Kevin McCarthy has agreed to a major concession to secure his bid to become the next speaker of the House.
On a Sunday night conference call with members of the House Republican caucus, McCarthy, R-Calif., said he would agree to the “motion to vacate,” a parliamentary procedure by which as few as five members of Congress could trigger a vote to oust him.
It's still far from certain that the California Republican will become speaker. Even McCarthy admits he doesn't know if he has the votes to lock down his speakership bid.
He can only afford to lose four Republicans when the House votes on its new speaker.
CNN has more on the ideological and numerical challenges facing McCarthy:
Not long after Sunday's call, a group of nine hardliners – who had outlined their demands to McCarthy last month – put out a new letter saying some of the concessions he announced are insufficient and making clear they're still not sold on him, though they did say progress is being made.
“Thus far, there continue to be missing specific commitments with respect to virtually every component of our entreaties, and thus, no means to measure whether promises are kept or broken,” the members wrote in the letter obtained by CNN. [emphasis added]
…
The California Republican had told his members in Sunday's call that after weeks of negotiations, he has agreed to a threshold as low as five people to trigger a vote on ousting the speaker at any given time, known as the “motion to vacate” the speaker's chair, and pitched it as a “compromise.” CNN first reported last week that he was supportive of that threshold.
The opposition wants McCarthy to give any single lawmaker from the majority the power to call for a vote of no confidence in his speakership.
Meanwhile, some moderates have balked at McCarthy's concessions.
Rep. Dusty Johnson of South Dakota said he wasn't happy with the low threshold McCarthy agreed to, though he indicated he would swallow it, but only if it helps McCarthy win the speakership. Other members made clear that the rules package that was negotiated will be off the table if McCarthy's critics end up tanking his speakership bid.
READ NEXT: Congressman Resigns Early >>
After hearing his call with Lyin’ Liz, I am not sure he is a conservative. With this chance to oust him IF/WHEN he turns RINO, I’d vote for him FOR NOW!
this is why GOP can never hold or manage majority. too much in-fighting over whose ideas are best. Demon Rats all follow lockstep, until recently – and two free thinkers are not enough to do more than rock the boat. Conservatives are all too free thinking when it comes to politics.
Yes, and that is the wonderfulness of freedom and 1st amendment. They will come to an agreement. I think we are too used to dems not having freedom to be different. Growth comes while we talked it out and come to agreement. The dems’ way closes door of opportunity to grow and only creates a robot consciousness. Hail to freedom and the republican way!
Look, we’ve already been burned by one Rino already, his name being Paul Ryan. It won’t happen again. So, my friend, what do you have to say? All in Rino or ALL in CONSERVATIVE. Rino, we will JUST SAY NO!!!
Think GOP has better men than McCarty for Speaker
WE NEED TO KNOW EXACTLY WHO IS OBJECTING TO MC CARTHY’S LEADERSHIP. WHY IN THE USA DO WE NOT KNOW???????
WHAT IS GOVERNMENT IF THEY DO NOT REPRESENT THE PEOPLE??
IS IT MONEY??
Duh, the opposition is in plain sight. McCathy is a swamp creature.
IS MC CARTHY LIBERAL OR CONSERVATIVE?? WHICH??
IF HE SUPPORTS CHENNY, IS VERY VERY DANGEROUS, AND LIBERAL.
Chip Roy for Speaker of the House
Chip Roy for Speaker of the House
Stephen Moore for House Speaker—far better choice
I don’t trust anyone from Commiefornia.
Actually I don’t trust either party. They played good cop, bad cop too many times to be trusted. Remember Obama care when the republicans promised to get rid of it if they gained control of congress. We gave them control and they turned right around and said it was too late. I don’t trust any of them.