Gaetz says if McCarthy makes deal with Democrats for temporary funding, he cannot be GOP speaker

Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fl.) says that Kevin McCarthy (R-Ca.) cannot continue to be the GOP House Speaker if he makes a deal with Democrats regarding spending bills. 

"If Kevin McCarthy uses Democrat votes in the House of Representatives to advance Joe Biden's spending priorities, he cannot remain as the Republican speaker," Gaetz said on the Wednesday edition of the "Just the News, No Noise" TV show. 

"Maybe he could remain as the Democrat speaker or as a speaker that oversees some sort of coalition of Republicans and Democrats," Gaetz added. "But if you want to be the Republican Speaker, you definitely cannot use Democrats to preserve your power and to advance Joe Biden's spending priorities."

One of the more contentious differences between House Republicans is continuing to provide aid to Ukraine in the spending package. The House Freedom Caucus has pledged not to vote for it, and in an August statement said "we will oppose any blank check for Ukraine in any supplemental appropriations bill.”

When asked if Gaetz would initiate a motion to vacate – which would force a vote on removing the House Speaker – he said that would be a last resort. 

"It still is in Kevin McCarthy's hands whether or not we really face that, because if we didn't do a CR and if we plowed through these appropriations bills, if we forced the Senate to negotiate on the terms of single subject bills, which liberals, conservatives, moderates all seem to agree is the right process – if we did that, I do believe Kevin McCarthy could save his speakership," Gaetz concluded. 

If Congress doesn't pass spending legislation by Sept. 30, the U.S. government will shut down.