Associated Press
Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz filed a resolution late Monday to oust Kevin McCarthy as speaker, setting up a likely showdown vote in the House in the days ahead.
The far-right Republican from Florida has for months threatened to use a procedural tool — called a motion to vacate — to try to strip McCarthy of his office. Those threats escalated over the weekend after McCarthy relied on Democrats to provide the necessary votes to fund the government.
A motion to vacate is a rare and strong procedural tool that has only been used twice in the past century against Republican speakers. But in recent years, conservatives have wielded the motion as a weapon against their leaders.
In January, McCarthy, hoping to appease some on the hard right like Gaetz as he fought to gain their vote for speaker, agreed to give as few as five Republican members the ability to initiate a vote to remove him. But when that wasn’t good enough for his critics, he agreed to reduce that threshold to one — the system that historically has been the norm.
That decision has set McCarthy up for the ultimate test of his leadership as he will now have to rely on Democrats to withhold their support for any effort to force his removal.
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Republished with permission from The Associated Press.
10 comments
Earl Pitts "Be More Earl-like In All You Do" American
October 2, 2023 at 7:52 pm
Matt’s not gonna be a “one sip suzie” on this MCcarthy “Florida Panhandle Boot To The Azz Shizz” America.
He said today it took MCcarthy 15 attempts to get voted in as Speaker so y’all can go to #eLL with your one and done dreams.
Y’all Dook 4 Brains are lookin at at least 14 more times to kick RINO MCcarthy out on his 8utt.
EPA
Rick Whitaker
October 3, 2023 at 7:29 am
another inane comment. is that all you got? you never make any sense, you aren’t funny, what drives you besides lies and hate?
PeterH
October 2, 2023 at 7:53 pm
If Gingrich is precedent….. this should prevent Gaetz from a political future!
Michael K
October 2, 2023 at 7:54 pm
Stay on the high road, Democrats. You bailed the Republicans out once – but they cannot be trusted, nor do they deserve any more of your help, at least at this point.
Let the extremists devour their own.
SteveHC
October 2, 2023 at 8:22 pm
Not only is Gaetz highly unlikely to succeed in his bizarre political war of attrition with McCarthy, it is quite possible if not downright likely that Mr. McCarthy’s *ultimate* response(s) will very much not be to Gaetz’s liking – or favor – in the least. Overplaying such a weak hand as is Gaetz’s is just plain dumb. No tears will be shed for Gaetz by anyone, I suspect.
Tropical
October 2, 2023 at 10:21 pm
I couldn’t think of a single thing smarmy gaetz has done for our District, but I guess he’s decided to try one out for his klan.
So worthless.
Joe
October 2, 2023 at 11:02 pm
Gaetz is an attention whore with the head of a frankenstein and the face of a vampire.
Sonja Fitch
October 3, 2023 at 4:13 am
Omg Joe. I agree with you! Gaetz is pure and simple a sleaze bag! Common Good!
YUNGnSURLY
October 3, 2023 at 6:17 pm
Gaetz needs to go, not McCarthy! I hope Gaetz becomes the poster boy for what to do if you want to be a GOP pariah!!!
Rick Whitaker
October 4, 2023 at 3:51 am
he already is.. the tennessee rep. that voted with matt recently is real bad too, he just isn’t known as well. his name is tim burchett. when the tn. church school got shot up and kids died, a reporter asked him about it and he said i’m not worried about my kids because i homeschool. what a POS.
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