The bare-knuckle political fight among Republicans over Kevin McCarthy's run for speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives could signal trouble ahead when lawmakers need to agree on bigger issues, like addressing the nation's debt ceiling
Republicans captured a thin House majority in November's midterm elections, breaking the hold of President Joe Biden's Democrats on both chambers of Congress. But instead of moving quickly on their own priorities, a group of about 20 hardliners have prevented the House from getting started by forcing repeated leadership votes.
The biggest challenge facing the House in the coming months will be addressing the $31.4 trillion federal debt ceiling, which the U.S. Treasury is expected to reach later this year. That infuriated many House Republicans, including some who are now leading the opposition to McCarthy and demanding greater control over the House agenda.A standoff this year could rattle the global economy at a time when recession fears are already widespread.
Such a maneuver, the hardliners claim, could force deep spending cuts including changes to the Social Security and Medicare programs, moves they say are necessary to address the nation's rising debt.One particular concession that McCarthy has agreed to, according to a source, would allow any single member of the House to propose the speaker's ouster at any time, through a procedure called the "motion to vacate the chair.
"The problem is for him that with every concession, he has to wake up every day wondering if he's still going to have his job," said Democratic Representative Richard Neal. Other concessions, including one that would require 72 hours before a bill could come up for a vote, are likely to slow down House business.
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