Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy lashed out at the conservative Freedom Caucus on Monday, arguing that the group of hardline lawmakers has prevented Republicans “from being able to govern” and “locked in Democratic policies” promoted by Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.)
The California Republican, who retired from Congress at the end of last year after being stripped of his speakership, took issue with Fox Business host Maria Bartiromo asking why the majority party decided to “kick the can down the road” by passing a short-term continuing resolution that funds the government until March 1.
McCarthy, 58, suggested his question was better directed to members of the Freedom Caucus, some of whom were among the eight Republicans who joined with Democrats to oust him from the speaker’s chair last October after he pushed through the continuing resolution.
McCarthy argued that the Freedom Caucus had prevented Republicans “from being able to govern.” Fox Business
“They are the people who have prevented Republicans from being able to govern,” McCarthy said. “So what they’re doing is they’re locking in Democratic policy. They’re actually spending more money now than if we went to the debt ceiling numbers.”
“They continue to prevent this majority from being able to do anything,” he added, before suggesting that members of the group are not “true” conservatives.
“It really depends on what a real conservative is,” McCarthy said. “I look to Ronald Reagan. Conservatives are the ones who can actually govern in a conservative way, but what you’re finding now is that what they’re doing is not doing anything but it’s locking down the policies of the Democrats, Pelosi.”
The Freedom Caucus is urging “all conservatives” to oppose the temporary spending bill passed by Congress and signed by President Biden last week, arguing that it does not support the GOP’s commitment to “guarding the border” or making enough spending cuts.
McCarthy accused the Freedom Caucus of “locking in Pelosi’s policy” by opposing a continuing resolution to fund the government. Andy Kropa/Invision/AP
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) agreed to a spending cap of $1.66 trillion for fiscal year 2024, including $888 billion in defense spending and $773 billion in discretionary spending.
“This does not maintain the status quo. It makes it worse,” the Freedom Caucus have arguedurged Johnson to “walk away” from top-line deals.
“I’m going to sit in the room and start negotiating,” McCarthy said of what lawmakers should do now, with Johnson seeking to pass 12 separate appropriations bills for federal agencies before the March 1 and March 8 deadlines.
“If you don’t do that, you’re going to lock up Pelosi’s policies and that’s what the Freedom Caucus is doing,” he added. “I think this is the time to show you can govern, if you want to lead the majority.”
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
