Republicans divided on maintaining 'motion to vacate' rule that allowed McCarthy's removal

"I think it makes the Speaker's job impossible, and the American people expect us to have a functioning government," McConnell said.

By Madeleine Hubbard

Published: October 5, 2023 9:07am

Republicans are divided on whether to maintain the "motion to vacate" portion of the House rules package that allowed for Rep. Kevin McCarthy to be removed as House speaker with a single member calling for a vote on the House floor.

When McCarthy, a California Republican, was finally elected as speaker in January following 15 rounds of votes, it came after the "motion to vacate" was added to the House rules package, allowing any member to demand a vote to oust the speaker. The previous House rules stated that removal resolutions could only be brought to the floor for a vote if they were "offered by direction of a party caucus or conference."

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said at a Capitol Hill press conference after McCarthy's ousting that he hopes the next speaker can ax the motion to vacate.

"I think it makes the Speaker's job impossible, and the American people expect us to have a functioning government," he said.

Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, said on X, formerly Twitter, that McConnell's view is "a compelling reason why the House should NOT give up the motion-to-vacate rule."

Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., who led the efforts to oust McCarthy and was one of eight Republicans who joined Democrats in voting to remove the speaker, retweeted Lee's post.

Additionally, Rep. Bob Good, R-Va., who also voted to remove McCarthy, said the current version of the motion to vacate should "absolutely" be maintained in the House rules package, Semafor reported.

More moderate House Republicans have called for the current motion to vacate to be changed.

"I'm not supporting ANYONE for Speaker until there is a commitment to reform the Motion to Vacate. The coup against Speaker McCarthy was DESPICABLE & must never happen again," Rep. Carlos Gimenez, R-Fla., wrote on X. "No one can govern effectively while being threatened by fringe hostage takers."

Pennsylvania GOP Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, co-chair of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus, told CNN before McCarthy's ousting that if the motion to vacate "becomes a regular occurrence, we will need to revisit the rules package in a bipartisan manner."

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