Republicans were warned by leadership about plunging the party “into chaos” but Gaetz, who has repeatedly complained about McCarthy failing to honour agreements made with the far right, retorted: “Chaos is Speaker McCarthy”.
“Chaos is somebody who we cannot trust with their word,” he added.
Democrats, too, had no love for McCarthy, pointing to his decision to renege on a deal with Biden on spending limits hammered out earlier this year in high-stakes talks over the federal budget.
“PIGSTY OF INCOMPETENCE”
The pro-business New Democrat Coalition, a large group of Democratic lawmakers, described McCarthy as “simply not trustworthy.” And Congressional Progressive Caucus chairwoman Pramila Jayapal, a leading leftist, vowed to let Republicans “wallow in their pigsty of incompetence” rather than rescue McCarthy.
The tussle came two days after the House and Senate passed a measure to avert a costly government shutdown – both with big bipartisan majorities – by extending federal funding through mid-November.
Conservatives were furious, seeing their chances dashed for forcing massive budget cuts.
They accused McCarthy of a flip-flop, saying he’d promised an end to hastily prepared stopgap legislation, hammered out with the support of the opposition, and a return to budgeting through the committee process.
“I hate losing Kevin as a friend but I worry about our country, in all sincerity,” said conservative Tennessee congressman Tim Burchett.
Source: CNA
