From WWW.FOXNEWS.COM
EXCLUSIVE: Seven more members of the House Freedom Caucus are threatening to oppose Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy’s ascension to be the next House speaker unless they win concessions on congressional rules.
Freedom Caucus lawmakers told Fox News Digital that they want McCarthy, R-Calif., to start getting serious about concessions on these rules or risk losing their support. The GOP lawmakers, led by House Freedom Caucus Chairman Rep. Scott Perry of Pennsylvania and Rep. Chip Roy of Texas, outlined their demands in a letter circulated to colleagues late Thursday.
“The American people send us to Washington to do what we said we would do — namely, to limit spending and fight to advance a conservative agenda,” the lawmakers wrote. “We must organize ourselves to ensure there is a ‘check’ on the swamp and reform the status quo.”
Other members on the letter are Reps. Dan Bishop of North Carolina, Paul Gosar of Arizona and Andrew Clyde of Georgia. Newly elected Reps. Andy Ogles of Tennessee and Eli Crane of Arizona, who are not set to take office until Jan. 3, also signed it.
“Leader McCarthy is a friend, and I’ve established a good working relationship with him over the past two years as the freshman representative to the Elected Leadership Committee,” Clyde told Fox News Digital. “While I continue my consideration of who I will vote for, the items presented are simply what I expect and require for anyone seeking the responsibility of serving as Speaker — as accountability of the Speaker to the membership is paramount.”
Topping the list of demands is a rules change to make it easier to remove the House speaker by allowing any lawmaker to offer a “motion to vacate the chair” at any point in time. This parliamentary tactic would force a vote on retaining the speaker, an insurance policy members of the Freedom Caucus want against McCarthy.
“While difficult in practice, it is an important mechanism to restore trust and provide accountability,” the lawmakers wrote.
The lawmakers are demanding that all legislation focus on a single topic, be publicly available for 72 hours before a vote so that it can be read, and receive a full debate with the ability to offer and vote on amendments. Conservatives also want to see major pieces of legislation next Congress, from the farm bill to the national defense policy act, include provisions checking President Biden’s administration…. (Read more)
