Freedom Caucus threatens to derail McCarthy’s speaker bid – By Juliegrace Brufke (Washington Examiner) / Nov 10, 2022
Members of the House Freedom Caucus are threatening to derail House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy’s bid to become the next speaker of the House as the conservative group looks for concessions from the California Republican as he faces a narrower-than-expected majority next year.
The group, which played a key role in forcing former Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) to step down, is looking to flex its muscle, with members pushing for reforms to the motion to vacate the chair, which would ease the process to oust a sitting speaker; changes to the Steering Committee, which is tasked with choosing committee assignments and who holds committee gavels; and a slowdown of the legislative process to allow for more amendments.
Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) said changes to the motion to vacate is a “red line” for her support.
“The most important thing is to remember that the leader, whoever wants to be a leader, has to earn 218, so that’s the question, right?” Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) told reporters outside the Freedom Caucus’s new member orientation on Thursday. “Let’s just say that no one currently has 218.”
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