WASHINGTON (Reuters) Jan,7– Republican Kevin McCarthy was elected Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives early Wednesday. His major concessions to right-wing hardliners have cast doubt on his party’s ability to govern.
The 57-year-old California native suffered his final humiliation when Rep. Matt Gates withheld his vote on the 14th round around midnight.
He eventually won by his 216-212 margin. He was elected by less than half the votes of the House of Representatives because his six members of his own party withheld the vote, did not support McCarthy for Speaker, and did not vote for any other candidate. .
House brawl over McCarthy raises concerns for Republican rule
When he first picked up the gavel, McCarthy symbolized the end of President Joe Biden’s Democratic influence in both houses of Congress. McCarthy was elected only after agreeing to the hardliners’ demands that any member of Congress could demand his removal at any time. That would severely limit his power when trying to pass legislation on key issues such as funding the government, dealing with the looming national debt ceiling, and dealing with other crises that may arise. prize.
The Republican Party’s performance in the November midterm elections fell short of expectations, giving the right-wing opposition to McCarthy’s leadership tremendous power.
These concessions, including drastic spending cuts and other restrictions on McCarthy’s powers, will create even more turmoil in the coming months, especially if Congress has to approve another $31.4 trillion in additions to the U.S. credit agency. There is a possibility.
Over the past decade, Republicans have repeatedly shut down much of their government, pushed the world’s largest borrower to the brink of default, and imposed drastic spending cuts, with little success. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, one of those Democrats, said the concessions McCarthy made to “extremists” in his party could backfire on him, and that the Republican-controlled House It warned that it could face a shutdown or be more likely to cause the government to default on its debts.
In contrast to the feud between House Republicans, Biden and McConnell appeared together in Kentucky on Wednesday to emphasize infrastructure investment.
McCarthy’s belated victory comes a day after his second anniversary from the attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, as a violent mob overturns then-President Donald Trump’s election defeat. It was when he stormed parliament in .
His 14 denials this week marked the most votes for the Presidency since his 1859 in the turbulent times leading up to the Civil War.
But the concessions he agreed to mean McCarthy will have far less power than his predecessor, Democrat Nancy Pelosi. That would make it harder to come to terms with Democrats in a divided Washington.
Allowing one member to seek a vote to remove its chair gives hardliners extra leverage.
The deal will keep next year’s spending at last year’s level, a significant cut given inflation and population growth.
As the US spends billions of dollars to help Ukraine fend off a Russian attack, it could face opposition from centrist Republicans and those seeking more military funding.
Republican moderate Brian Fitzpatrick said he wasn’t concerned about the possibility that the House could actually be led by hardliners. “It’s ambitious,” he told reporters. “We still have our voting cards.”
The 57-year-old California native suffered his final humiliation when Rep. Matt Gates withheld his vote on the 14th round around midnight.
He eventually won by his 216-212 margin. He was elected by less than half the votes of the House of Representatives because his six members of his own party withheld the vote, did not support McCarthy for Speaker, and did not vote for any other candidate. .
House brawl over McCarthy raises concerns for Republican rule
When he first picked up the gavel, McCarthy symbolized the end of President Joe Biden’s Democratic influence in both houses of Congress. McCarthy was elected only after agreeing to the hardliners’ demands that any member of Congress could demand his removal at any time. That would severely limit his power when trying to pass legislation on key issues such as funding the government, dealing with the looming national debt ceiling, and dealing with other crises that may arise. prize.
The Republican Party’s performance in the November midterm elections fell short of expectations, giving the right-wing opposition to McCarthy’s leadership tremendous power.
These concessions, including drastic spending cuts and other restrictions on McCarthy’s powers, will create even more turmoil in the coming months, especially if Congress has to approve another $31.4 trillion in additions to the U.S. credit agency. There is a possibility.
Over the past decade, Republicans have repeatedly shut down much of their government, pushed the world’s largest borrower to the brink of default, and imposed drastic spending cuts, with little success. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, one of those Democrats, said the concessions McCarthy made to “extremists” in his party could backfire on him, and that the Republican-controlled House It warned that it could face a shutdown or be more likely to cause the government to default on its debts.
In contrast to the feud between House Republicans, Biden and McConnell appeared together in Kentucky on Wednesday to emphasize infrastructure investment.
McCarthy’s belated victory comes a day after his second anniversary from the attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, as a violent mob overturns then-President Donald Trump’s election defeat. It was when he stormed parliament in .
His 14 denials this week marked the most votes for the Presidency since his 1859 in the turbulent times leading up to the Civil War.
But the concessions he agreed to mean McCarthy will have far less power than his predecessor, Democrat Nancy Pelosi. That would make it harder to come to terms with Democrats in a divided Washington.
Allowing one member to seek a vote to remove its chair gives hardliners extra leverage.
The deal will keep next year’s spending at last year’s level, a significant cut given inflation and population growth.
As the US spends billions of dollars to help Ukraine fend off a Russian attack, it could face opposition from centrist Republicans and those seeking more military funding.
Republican moderate Brian Fitzpatrick said he wasn’t concerned about the possibility that the House could actually be led by hardliners. “It’s ambitious,” he told reporters. “We still have our voting cards.”
