Last Updated on December 5, 2022
A House Republican from Ohio has called the efforts from Trump-aligned Republicans to restore the ability to vacate the Speaker chair a “stupid idea.”
Rep. David Joyce (R-Ohio), a Republican who is linked to Reps. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) and Liz Cheney (R-WY) threw his support behind McCarthy.
“We were given this opportunity to do that, and he deserves the chance to lead us, and he deserves the chance to lead for two years,” Joyce said of the establishment California representative running for speaker.
“I’m not a fan of a motion to vacate. I think that’s a stupid idea. We were elected for two years,” Rep. Joyce added.
In November 2021, when the House voted to censure the America First, Trump-supporting Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ), Joyce voted “present.”
The only other Republicans dissing Gosar were Rep. Cheney and Kinzinger, who voted in favor of censuring the anti-establishment Arizonian.
As McCarthy is approaching the January 3rd speakership election, establishment-linked Republicans like Joyce are coming out in support of McCarthy while House Freedom Caucus members and Trump-aligned Republicans have begun to speak out against the California rep.
With Republicans set to hold 222 votes and McCarthy needing 218 votes to secure the House Speaker role, every vote matters.
As National File previously reported, at least a dozen Republicans may vote “no”:
“I believe we have at least a dozen or so… that will do what needs to be done on the House Floor to ensure that we get an improvement in the Speaker situation,” Rep. Bob Good told John Fredericks, a political radio host.
The “motion to vacate the chair” is a rule removed by Nancy Pelosi that certain House Republicans would like to see restored.
The House Freedom Caucus is making moves to push for a congressional rule change that could allow any House Republican to make a motion, at any time, to vacate the speaker’s chair McCarthy is set to take.
“Every member of Congress was elected to legislate on behalf of their constituents. To do that, members must be able to hold their own leadership accountable,” Rep. Biggs, the former head of the Freedom Caucus said of the push.
The ability to vacate the chair would allow America-First Republicans to hold McCarthy accountable for his leadership.
In 2015, the then-Freedom Caucus Chairman Rep. Mark Meadows (N.C.) threatened to make a motion to remove Republican Speaker John Boehner from the Speaker chair after Boehner voted against a trade bill.
While Boehner supporters in the House prevented the motion from reaching the floor, Boehner ultimately resigned three months later, presumably due to pressure from the unrelenting Freedom Caucus.
Stay tuned to National File for any updates.
