By Illinois Review
For the first time in U.S. history, a conservative-led effort to remove a Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives was successful, as the House voted late Tuesday to remove Kevin McCarthy as Speaker by a vote of 216-210.
Eight Republicans voted against McCarthy, who could only afford to lose five votes in order to keep his leadership position.
Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz, who led the conservative effort to remove McCarthy as Speaker of the House didn’t mince words on the floor of the House, when responding to McCarthy ally, Rep. Tom Cole, R-OK, who said that Gaetz’ actions to remove the Speaker would create chaos.
“I don’t think voting against @SpeakerMcCarthy is chaos. I think $33 Trillion in debt is chaos. I think not passing single-subject spending bills is chaos. I think being governed by continuing resolutions and omnibus bills is chaos. Chaos is somebody we cannot trust with their word. That’s why I’ve moved to vacate the chair.”
During his remarks in the House Chamber, Gaetz also took aim at the GOP-establishment – who backed McCarthy’s bid to save his speakership.
“I take no lecture from those who would grovel and bend knee for the lobbyists and special interests who own our leadership, hollow out this town, and borrow against the future of our future generations.”
In June, McCarthy negotiated a debt ceiling bill with the Biden White House, and after it was passed, the Democrats celebrated.
Conservatives argued that the bill that McCarthy negotiated didn’t cut spending as the Speaker alleged, but rather, increased spending very slowly and added another $4 trillion in debt by 2025.
On X, conservative Texas congressman Chip Roy, who opposed the debt ceiling bill, wrote,
“Why I will oppose the #DebtCeiling “deal.” It’s not a good deal. Some $4 Trillion in debt for – at best – a two year spending freeze and no serious substantive policy reforms. #NoDeal”
McCarthy also took heat from conservatives as the country faced a potential government shutdown, as he proposed a continuing resolution that needed Democratic support and included funding for Ukraine.
But after conservatives, including Gaetz objected, McCarthy was forced to remove funding for Ukraine from the CR.
The CR is for 45 days, and as the country goes into the holiday season – the House will need to negotiate another deal to avoid a government shutdown at a time when families will be spending money and preparing for the holidays.
In Illinois, Speaker McCarthy remains close allies with Illinois Republican national committeeman Richard Porter and IL GOP chair Don Tracy – and on June 2nd, McCarthy was the keynote speaker at the Lake County Republican Federation annual Spring Gala.
Porter, a staunch supporter of Ron DeSantis’ campaign for president, has been active on his Facebook page defending McCarthy and blasting Gaetz, who he referred to as “Biden’s favorite Republican.”
In another Facebook post on September 20th, Porter referred to McCarthy as an “exemplary leader.”
Last Winter, this publication reported that Porter’s law firm, Kirkland & Ellis, where he is a senior partner, donated to Joe Biden and Kamala Harris in 2020, during the height of the pandemic and lockdowns.
Kirkland & Ellis also represents Pritzker family interests, including Pritzker Private Capital.
On December 1, Illinois Review revealed in an article that IL GOP chairman Don Tracy, a friend and ally of Porter – that his family-owned business, Dot Foods, where he is an owner, donated to Biden and ‘Never Trumpers’ in 2020 and 2022.
During the Republican Primary, Porter served as advisor and co-chairman of the Richard Irvin for governor campaign. In 2014, 2016 and 2020, Irvin pulled Democratic Primary ballots; and in 2020, he spoke at a Black Lives Matter rally shouting, “I can’t breathe!”
Irvin would lose the primary to a grassroots conservative candidate by 42 points.
The House Republican Conference is meeting later this evening to decide next steps.
