The Renewed Fight for Speaker: Essential, Not Incidental

From Ann Coulter to George Will, conservative commentators are convinced that the dragged-out fight over the next Speaker of the House distracts from bare minimum legislating, will drag down the Republican Party and doom the United States to a federal Democratic trifecta for the foreseeable future. I disagree. Even if this fight hurts the Republican Party, or Washington’s diminished sense of solemnity, it was a much-needed tonic disruption.

For the last thirty years, voters have been sending representatives to Washington DC to secure the border, end unnecessary wars, cease the excessive spending (which Congress last achieved on the eve of Clinton’s presidency, only through considerably pressure from a Republican Congress), and restore federalism.

Politicians have not been keeping these promises, especially the Republicans, who barely won a majority in 2022 in part because of ongoing distrust from the base. Republicans in previous terms did very little to stop progressive agendas or the deficit spending, aside from a handful of outspoken conservatives. Republican lawmakers need to show more fighting spirit, the same that DeSantis is campaigning on now. 2016.

When Republicans don’t do their job, how do we hold them accountable? Ditch them during a primary or oust them during the general election. But what about while they are in office? Yes, voters can make phone calls, emails, press conferences, letters to the editor, and other public displays of outrage. Citizens can put together PACs and start blasting their elected officials with commercials on the airwaves.

However, the best way to hold politicians accountable during a legislative session is to delay their power or remove them from power. Speaker Emeritus Kevin McCarthy did not have a smooth transition to the speakership in January, 2023. He hadn’t earned the gavel, having refused to meet with different caucuses within the conference, especially conservatives who wanted key guarantees. Ultimately, McCarthy appointed conservatives to the Rules Committee and offered coveted chairmanships to others. However, he failed to deliver on other promises like providing twelve appropriations bills, stopping the excessive spending, and pushing forward term limits.

In May, 2023, McCarthy all but caved on the debt-ceiling negotiations. He passed increased spending until January 2025 with majority Democratic support. Once against, just like during his tenure as Majority Leader, he let the Democrats run the chamber. Worse yet, McCarthy dawdled until the end of September to get only three appropriations bills passed. When the fourth failed, McCarthy resorted to another spendthrift continuing resolution, with the help of Democrats.

McCarthy’s intransigence on following through on his promises, plus his ready acquiescence to majority Democratic support for key bills, proved to be the last straw for conservatives. Voters and pundits alike should remember that this has been business as usual for Republicans when they controlled the House in years past. Enough is enough! Republicans across the country supported Gaetz’ decision to vacate McCarthy.

What if this process drags out even longer?

But criticisms linger against the Vacate Eight, and they deserve consideration.

Some have charged that Gaetz filed this motion for the celebrity, the grift, and to settle a score. Whatever his reasons may be, the open reality that McCarthy didn’t keep his promises was reason good enough. In politics, motive matters less than the votes themselves. Most politicians do the right thing if it guarantees them re-election, and we want them to cast the right votes, even if for the wrong reasons.

A more substantive criticism implicates the Vacate Eight for not thinking through the larger process. “So, you remove McCarthy. What’s your gameplan going forward?” I explained to one critic that the rest of the conference needed the assurance (or the pressure) to make decisions against leadership. If McCarthy was forced out, the rest of the conference would have been free to (or have to) make decisions for a better speaker.

What if this process drags out even longer?

First of all, Americans should rejoice when Congress is unable to spend money they do not have, whether by squandering tax revenues or increasing the deficit spending.

Second, the Uniparty of “spend more, ask questions never” has been exposed. The Republican electorate sees the members of Congress who are determined to keep the Big Government largesse funneling to the several states, all while our national debt explodes, inflation ravages Americans’ buying power, and foreign countries ditch the US dollar as a reserve currency. All the lip service for controlled spending and balanced budgets amounts to nothing. Primary challenges can ensue in earnest, and perhaps Republicans as a national consensus can force out big spending RINOs on a larger level, and come 2024 get better House leadership, even if Republicans must suffer in the minority for a term.

Third, conservative activists and political wonks need to focus on the factors that create strong Republicans in Congress. Safe districts, sure, but how about representatives who rely on local support and funding for their campaigns? Candidates who have learned to harness media and social media activism to increase their profile while enhancing their grassroots strength do remarkably well in resisting the Swamp. These factors help explain why Congressmen Gaetz, Rosendale, Good, and others have stood strong against the House GOP Establishment.

Rep. Gaetz’ Motion to Vacate was a much-needed house-cleaning for Washington politics. We should relish this period of disruption for potential long-term improvements.