Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) commented on Sunday that Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) lacks influence in the House. This came after Gaetz revealed his plans to challenge House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s (R-CA) leadership position.
On CNN’s “State of the Union,” Pelosi responded to Gaetz’s announcement: “He’s not influential in the House; his main objectives seem to be media appearances and online fundraising,” when speaking with anchor Jake Tapper.
Before this, Gaetz had informed Tapper of his intentions to try and unseat McCarthy in the upcoming days. He blamed McCarthy for overstepping a previous “agreement” made in January, which allowed McCarthy to secure the speakership following 15 voting rounds and negotiations with the Democrats. Gaetz was also critical of a perceived “side deal” McCarthy had with the Democrats concerning aid for Ukraine.
Despite the recent 45-day continuing resolution not allocating funds for Ukraine, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) anticipates McCarthy introducing a bill supporting Ukraine, reflecting a commitment to countering Russia and its leader, Vladimir Putin.
According to the current House rules, a single member can initiate a process that may culminate in a no-confidence vote for the speaker. A simple majority would be sufficient for this vote to pass. This implies that if some Republicans are unhappy with McCarthy, they could collaborate with the Democrats to remove him from his role.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) expressed on CNN that she would support the motion to oust McCarthy as speaker.
During his segment, Gaetz predicted that McCarthy’s retention as the House Speaker would hinge on Democrat support.
When quizzed about her recommendations to the Democrats on the no-confidence vote, Pelosi replied, “Heed the leader,” hinting at Jeffries.
Following the Democrat-majority Senate’s approval of the continuing resolution, President Joe Biden sanctioned it just before the potential onset of a governmental cessation. This interim measure allows Congress additional time to finalize the budget for the forthcoming fiscal year.
Highlighting the approval of the continuing resolution, McCarthy claimed the signing was to ensure the military’s financing, provide emergency assistance, and prevent government closure, allowing Congress to resume its regular activities.
