House Freedom Caucus chairman urges Gaetz to delay McCarthy recall, focus on completing budget

The chairman of the House Freedom Caucus, influential among conservative lawmakers, on Monday poignantly urged Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz to set aside his effort to remove House Speaker Kevin McCarthy for the time being and allow Congress to first complete review of the 12 federal spending bills required to pass a budget.

The admonition from Rep. Scott Perry, R-Pa., in an interview with Just the News, was a fresh warning sign that Gaetz, a member of the GOP caucus, faces an uphill battle in his effort to recall McCarthy before the budget deadlock in Washington is resolved.

Republicans campaigned last year on returning Washington to a normal budget process after decades of passing giant omnibus budgets without individually reviewed budgets for federal agencies.

McCarthy’s team only managed to get fewer than half passed before the fiscal 2024 year started on Sunday, necessitating a temporary spending bill to keep government open for 45 more days.

“While the speaker deserves the ire and the accountability that comes with these failures, the timing of this is as important as anything else,” Perry told the John Solomon Reports podcast. “We fought to get these 12 spending bills through so the American people can see what their money is being spent on and who's voted for it or against it. If there is no speaker, all that stops.”

“We have 45 days to try and get this accomplished now, and we're you know, I just don't think it's optimal that we spend that 45 days fighting amongst ourselves and at the end of it still end up with nothing,” he said, adding 45 days wasn’t enough time to choose a new speaker and get the remaining spending bills passed. “You can get zero wins for the American people.”

“I think it's important to get these 12 bills done, get that set. And then we can go back and look at all the infractions and shortcomings of the management and make changes. And I think it's totally and completely appropriate. But let's focus on getting some wins for the American people,” he also said.

Gaetz announced Sunday on national television he would introduce a motion to remove McCarthy, accusing the speaker of violating the deal in January among Republican factions that allowed him to take the top job in the House.

On Monday, however, the Florida Republican said he was holding off on the motion until he investigates an alleged “side deal” on Ukraine spending.

Gaetz has faced criticisms internally and externally for the move, including a harsh rebuke from former House Speaker Newt Gingrich as well as others who suggested he be voted out of the GOP caucus.

McCarthy has dismissed Gaetz’s threat, saying “bring it on” and predicting “I’ll survive.”

He also alleged Gaetz would need to lure Democrats to get the necessary votes to remove him.

“He's more interested in securing TV interviews than doing something, he wanted to push us into a shutdown, even threatening his own district with all the military people there who would not be paid only because he wants to take this motion," McCarthy charged.