‘Bring It On’: McCarthy Fires Back After Motion To Vacate Filed By Gaetz

Forbes Business Breaking ‘Bring It On’: McCarthy Fires Back After Motion To Vacate Filed By Gaetz William Skipworth Forbes Staff I am a breaking news reporter. Following Oct 2, 2023, 07:25pm EDT | Updated Oct 2, 2023, 07:57pm EDT Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Topline Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.

) filed a “motion to vacate” Monday evening seeking to oust Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif. ) from his position as speaker of the House—the greatest challenge yet to McCarthy’s precariously held leadership.

U. S. Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) talks to reporters inside the U.

S. Capitol Building . .

. [+] on October 02, 2023 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) Getty Images Key Facts Immediately after Gaetz’s motion, McCarthy took to X, formerly known as Twitter, where he wrote simply: “Bring it on.

” Gaetz has repeatedly said McCarthy had violated the agreement he made with far-right lawmakers over the past few weeks that allowed him to become speaker. Specifically, Gaetz is upset that McCarthy worked with Democrats in order to avert a government shutdown. The eleventh-hour arrangement that passed Saturday night keeps the government funded for another 45 days.

Key Background This comes months after McCarthy was elected speaker in an embarrassing spectacle in which far-right lawmakers forced the House to undergo 15 votes as they couldn’t agree on one person to be speaker. The right-flank lawmakers finally relented in a deal that allowed McCarthy to assume the role in exchange for a number of large concessions, including the power for just one representative to force a vote oust him, a power that Gaetz just exercised. This has forced McCarthy to appease the further right members of his caucus throughout his speakership.

Gaetz has been a continual thorn in McCarthy’s side. Gaetz has also griped that McCarthy was not aggressive enough in the fight to impeach President Joe Biden—though McCarthy has initiated an impeachment inquiry despite the fact that Republicans have no evidence of any crimes. Gaetz has also complained that McCarthy hasn’t brought federal spending to low enough levels and decried other instances where he worked with Democrats.

What To Watch For A vote is required within two days and could result in McCarthy losing his position as speaker if a majority of lawmakers vote in favor of Gaetz’s resolution. Talking to reporters outside the Capitol earlier Monday, Gaetz conceded that McCarthy “probably” can survive the vote, but with the narrow majority Republicans hold, if all 212 Democrats decide to remove him, the effort will only need six Republican votes. Further Reading McCarthy Shrugs Off Gaetz’s Threat To Oust Him As House Speaker: ‘Bring It On’ (Forbes) Gaetz Admits McCarthy Can ‘Probably’ Survive Effort To Oust Him As Speaker (Forbes) Follow me on Twitter or LinkedIn .

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