US Republicans looking to replace House Speaker McCarthy amid shutdown
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As a replacement, the Republicans believe Tom Emmer, a member of McCarthy's leadership team, would be a better fit since he has a better way of delivering more conservative decisions.
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House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., talks to reporters just after voting to advance appropriations bills on the House floor, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday night, Sept. 26, 2023. (AP)
The Washington Post released a report on Friday claiming that a group of far-right members of the Republican Party in the US House of Representatives is aiming to oust Speaker Kevin McCarthy, citing sources familiar with the matter, in an effort to ensure more conservative legislative decisions are taken in light of the looming government shutdown.
WashPo stated that despite the fact that it remains unknown whether that will actually happen or if it's just a show of dissatisfaction, some far-right members of the GOP believe that his removal is "inevitable" and "imminent".
If the GOP group does succeed in ousting him during the shutdown, that would eventually block all legislative actions of Congress, thus impeding the work of the government further.
However, McCarthy's fate as speaker would be decided by the House Democrats, since it would need to be backed by a majority of House members. The report did add that the Democrats haven't made up their minds on voting with or against the motion, citing people familiar with the Democratic leadership's current status.
Read next: McCarthy says adding $6.2 billion for Ukraine in US spending 'wrong'
As a replacement, the Republicans believe Tom Emmer, a member of McCarthy's leadership team, would be a better fit since he has a better way of delivering more conservative decisions, but the newspaper said that Emmer is not really interested in the possibility.
"I fully support Speaker McCarthy. He knows that and I know that," Emmer told the WashPo, noting "zero interest in palace intrigue."
'Republicans need to start doing their job'
Just last week, US President Joe Biden called out "a small group of extreme Republicans" for a budget block that has left the US mere days away from the government shutdown.
"Now a small group of extreme Republicans don't want to live up to the deal so now everyone in America could be forced to pay the price," he said, adding that he had already agreed with McCarthy on government spending.
He cautioned that the government shutdown would have repercussions on a wide range of areas, including food security and cancer research, adding that "It's time for the Republicans to start doing the job America elected them to do."
The Senate's proposal, known as the Continuing Appropriations Act, aims to fund the federal government until November 17, providing more time for lawmakers to pass comprehensive spending bills.
Notably, the Senate's Continuing Resolution (CR) includes over $6 billion in military and economic aid for Ukraine, a substantial decrease from the $24 billion in funding initially requested by President Joe Biden in August. An additional $6 billion is designated for natural disaster funding.
Notably absent from the Senate's bill is any provision for increased border security, a key point of contention between the two chambers.
