The Republican Party may face an important internal battle in the new year, and Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) is laying the stage. The Republican leader made threats on Tuesday to Senate Republicans who back the omnibus budget bill. If McCarthy is elected Speaker of the House in the new year, he has promised to ensure that any legislation introduced by a senator who voted for the spending plan will be “dead on arrival” in the House.
Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) and numerous other Republican members of Congress have signed the letter. The letter was also signed by Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ), who has declared he will oppose McCarthy’s quest for Speaker.
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The letter warns that if any omnibus package is passed in the remaining days of current Congress, “we are obligated to advise you that we will oppose and whip opposition to any legislative priority of those senators who vote for this bill – including the…leader.”
In response to Roy’s posting of the letter, McCarthy declared that there would be no need to “whip” the opposition since he would be taking a position against Republicans who dared to compromise before the year’s conclusion.
“Agreed. But there’s no need to whip—if this nearly $2T behemoth is allowed to go against our wishes and the wishes of the American people, their bills will be dead on arrival in the House when I’m Speaker, McCarthy tweeted.
The fact that Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY), the leading Republican in the Senate, has supported the funding measure more than the future House Speaker complicates this new pledge from McCarthy.
On Monday’s Senate floor, McConnell emphasized what he believed to be the advantages of the spending plan.
“The bipartisan legislation that our colleagues have crafted provides our military forces with the funding they require while reallocating funds from non-defense, non-veterans spending. Republicans will benefit much from this outcome, he continued, but more significantly, it is the result that our country’s security requires.
Agreed. Except no need to whip—when I’m Speaker, their bills will be dead on arrival in the House if this nearly $2T monstrosity is allowed to move forward over our objections and the will of the American people. https://t.co/WCC477R4IM
— Kevin McCarthy (@SpeakerMcCarthy) December 20, 2022
