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WSJ Politics & Policy |
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Welcome to a special edition of WSJ's politics newsletter looking at Rep. Kevin McCarthy's campaign to be elected House speaker, which proved successful early Saturday morning after 15 rounds of voting that stretched over four days. To receive our weekday edition and future special editions, sign up here. |
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Three Questions With WSJ's Eliza Collins |
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WSJ: What was behind the conflict between the conservative Republicans who opposed Mr. McCarthy's bid for the speakership after the GOP won control of the chamber in the 2022 midterm elections? Eliza Collins: The group of Republican dissidents who opposed Mr. McCarthy's bid, at its largest, numbered 20 lawmakers. Their reasons ranged from personal grudges to demands to cut spending or put in place rules to make it easier to unseat the speaker. For example, Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida has long had personal issues with Mr. McCarthy. Rep. Ralph Norman of South Carolina said he needed a speaker who would cut federal spending more aggressively than he thought Mr. McCarthy would. Rep. Chip Roy of Texas complained the House wasnt operating as it should. |
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| | ▶️Video: WSJ's Eliza Collins breaks down the challenges facing newly elected House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. PHOTO: JOSE LUIS MAGANA/ASSOCIATED PRESS |
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WSJ: How did Mr. McCarthy resolve the various disagreements with this faction? Eliza Collins: Mr. McCarthy made a significant number of concessions in order to win over his detractors. He ultimately got 14 of them to vote for him, while six voted “present,” which lowered the number of votes needed for him to win from 218 to 216. The agreement he struck is expected to make for more conservative policy from the Republican-controlled House. Lawmakers got a commitment to voting on specific bills and the promise to tie spending cuts to a debt-ceiling increase. Mr. McCarthy also agreed to add more conservatives to key committees. One change that will affect him directly is the reinstatment of a rule that allows a single member to call for a vote to oust the speaker. The rule had been in place during previous sessions of Congress, and proved problematic for some Republican speakers, but it was removed under former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) in 2019. |
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| "I ran out of things to ask for." | — Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz, a GOP holdout against Kevin McCarthy’s bid for speaker |
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WSJ: What's likely in the weeks and months ahead now that Mr. McCarthy has the gavel? Eliza Collins: These concessions have set a floor agenda for the Republicans and laid the foundation for future clashes not just with the Senate and White House, both controlled by the Democratic Party, but also likely within the House GOP itself. Some members lamented the deal and felt Mr. McCarthy gave away too much power to the party’s right flank, and have promised to resist moves in the future. Mr. McCarthy, for his part, has said he isn't afraid of the new “motion to vacate” rules so they will not weaken him as speaker. |
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| | ▶️Video: Tensions rose in the House during the 14th ballot on Friday night, with Rep. Mike Rogers (R., Ala.) being restrained from two members who voted "present." PHOTO: AP |
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Mr. McCarthy's concessions to win the speakership could preview months of turmoil in Congress. | |
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The fractiousness within the GOP could imperil some basic functions of government, report Lindsay Wise, Andrew Duehren and Kristina Peterson. The first under threat could be the ability of the U.S. government to stay open and pay its debts, since many of Mr. McCarthy’s foes oppose raising the debt ceiling or cutting spending deals with Democrats, and could move to oust him from his job if he tries to do so. Also at risk are other high-profile measures that would require agreement between House Republicans and the Democrats who control the Senate and White House: funding the Pentagon and other agencies, sending aid to Ukraine as it battles an invasion and approving food stamps for low-income people as part of the farm bill, which is typically reauthorized every five years. |
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| "I hope one thing is clear after this week: I never give up.” | — Kevin McCarthy, in his first speech as House speaker |
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How a Tense Late-Night Push Won McCarthy the Gavel (Read) |
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McCarthy Says He'll Use 'Power of the Purse and the Power of the Subpoena' (Read) |
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McCarthy Thanks Trump for His Help (Read) |
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The House Speaker Drama Has One Winner: C-SPAN (Read) |
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Kevin McCarthy’s Fraught Path to Power (Read) |
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| | The sign at the office of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy is installed in the Capitol.MATT ROURKE/ASSOCIATED PRESS |
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In light of the tight margins within his caucus and the GOP's slim majority in the House, what will Mr. McCarthy's biggest challenge be? Let us know at politics@wsj.com or reply to this newsletter. Include your full name and location, and we may publish your response in an upcoming issue. |
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