Staff Reports
In a brave move, Tennessee Republican Representative Tim Burchett said he would support the motion to remove House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Burchett was upset that McCarthy had to rely on Democratic votes to get a short-term spending bill passed, which kept the government from shutting down. Burchett says that GOP politicians have not been keeping the promises they made during the campaign.
Repeublican @RepTimBurchett addressed his decision to support the resolution ousting House @SpeakerMcCarthy from his leadership post ahead of Tuesday's vote.https://t.co/QbLCnlofZi
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) October 3, 2023
Burchett, who thought of McCarthy as a friend, sent McCarthy a video message in which he explained his choice. He said it was important to follow his morals, which tells him that the $33-trillion debt of the country is an important problem that can't be ignored. Burchett feels bad about losing McCarthy as a friend, but he thinks it is more important to put the country's health first.
The congressman also said that the House wasn't acting quickly enough, pointing out that they have 42 days to pass important spending bills but haven't done anything yet. Burchett said that if this carelessness continues, the government could go bankrupt.
It's not just Burchett who voted against McCarthy; at least four other Republicans also want to get rid of him as leader. Congressman Matt Gaetz from Florida has even gone one step further and asked that McCarthy's spot be closed. With the vote coming up on Tuesday, McCarthy's job as House Speaker is by no means secure.
It is clear that McCarthy's acts have broken the trust of his fellow Republicans. He has shown he is not committed to conservative ideas by counting on Democratic votes. It's good that Burchett chose to put the country's finances ahead of his personal ties. This is an important step for the Republican Party's success.
