Funviralpark House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-California) gave a floor speech on Friday lasting about 25 minutes against the $1.7 trillion comprehensive government funding package.
“This is a monster. It’s one of the most disgraceful acts I’ve ever seen on his body,” McCarthy said. “The appropriations process has failed the American people. No more nail in the coffin of one-party rule of the House, Senate and president.”
McCarthy criticized the oft-repeated statement that the Democrats “put people before politics” and pointed to various “left-wing pet projects” funded by the omnibus bill, some of which were named after members. Some are named with
“They cared a lot about the Senator. [Patrick] Leahy [D-Vt.] He has worked on many projects bearing his name. Because people wanted it,” McCarthy said.[Sen. Richard] shelby [R-Ala.] We also get one named after him.oh speaker [Nancy] Pelosi [D-Calif.], she gets a few things named after her because people matter more than politics. Because that’s what the American people want right now. ”
McCarthy argues that Republican senators should force continued resolutions to fund the government until Republicans take control of the House next year and can negotiate a smaller funding package. , had strongly opposed the omnibus package leading up to the vote.
Earlier in the week, McCarthy backed hardline members threatening to block bills from senators voting for the omnibus package, saying that if he became president, those bills would be “ineffective upon arrival.” will be,’ he promised.
He also attended a Senate Republican luncheon this week to urge senators to vote against the omnibus. Sources told Hill at the time that his rhetoric had been toned down from his public statements.
Eighteen Republican senators voted in favor of Omnibus on Thursday.
House rules limit the amount of time party members can speak during debates, but party leaders are generally allowed to speak as much as they like on the floor. This so-called “magic minute” is often used by leaders to make arguments or positions on the law.
Friday marked McCarthy’s fifth-longest speech, with a marathon eight-and-a-half-hour speech against last year’s “Build Back Better” bill, a 50-minute speech against August’s Inflation Reduction Act, and a 28-minute speech. It was next to a speech. Speech against the Domestic Chip Manufacturing and Scientific Research Funding Bill in July.
The chamber was nearly empty for McCarthy’s speech, and more than half of the members had turned in their papers for a vote by proxy before the Christmas holidays and a massive winter storm that hit much of the country. rice field. However, several members of the Republican Party were seated right behind McCarthy coming into view of the cameras for their speeches.
Some of those who withheld or opposed McCarthy’s becoming Speaker of the House, including Rep. Chip Roy (Texas), Rep. Scott Perry (Pennsylvania) and Rep. Ralph Norman (South Carolina). GOP members were also in the conference room out of the camera’s view. Roy and Perry stood up and applauded after McCarthy’s speech.
However, Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Massachusetts), chairman of the House Rules Committee, delved into the issue of McCarthy’s speakership bout.
“After hearing that, it’s clear he still doesn’t have the right to vote,” McGovern said.
