McCarthy's Bold Move to Tackle the Right Flank & Avert Shutdown Steals the Spotlight

Kevin McCarthy, the speaker, was unsure about the possibility of the House averting a government shutdown during his meeting with the divided Republican conference on Saturday morning. However, a surprise move by McCarthy to address his conservative critics was orchestrated behind closed doors.

Shortly after passing a 45-day short-term spending resolution, the House floor saw a 335-91 vote tally. The resolution encompassed natural disaster aid but did not allocate additional funding for Ukraine or border security.

House TV

video

Witness the moment the House approves a temporary spending bill.

As GOP leaders strategized for a potentially never-ending shutdown, concerns started to arise among McCarthy's supporters. Representative Bryan Steil addressed the room, drawing a comparison between a shutdown and a perilous bike ride down Bolivia's infamous "Death Road," as reported by sources present.

If the brakes on your bicycle stop working, Steil advised that it is essential to quickly steer towards the mountain since the further you descend, the more severe the potential crash could be. The Wisconsin Republican, emphasizing the importance of being cautious, argued that the longer conservatives delay taking action, the more limited their options will become.

Subsequently, vulnerable New York Republicans Representatives Mike Lawler, Marc Molinaro, and Nick LaLota individually voiced their support for a temporary funding bill. They highlighted the potential negative consequences of a government shutdown and urged their colleagues to prioritize keeping the government operational.

Content revised:

Ready to take action, the speaker addressed his conference, posing the question, "Are we eager to exert pressure on the Senate?" His allies responded with enthusiastic cheers. McCarthy swiftly turned to one of his aides, inquiring about the speed at which they could proceed to the floor - noting that a "clean" stopgap bill had already been filed the previous Friday night.

The aide promptly replied, "Fifteen minutes."

McCarthy opted for the sole available choice to prevent a government shutdown by depending on Democratic votes. He successfully passed a continuing resolution on Saturday to secure government funding until mid-November.

However, this decision led to a confrontation with the conservative faction of his conference. Despite being warned by them that such action could result in the loss of his speakership, McCarthy proceeded nonetheless.

The US Capitol at sunrise on September 30, 2023, in Washington, DC.

Nathan Howard/Getty Images

Biden signs stopgap measure to avert shutdown ahead of midnight deadline

Florida Representative Matt Gaetz announced on CNN's "State of the Union" with Jake Tapper that he intends to file a motion to remove Speaker McCarthy from his position this week. Gaetz believes it is necessary to take decisive action and replace the current leadership with individuals who can be trusted.

McCarthy's last-minute decision to introduce a clean bill for government funding, without the demands of conservatives for border policies and spending cuts, signifies a pivotal moment in McCarthy's strained relationship with the right wing. This showdown has been brewing for weeks, if not months, following a group of rebels obstructing his ascension to speakership with 15 arduous rounds of voting in January.

Having exhausted all other possibilities that could gain approval in the House, McCarthy communicated to his members that a continuing resolution, with the backing of Democrats, was the sole option to keep the government operating, a reality that had been apparent for weeks. Following McCarthy's motion for a vote on a clean temporary funding bill, which included extra resources for disaster relief but not for aid to Ukraine, the measure swiftly passed with large bipartisan majorities in both the House and Senate, averting a midnight government shutdown.

McCarthy's move to prevent a shutdown came as a surprise since he had previously shown a desire to avoid confrontation with his critics. However, he seems to have changed his approach and is now directly confronting his detractors in a more aggressive manner, knowing that he is likely to face a motion to vacate vote.

"I challenge anyone who wants to oppose me to do so," McCarthy stated confidently during a press conference following the House's approval of the interim solution. "We need a mature presence in this situation, and I am committed to governing in the best interest of our country."

McCarthy's most vocal detractors are resolved to remove him from his position as speaker and are currently devising a plan on when and how to execute their move. However, insiders aligned with the rebels indicate that they intend to garner support and secure the necessary numbers before instigating a sudden vote.

On Saturday, Gaetz persistently criticized the leader's approach. "Choosing to prolong this process does not demonstrate maturity," he asserted. "We find ourselves in this situation because Kevin McCarthy made conflicting assurances regarding the budget's overall limit to distinct factions."

Gaetz has been contacting Democrats to assess their positions and promoting potential replacements for the job. He has suggested veteran GOP Rep. Tom Cole and House GOP Whip Tom Emmer as potential candidates. Gaetz is aware that he will need the support of most, if not all, Democrats to achieve success.

Critics of McCarthy could potentially begin the process to remove him as early as Monday, when the House reconvenes.

House Democrats took some time on Saturday, and even resorted to pulling a fire alarm in a House office building, but in the end, they decided to join Republicans in passing the temporary funding measure. However, this does not imply that they have any intention of supporting McCarthy for his position as speaker. House Democratic leaders released a statement on Saturday evening, expressing their expectation that McCarthy will allow a vote on a bill regarding support for Ukraine.

But McCarthy's allies are certain that a significant majority of House Republicans back the speaker and anticipate that Democrats will not aid Gaetz in disrupting the House - particularly since McCarthy played a part in preventing a shutdown, which factored into the speaker's decision.

GOP whiplash before clean funding bill

Leading up to Saturday's vote on the continuing resolution, House Republicans faced difficulties in passing GOP-only continuing resolutions or individual appropriations bills. These measures were filled with conservative priorities but had no chance of passing the Democratic-controlled Senate and would not be enough to prevent a government shutdown.

During the GOP conference on Friday evening, Republican leadership presented four options to the members. They could attempt another vote on a short-term spending bill with only Republican support, despite the previous failure with over 20 defections. They could challenge Democrats to vote against a short-term spending plan. They could accept the bill already passed by the Senate. Or they could allow a shutdown.

On Saturday morning, there was uncertainty about their final destination, according to two sources. The leadership was aware of the potential outcomes, but McCarthy wanted to ensure the support of his members. A Republican lawmaker informed CNN that McCarthy understood the need to prove that passing a bill solely with Republican votes was not feasible before considering a bipartisan approach. According to the lawmaker, "It is necessary to explore all possibilities before taking the appropriate action."

Senate TV

video

Schumer calls out McCarthy during remarks about passing spending bill

That way, the speaker minimized ammunition for his eager critics who were determined to remove him. According to the lawmaker, "He stuck with the unconventional options until the majority had no alternatives."

The temporary funding measure was submitted late on Friday at 11:52 p.m., indicating that McCarthy had a backup plan ready, even though he kept his intentions concealed until the very last moment. Initially, McCarthy's team had informed his conference about potential bills to be voted on Saturday, which aimed to mitigate the impact of a shutdown. These bills included provisions to ensure payment for military service members and Border Patrol agents. However, some lawmakers pointed out that other important groups could go unpaid, potentially resulting in negative consequences.

"We entered the conference with a strong desire among many of us to ensure that the federal government remained open and functioning," remarked Steil on Saturday evening. "However, it was not a consensus within the conference, and our objective was to make sure that everyone understood that the stopgap measure passed today was the most favorable choice among a list of unfavorable alternatives."

A few of McCarthy's supporters were taken aback by the fact that the meeting did not begin with a final plea to vote in favor of a temporary funding bill. Nevertheless, they acknowledged that this approach ultimately led to achieving their objective.

"So, whether the strategy evolved due to the remarks expressed during open mic, or it was premeditated to lead to that outcome,

Conservative anger bubbling

The conservative hardliners within the GOP conference expressed their disappointment with McCarthy's strategy to keep the government open. Following the vote on Saturday, some members criticized the speaker but did not confirm their willingness to remove McCarthy from his position. GOP Representative Ralph Norman of South Carolina refrained from revealing his confidence in the speaker, but he did express his disappointment with McCarthy. "I'm disappointed. I wish we had put up a fight. Unfortunately, we didn't. It's very disappointing. Government spending continues as usual without adequate border control measures," Norman stated.

When asked about McCarthy's status as speaker, Norman responded, "Only time will tell." He also declined to reveal whether he would vote in favor of a motion to vacate, stating, "We are currently occupied with other pressing matters. We will assess his actions." Rep. Andy Biggs, a Republican from Arizona, criticized McCarthy for aligning himself with 209 Democrats in order to pass the stopgap bill.

"Should he remain Speaker of the House?" Biggs posted on X, the site formerly known as Twitter.

On November 15, 2022, in Washington, DC, Rep. Matt Gaetz addresses the press after the House Republican Conference leadership elections at the U.S. Capitol Visitors Center.

Gaetz's battle against McCarthy may result in Democrats becoming the decisive force in selecting the Speaker

"Kevin is fully aware of the consequences of taking a stand for our country," stated a Republican aligned with McCarthy. "We must address this situation and explore the available options, although the specific strategy remains uncertain."

Certain supporters of McCarthy have proposed taking matters into their own hands and outmaneuvering Gaetz's empty threat by initiating the vote themselves.

"I've heard murmurs about this. I'm not a fan of playing games, but we shouldn't allow ourselves to be controlled by these threats," expressed Rep. Don Bacon, a Republican from Nebraska. "If Gaetz proceeds with his motion, then we must confront it head-on and emerge victorious. We should emphasize that he presents no alternative, just nihilism."

The prospect of Gaetz attempting to remove McCarthy has also aggravated certain members within the GOP conference. A Republican legislator highlighted the ongoing Ethics Committee investigation into Gaetz and cautioned that if he isn't exonerated, those seeking his removal may expel him.

"We want him out," the member said.

Senate Republicans step in

House and Senate Republicans' delicate interplay became crucial to McCarthy's strategy, and Sen. Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma, a close friend and former House member, took on the role of bridging the gap between the two chambers.

Mullin participated in the House conference meeting on Saturday morning, providing insights on the Senate's political and procedural realities, addressing questions about what could and could not be achieved.

But the coordination did not stop there. Republican Senate Whip John Thune also maintained regular communication with the speaker and consulted Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell throughout the week. On Saturday, following McCarthy's announcement that he intended to proceed with a plan to bring a continuing resolution to the floor, Thune and McCarthy once again spoke, providing an assessment of what could unfold in the Senate.

However, the next obstacle arose in the form of a standoff between the two chambers. The Senate had scheduled a procedural vote for Saturday afternoon. Yet McCarthy's supporters were concerned that the Senate's momentum could result in both chambers heading for a collision and potentially causing a government shutdown.

CNN/Getty Images

video

'A disaster': Retired colonel has warning if US stops sending aid to Ukraine

McCarthy's ability to argue his bill as the solution would become more difficult if the Senate bill progressed. McCarthy's allies in the House wanted the House bill to pass before anything else. However, Democrats were using various delaying tactics on the floor as they analyzed the legislation and conferred with the White House and their caucus.

The Senate's procedural vote was approaching, and now it was the Senate Republicans' turn to attempt to stall.

GOP senators reached a consensus during a private lunch, according to two sources briefed on the matter. Despite initially planning to support it, they agreed to vote against a bill that included $6.2 billion in aid for Ukraine. Both Senator Thune and Senator John Barrasso of Wyoming, the third-ranking Senate Republican, opposed the bill, going against Senator McConnell. Following this, the senators appeared in front of the press, with McConnell making the announcement. With the Senate bill now at a standstill, there was only one viable option to prevent a shutdown.

Democrats sound the (fire) alarm, but ultimately back GOP bill

Republicans had faced continuous criticism from Democrats for their failure to pass government funding bills, and McCarthy's refusal to entertain a bipartisan approach to prevent a shutdown.

Republicans introduced a new short-term funding solution on Saturday that necessitated Democratic support, in accordance with House rules that call for a two-thirds majority when expediting bills. Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries requested additional time to review the proposed measure, citing a lack of trust in Republicans' communication regarding the bill's contents. Moreover, House Democratic appropriators distributed a memo outlining concerns with the stopgap bill.

Rep. Jamaal Bowman accidentally pulled a fire alarm in the Cannon House Office Building just before the House was set to vote on the government funding bill, leading Republicans to demand his censure or potential criminal charges despite the bill not being delayed.

Early Saturday morning, Rep. Jamaal Bowman inadvertently triggered a fire alarm in the Cannon House Office Building, just minutes before the House was set to vote on a crucial government funding bill. The mishap, which the New York Democrat insists was an accident, has been captured in the image above, provided by a source believed to be associated with the US Capitol Police.

US Capitol Police

New York Rep. Jamaal Bowman pulls fire alarm in House office building but says it was an accident

House Democrats had one main objection to the package McCarthy proposed: it lacked $6 billion in additional funding for Ukraine, which was included in the Senate Democrats' temporary funding measure. However, this alone did not persuade House Democrats to reject the funding bill, even with the possibility of a government shutdown. Just over three hours after McCarthy's announcement, the House successfully passed the continuing resolution on Saturday morning.

Every Democrat but one - Illinois Rep. Mike Quigley, the co-chair of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus - voted for the measure.

"Putin is celebrating," Quigley told CNN.

The White House swiftly indicated its acceptance of the continuing resolution, with top officials, such as White House legislative affairs director Shuwanza Goff and senior adviser Steve Ricchetti, maintaining constant communication with lawmakers from both parties throughout the day amidst the unpredictable developments. CNN sources report that this even involved direct discussions with McCarthy.

In the Senate, there was extensive debate among Democrats regarding the appropriate action to take on Ukraine aid prior to addressing the funding measure. The majority of Senate Democrats agreed to promptly vote on the measure. However, Senator Michael Bennet of Colorado raised objections due to the lack of funding for Ukraine, causing Senate leaders to hurriedly schedule the vote before a government shutdown occurred. Although Bennet's objection caused a slight delay, the Senate reconvened approximately four hours before midnight after reaching a bipartisan agreement to support Ukraine through a Senate statement. Subsequently, the Senate proceeded with voting and passed the bill with an 88-9 vote count, sending it to President Joe Biden's desk.

Biden has signed the measure on Saturday evening, just in time to prevent a shutdown that appeared inevitable earlier that day.

Note: I have rewritten the content while maintaining its meaning and clarity.

CNNs Haley Talbot, Morgan Rimmer, Clare Foran and MJ Lee contributed to this report.