As House Republicans grapple with the aftermath of the ousting of Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), their Senate counterparts are expressing concerns about the potential consequences this political turmoil may have on the progress of crucial appropriations bills.
With the clock ticking to clear all 12 appropriations bills within the 45 days granted by the continuing resolution passed over the weekend, lawmakers face an impending deadline. The stopgap measure, which keeps the government funded, is set to expire on Nov. 17.
Moreover, not every day between now and then is a sitting day, further complicating matters. Simultaneously, House Republicans find themselves in a leadership crisis that has left many on Capitol Hill uneasy.
Over the weekend, Congress narrowly averted a government shutdown, with Mr. McCarthy relying on Democratic support to push the stopgap measure across the finish line, highlighting the split in approach to policy making within House Republicans.
On Wednesday, Senate lawmakers from both sides of the aisle weighed in on the dramatic events unfolding in the House.
Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) described as “sad” the outcome of Rep. Matt Gaetz’s motion to vacate the speaker’s office. He also expressed surprise that it was Mr. Gaetz who plunged the political dagger to Mr. McCarthy’s speakership.
“I was surprised … that the effort to topple the speaker was led by a guy who’s made plain that he’s not really interested in staying in the House,” Mr. Kaine told The Epoch Times.
“He doesn’t want to run for speaker,” he added, referring to Mr. Gaetz. “Most people think he’s running to be governor of Florida. So if somebody is not serious about the House, why was he able to lead this successful, first-in-history effort to topple the House leader? Was it just like a personal grudge, or kind of a petty thing, or a desire to get clicks?”
Conservative Republicans have traditionally been hesitant to pass omnibus bills, which they say breed a lack of transparency in governance. However, Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), who weighed in on whether the House’s political turbulence would impact the progress of spending bills, said this might be the only outcome, given the time frame available.
“This year’s appropriation process is a mess,” Mr. Johnson told The Epoch Times. “We’re gonna end up with … either a couple of massive minibusses or an omnibus—it’s pretty obvious. I don’t think it’s going to have any impact on the final result there.”
Mr. Johnson also weighed in on the potential candidates jostling to replace Mr. McCarthy.
“I’m encouraged that there are people, good people, [such as] Chairman Jordan, Congressman Scalise, running for the office,” he added. “Obviously, the House will decide.”
Mr. Johnson praised Mr. Jordan’s intelligence and “high integrity,” adding that “he‘d make a marvelous speaker, but we’ll let the House decide.”
Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) expressed her eagerness to demonstrate bipartisan support for the appropriations bills, emphasizing the importance of cooperation.
However, Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.) acknowledged the challenges now posed by Mr. McCarthy’s ouster.
“Well, obviously because the time is short and they’re preoccupied with the speaker’s role, and the uncertainty always on their minds progress,” Mr. Reed said.
Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) voiced concerns about the impact of the House speaker’s removal on the appropriations process.
“I think this is what makes the appropriations process, and particularly the next 45 days to the deadline, very difficult to meet. We'll see how the House can resolve it,” he said.
“It also sends a message to our friends and adversaries around the world that we’ve less than got our act together,” Mr. Moran added.
Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.) emphasized the urgency of House Republicans resolving their leadership issues.
“The House has got to resolve leadership issues before we can actually move forward. Clock’s ticking.”
Meanwhile, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) declined to comment on the issue or its potential impact on the appropriations process.
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) offered extensive thoughts on his podcast, “Verdict with Ted Cruz,” saying that he is “conflicted.” He contended that there has been hyperbolic rhetoric “from both sides of the spectrum.”
‘No Clear Path Forward’
In previous remarks to The Hill, Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), a member of the Senate GOP leadership team, echoed comments by Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.), chairman of the House Rules Committee, who said there was no obvious plan moving forward.Mr. Cornyn told the outlet that the “chaos” created in the House is “not good for Republicans and they have no clear path forward.”
“A handful [of] House members just want to blow up the institution and themselves in the process. Sad,” he wrote on X, immediately after the vote to ouster Mr. McCarthy.
Sen. Roger Wicker (Miss.), the top-ranking Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said the removal of Mr. McCarthy at this time “can’t possibly help” to get the annual defense appropriations bill or annual Defense Department reauthorization passed before Jan. 1.
He said that if Congress doesn’t “get the appropriations process going,” lawmakers won’t be able to clear any of the bills “before the end of the year.”
Mr. Thune noted the looming Nov. 17 deadline, expressing regret that lawmakers won’t be sitting next week, while House Republicans resolve their leadership problem.
“We have a short amount of time and a lot to get done,” he added.
Mr. Gaetz, who had dangled the possibility of a motion to vacate the speaker’s office for several weeks, made good on the threat on Monday. Mr. McCarthy swiftly scheduled consideration of the motion for Tuesday and was ousted in a vote that saw eight Republicans join all Democrats in voting to oust Mr. McCarthy as Speaker of the House.
Some of the Republicans who voted to ouster the speaker cited a “lack of trustworthiness” in his leadership, echoing similar concerns about his handling of critical legislation, including the debt ceiling and continuing resolution to fund the government.
The vast majority of the Republican conference, 210 members, opposed the motion.
House Speaker Pro Tempore Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.) has placed the House in recess until Oct. 10.
