygen.

☆ Biden played the State of the Union perfectly, but the raucous GOP proved he's dealing with a whole new kind of opposition
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-08 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Tuesday's State of the Union address was an at times raucous affair. Tuesday night showed that this is no longer your father's State of the Union address. Parts of Biden's second State of the Union resembled the United Kingdom's raucous "Prime Minister's Questions" sessions that C-SPAN nerds delight in. The State of the Union is not supposed to resemble the real-time grilling of a world leader though. To be clear, opposition party members have long trolled the president during the State of the Union.

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