As the Republican Party’s internecine war continues on all fronts, the battle among House Republicans over the Speaker of the new Congress, which will convene on January 3, just grew more intense.
Seven GOP Congressmen disillusioned by Kevin McCarthy’s leadership on Friday released an open letter, addressed to “Dear Colleague,” with a list of demands — presumably with the caveat that any candidate for the speakership must meet their demands or their votes will go elsewhere.
“As we form the 118th Congress,” the letter begins, “any GOP Speaker candidate must make clear he or she will advance rules, policies, and organizational structure that will result in the values listed below.” (We’ll get to those.)
Representatives Scott Perry (R-Pa.), Chip Roy (R-Texas), Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.), Andrew Clyde (R-Ga.), Dan Bishop (R-N.C.), and Representatives-Elect Eli Crane (R-Ariz.) and Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.) also demanded that the House permit motions to vacate the chair, which would allow members to force a vote on the speakership.
Incidentally, the motion was permitted from 1801 until 2018 when it was removed from the rules under the leadership of you-know-who — Madam Speaker herself, Nancy Pelosi.
With full recognition that Joe Biden began on his first day in office to do the bidding of the radical left and has never looked back, and that the Democrat Party continues to spend taxpayer money like drunken sailors (apologies to drunken sailors) — often aided by weak-kneed members of the Republican Caucus and McCarthy, himself — the seven House members wrote:
The House of Representatives serves as the people’s voice in our system of government and it requires leadership to unleash its full power to check the Executive Branch, push the Senate to act, and responsibly exercise its strongest tool — the power of the purse.
It’s hard to disagree with any of the above, as the House Chamber was envisioned by the Founders.
Yet, to suggest that the House still functions as the voice of the people is laughable when one considers the initiatives and narratives of today’s Democrat Party. So from an idealistic perspective, a Republican Caucus that can return to the original intent of the House would be historic indeed — particularly given the current beliefs of a majority of the American people. Abortion is a perfect example, given that six out of ten voters support legal abortion in one or more aspects.
Anyway, the letter lists eight “demands.” Among them:
Trust and Accountability
We must return to Thomas Jefferson’s rule guaranteeing the right to protect the ability to represent his/her constituents by forcing a vote on the Speakership (the “Motion to Vacate the Chair”). While difficult in practice, it is an important mechanism to restore trust and provide accountability. […]
Bills that are Focused, Amendable, and Readable
For too long under both parties, we have simply failed to do our most basic job to legislate in a responsible manner on behalf of our constituents. We must take steps to re-open the legislative process in the House for all Members to participate.
At a minimum, we must pledge 100% commitment to providing (and not waiving) at least 72 hours for FINAL bill text, a return to “single subject” bills, rules requiring germane amendments, and a pledge to restore genuine debate to the floor. […]
No Leadership Involved in Primaries
Republican leadership and their political proxies must stop their involvement in Republican primaries. We must have a clear policy — and that message must be sent to leadership-affiliated PACs — to avoid undermining the trust of those they will eventually have to lead and inserting themselves into local elections. […]
Conservative Representatives on Committees and among Chairs
To be effective and actually united, the Republican positions on committees must reflect the ideological makeup of the House: Republican Conference and those Americans who elect us. Most importantly, the Rules Committee must have multiple conservative seats. We must ensure unity BEFORE we’re on the House floor. […]
A Firm Plan to End Limitless Spending
We must commit to not raising the debt ceiling without a concrete plan to cap spending and operate under a budget that balances in 10 years or less — and hold to it. In addition, we must not return to the blind embrace of earmarks emblematic of the swamp.
So here’s the thing: I read through the above “demands” and the other three, multiple times while writing this article. And I couldn’t find a single point with which I disagree. It appears that neither does Arizona Rep. Andy Biggs, chair of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, who announced earlier this week his intentions to challenge McCarthy for the speakership.
Biggs said in an opinion piece that further leadership from McCarthy would bolster the establishment “uni-party” in Congress.
Incidentally, loyalists of “a certain GOP faction” glommed onto the “uniparty” label faster than Michael Moore grabbing a McDonald’s Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese, and the term is already parroted on social media against “RINOs” and other such “malcontents.” Who knew?
The Bottom Line
In an earlier article on Friday titled Rising Republican Star Has a Plan for 2024 GOP Comeback and the Party Would Be Wise to Follow Her Lead, I wrote about Alabama Senator-Elect Katie Britt and her thoughts about what she believes the GOP must do to mount an effective 2024 comeback — and win.
Not only are Britt’s thought simple; but they’re also correct.
Ah, but simple and easy aren’t synonymous, and over the next two years 2024 presidential election, the GOP’s road is more than likely than not to be anything but easy.