Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., believes the next House speaker should eliminate the procedural tool used to kick out Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif.
During a Wednesday news conference, McConnell spoke little about McCarthy's removal as speaker but offered a suggestion to his successor on the "motion to vacate" rule used to oust him.
"I have no advice to give to House Republicans, except one: I hope whoever the next speaker is gets rid of the motion to vacate," McConnell said. "I think it makes the speaker's job impossible, and the American people expect us to have a functioning government."
McConnell previously said Tuesday morning that he was pulling for McCarthy to stay in the role ahead of a vote on his fate that night. After McCarthy's removal, McConnell commended him for serving the country.
The senator urged the House to find a replacement as soon as possible. The chamber is adjourned for at least a week. Republicans reportedly plan to hold a forum Tuesday to hear from speaker candidates.
"We need to get a speaker, and hopefully, we'll get one by next week," McConnell said, reiterating that "whoever emerges insists on getting rid of the motion to vacate."
McConnell is not the only one calling to table the procedural tool. Some Republican lawmakers who supported McCarthy, including Carlos A. Giménez of Florida, are pushing to abolish it.
The option for a lawmaker to motion to vacate the speakership was reintroduced upon McCarthy's ascendancy to the role after he agreed to concessions with more conservative members for support.
It was severely limited under the last speaker tenure of Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and was only used twice unsuccessfully in the past.
Gaetz's successful motion serves as the first time a speaker has been legislatively removed under such circumstances.
Luca Cacciatore ✉
Luca Cacciatore, a Newsmax general assignment writer, is based in Arlington, Virginia, reporting on news and politics.
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