Here’s what happened…
Rep. Ronny Jackson, a Republican from Texas, has issued a cautionary message to Speaker Kevin McCarthy, a Republican from California, emphasizing the significance of addressing the concerns raised by the right-wing faction within their House majority. The ongoing congressional deliberations over next year’s government spending priorities have placed McCarthy’s leadership role House Speaker under scrutiny.
According to Fox, Jackson asserted that McCarthy must give due attention to the voices on the right side of the political spectrum. Failure to do so might lead to a scenario where McCarthy would have to rely on Democratic support to pass crucial legislation, as was the case with the recent debt ceiling vote, where more Democrats voted in favor than Republicans. Jackson shared his thoughts on Steve Bannon’s “War Room” podcast, expressing concerns about the potential consequences if the legitimate demands of conservative groups like the Freedom Caucus are disregarded during this legislative process.
Jackson speculated that if the situation unfolds as he described, it could become inevitable for someone to initiate a process known as a “motion to vacate the chair,” ultimately leading to a House-wide vote for the selection of a new speaker.
In response to Jackson’s statements, a spokesperson for McCarthy clarified that the speaker was focused on preventing any strategic moves by Senate Democrats to gain leverage. The spokesperson emphasized the necessity of a short-term continuing resolution to allow more time for House Republicans to pursue their policy objectives, which include reducing bureaucratic spending, implementing changes to federal policy, and reinforcing the nation’s military capabilities.
McCarthy, having assumed the role of speaker earlier in the year, is bound by an agreement that enables a motion to vacate to be triggered by a single member’s call.
Jackson was among several conservative voices expressing opposition to a temporary spending measure, referred to as a continuing resolution. This measure aims to extend the previous year’s priorities for a limited duration while negotiations for the fiscal year 2024 budget take place. The opposition stems from concerns that endorsing the continuing resolution could indirectly support the omnibus bill that was passed by the previous Democrat-controlled Congress – a bill that garnered significant Republican resistance.
The Freedom Caucus, a group of conservatives, recently announced their opposition to a “clean” continuing resolution. They demand the inclusion of several conservative provisions in any potential agreement, such as measures to curb perceived politicization of the Justice Department and FBI, reversal of certain military policies, and the enactment of the House GOP’s border security proposal. Furthermore, they stand against further financial assistance to Ukraine as part of a supplementary funding bill, which President Biden sought in light of the ongoing conflict with Russia.
This supplementary funding request, totaling $40 billion, also encompasses resources to replenish U.S. disaster relief funds and bolster enforcement activities along the southern border.