Washington — Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who was ousted from his post last year, shared on Sunday that the likelihood of a motion to vacate the current speaker is low.
“Do not be worried about a motion to vacate,” McCarthy stated on “Face the Nation” on Sunday. “I do not think they could do it again.”
As Congress recently approved a spending package after a lengthy battle over government funding that began during McCarthy’s tenure as speaker, a new threat to remove his successor has emerged.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Georgia Republican, initiated a motion to vacate, hinting at a potential vote to remove House Speaker Mike Johnson.
However, McCarthy, who represented California’s 20th district until his resignation from Congress late last year, expressed doubt about the possibility of a motion being raised or Democrats supporting it.
“We’re close to the election. We’ve seen what happened the last time Congress couldn’t act for three weeks,” McCarthy remarked. “You can’t accomplish anything without a speaker. I believe we’ve moved past that.”
McCarthy urged the conference to concentrate on their duties and the nation, advising them to “move forward” while acknowledging that Johnson is doing his best.
Upon the House’s return from a recess, the chamber may consider the motion, reminiscent of the conservative group’s effort to remove McCarthy due to similar grievances last year.
Greene viewed the motion as a warning to Johnson for bringing the funding package to the floor without the customary waiting period. She criticized the spending agreement, alleging that Johnson had surrendered his negotiating power to Democrats. Despite most House Republicans opposing the bill, Democrats ensured its passage.
It’s uncertain if there’s enough support within the House GOP to replace another speaker. House Republicans struggled to rally behind a new speaker after McCarthy’s removal. Johnson’s election followed three unsuccessful attempts by other candidates.
Since McCarthy’s departure, the House GOP’s majority has diminished, with Rep. Mike Gallagher of Wisconsin announcing his resignation in April, reducing the majority further. McCarthy, however, expressed confidence in the party’s ability to govern.
“You have the majority,” McCarthy stated. “You can still govern and use that power effectively.”
Rep. Michael McCaul of Texas, also a guest on “Face the Nation,” emphasized the need for the House to focus on governance rather than internal disputes.
“We don’t need dysfunction right now,” McCaul emphasized. “With the current global challenges, we must govern in a bipartisan manner.”
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