McCarthy proposes deal to end Speaker fiasco after string of defeats

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The Associated Press reported on Friday that Kevin McCarthy concluded a deal with far-right lawmakers who have previously denied him support, including the conservative Freedom Caucus and other lawmakers.  

The agreement concerns the changes in rules that these particular lawmakers have been seeking for months.

Those include reducing the power of the speaker’s office and giving rank-and-file congressmen and women more influence in drafting and passing legislation.

However, even if McCarthy was to win the race, it is not guaranteed he would secure all the power that comes with his duties.

I will not be voting for Kevin McCarthy.

I resent the extent to which he utilizes the lobbyists and special interests to dictate how political decisions, policy decisions, and leadership decisions are made.

We have zero trust in him. pic.twitter.com/o53UhpDre2

— Rep. Matt Gaetz (@RepMattGaetz) January 6, 2023

He will also be constantly under threat of being ousted from his position if one of the lawmakers decided to launch a motion called "vacate the chair."

After eleven consecutive failed votes for the position of Speaker of the House of Representatives, candidate Kevin McCarthy has proposed to make a deal to seal the fiasco which has been ongoing for the past three days. 

The last time such a scenario occurred was in 1923 when it took the House nine rounds of voting to elect a Speaker. 

The House is expected to renew another voting round on Friday, January 6, marking the second anniversary of the Capitol Hill riots which took the lives of 5 people and injured dozens. 

"We’ve got some progress going on," McCarthy said told AP. "It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish."

Read more: Democrats warn of effects of not electing Speaker amid GOP division

To be elected speaker, McCarthy needs 218 votes, and he could have collected the number based on Republican numbers; however, he failed spectacularly.

In November, Republicans won a slim 222-212 majority in the House during midterm elections.

During the first round of voting, enough Republicans cast votes for alternatives to block McCarthy’s bid.

On Tuesday, McCarthy said his leadership may be opposed by up to 20 colleagues, with the group demanding certain committee assignments and concessions in exchange for their support.

It is worth noting that no other House business can take place if a speaker is not selected: floor votes, committee hearings, and other works will be halted if Republicans cannot agree on a new leader.