House Votes To Approve GOP Hardliner’s Rules Package Targeted At McCarthy

After a tumultuous 15 rounds of voting, Kevin McCarthy (R-California) was sworn in as House Speaker, but not without making promises to the GOP hardliners made his path to the gavel difficult.

The House on Monday passed a rules package supported by the hardliners concerning House operations for the next two years. Some of the concessions McCarthy made to gain the votes he needed including allowing an individual lawmaker to be able to call for his removal, a 72-hour waiting period between introducing a bill and voting on it, creating a committee with the ability to investigate the Justice Department and restrictions on federal spending.

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The legislation was adopted in a 220-213 vote, with one Republican, Rep. Tony Gonzales (Texas), voting with all the Democrats. One more Republican did not vote.

Gonzales said the reason he could not support the package was over concern of “anti-immigration policies” and for limiting U.S. defense spending at a time when tensions are high with Russia and China.

Other Republicans, such as Republican Whip Tom Emmer (Minnesota) and Rep. Chip Roy (Teas) argue that the rules are in place to cap discretionary funding, but say that it will not cut defense spending.

The package also requires that three out of the nine seats in the House Rules Committee must be filled with members of the House Freedom Caucus. Members of the House Freedom Caucus played a large role in blocking McCarthy’s road to the speakership.

Democrats were unhappy with the rules package, saying it was for “MAGA extremists.”

“These rules are not a serious attempt at governing,” Rep. Jim McGovern said (D-Massachusetts). “They’re essentially a ransom note to America from the extreme right.”