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Washington: A contingent of far-right House Republicans are plotting an attempt to remove Kevin McCarthy as House speaker as early as next week, a move that would throw the chamber into further disarray in the middle of a potential government shutdown, according to four people familiar with the effort who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss private talks.
Representatives Patrick McHenry (left) and Tom Emmer (right) with Kevin McCarthy in the House on Thursday.Credit: AP
Members of the far-right faction of the party are coalescing around nominating a member of McCarthy’s leadership team, Minnesota congressman Tom Emmer, to be the next speaker if they can successfully oust McCarthy, according to those people. The members think Emmer is more attuned to their concerns and will better deliver conservative results.
The effort to replace McCarthy with one of his top deputies is the latest example of the acrimony and chaos that has upended the Republican conference this year and has Congress on the path to a government shutdown. Many within the Republican Party, including McCarthy allies, have long warned that McCarthy’s leadership would be tested during the fight to fund the government because of promises he made to far-right lawmakers in January to win the speaker’s gavel.
Emmer, according to two people who have spoken to him, has not indicated whether he would want to pursue the speakership or support a measure to oust McCarthy.
“I fully support Speaker McCarthy. He knows that and I know that,” Emmer told The Washington Post in a statement. “I have zero interest in palace intrigue. End of discussion.”
It’s unclear if far-right members will act on the plan or if the plotting is simply a warning to McCarthy about the seriousness of their displeasure. But some members have emphasised that removing McCarthy is “inevitable” and “imminent” and they are calculating the right time to make a move.
US Representative Tom Emmer, a Republican.Credit: Rep. Tom Emmer
One lawmaker said they wanted McCarthy to leave the speakership with “some grace”, meaning that a motion would happen if the government shuts down on Sunday and McCarthy has exhausted all options to keep it open with only Republican votes.
Matt Gaetz from Florida, a consistent McCarthy foil, has twice on the House floor, as recently as this week, threatened to bring up a “motion to vacate”, which begins the process that could lead to McCarthy’s ouster. But those familiar with the plans say Gaetz could move as early as on Sunday, triggering a 48-hour process to hold a vote.
The disaffection with McCarthy among hardliners has grown even as he has consistently placated them, and even as the government heads towards a shutdown. Hardliners say McCarthy wasted months of valuable time over the northern summer by refusing to negotiate spending bills that address their demands, even though many of these members have prevented movement on several bills funding the government for the full year.
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy looks set for Nancy Pelosi’s job as Speaker.Credit: AP
“He’s done some good things, but I’m tired of messaging votes,” one House Freedom Caucus member said.
Multiple Republican members of Congress said they had conversations with Emmer about their plan to position him as the replacement for McCarthy.
“[I told Emmer] that his name has been floated around as a replacement if Kevin falters,” said a Republican House lawmaker who had high praise for Emmer. He had spoken to Emmer twice about replacing McCarthy, including as recently as Tuesday.
Emmer has been a key ally to McCarthy, a person close to Emmer said, pointing to his working “around-the-clock” to find votes for McCarthy’s election as speaker, as well as over the past several weeks, doing meetings and phone calls with members to unlock the House floor and find an agreement on government funding. He also worked closely with McCarthy to win Republican seats as chair of the National Republican Congressional Committee over the past two election cycles.
The Washington Post
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