Moderate Republicans are ready to exercise their political muscle to make sure their narrowly won House majority does not get hijacked and dominated by Freedom Caucus conservative hard-liners who want to impose new rules in 2023.
Rep. Dave Joyce, a moderate 50-member Republican Governance Group leader, stated that it is incorrect to believe that the Freedom Caucus can dictate terms to House GOP leaders next season because of the tiny majority Republicans will have.
Joyce, R-Ohio, stated that although they make the most noise, it’s not always productive. It’s a lot smoke and mirrors.
Joyce stated that his caucus was watching closely the internal debate about the House rules for next Congress and who will be the speaker. Joyce stated that his members were ready and available to provide a counterweight for the Freedom Caucus in case hard-liners insist on too much.
REPUBLICANS GIVE MCARTHY TIME TO TALK WITH HOUSEFREEDOM CAUCUS BEFORE the FINAL SPEAKERSHIP.
Rep. Dave Joyce said his caucus was closely watching the internal debate over what the House rules will be next Congress and who will serve as speaker.
(Rep. Dave Joyce. )
Joyce stated, “I am not here pushing an agenda.” “We want to make sure we don’t get cuffed to a burning building before getting the gavel. We are the majority-makers.
Republicans won’t win the power vote in the House of RepresentativesUntil January Since appearing to have won the majority last week the Freedom Caucus has made concessions to House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthyR-Calif. as a condition to his bid for speaker.
HOUSE FREEDOM CAUCUS WANTS OPTION TO REMOVE THE SPEAKER AS A PRICE FOR GIVING MCARTHY THE GAVEL
Hard-liners feel more confident because of the slim majority Republicans are expected to hold. At the low end of the spectrum, the GOP could have a 218 seat majority, which would be the minimum necessary to control the House. If Republicans win all of the remaining races, including those where Democrats are preferred, the majority could reach 226 seats.
Freedom Caucus members believe that narrow majority gives their leverage, as they need to support legislation.
The House of Representatives would remain under Republican control until January.
(AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)
“Everyone’s votes matter to a far greater extent than at any other moment,” stated the statement. Rep. Matt GaetzR-Fla.
To secure McCarthy’s speakership, Freedom Caucus members are also required. McCarthy will need 218 votes in order to succeed Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House. 31 GOP members voted against McCarthy’s nominating.
In return for McCarthy’s support, the Freedom Caucus, with more than 40 members, demands an overhaul of House rules. The Freedom Caucus claims its goal is limiting the House speaker’s powers to empower individuals.
The Freedom Caucus, for example, wants to reinstate an obscure rule that allows any lawmaker to request a vote to remove the speaker from any position on the House floor. It will ensure that any amendment is put to the floor if at minimum 10% of the GOP conference supports it.
Other changes to rules include instituting a rule called “majority or the majority”. This would mean that a majority in the GOP conference must support a bill before it can be voted on the floor. Hardliners also want committee chairmen to be elected by their respective panels and not by leaders.
After a last-minute challenge, Kevin McCarthy won the leadership position of his party by a 188 to 31 vote.
(AP Photo/Barry Reeger)
Many would prefer that budget bills be sent to the House floor by committees rather than being combined with other pieces of legislation.
“There is a top down driven program here at Washington, D.C., and where leadership makes all the decisions,” Scott Perry, Freedom Caucus Chairman, R-Pa. “We want some fundamental changes in how Congress operates.”
MCCARTHY WINS GOP NOMINATION FOR THE HOUSE SPEEAKER
Moderate Republicans feel that not all proposed rule changes, such as making it easier to take down a speaker, are worthwhile. If the Freedom Caucus continues pushing for these policy changes, it could lead to internal GOP disputes over this and other policies.
“Frequent leadership changes would undermine House Republicans’ ability deliver a common-sense, conservative vision, and meaningful results to the American people,” stated Pete Stauber, a Minnesota Rep. who is co-chairs the centrist Republican Main Street Caucus.
Because of the small majority Republicans are poised for a win, the Freedom Caucus feels empowered.
(Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call)
A compromise has been proposed by moderates that allows a vote on the Speaker to be moved onto the House Floor if a majority in the Republican Conference agrees. They expressed opposition to changes to the way that committee chairs are chosen, noting that there is already a term limit to ensure accountability.
Others worry that stopping budget bills being combined could slow down the legislative calendar, and stop vital, but potentially controversial, measures from moving forward. This includes providing humanitarian assistance to Ukraine as well raising the ceiling on how much federal government can borrow to cover expenses.
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In recent days moderate Republicans have mostly remained silent, preferring to allow Freedom Caucus to express its views in the hope of deescalating tensions. They are not happy with the notion that GOP hardliners wish to dictate the future Congress’ agenda, especially if they have to adopt initiatives they view as politically dangerous.
One centrist GOP lawmaker stated that mainstream Republicans had been relatively quiet thus far, as they are aware the process must proceed. “But if it reaches a point that we’re headed over a cliff then I think a lot a us will have to step up, after all, anybody can exert leverage if they are small.”
