McCarthy’s Omnibus Attacks Are Proof MAGA Rs Are in the Driver’s Seat
McCarthy attacks McConnell, other Senate Rs for supporting the bill to keep government open
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) continues to attack the year-end spending bill that is being supported by legislators on both sides of the aisle, including McCarthy’s Senate counterpart Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) — saying “hell no” to members of his conference when asked if he would be supporting the bill. This is yet more evidence that the extreme MAGA wing of the party is in control — no matter who is speaker.
“McCarthy’s attacks on this bipartisan legislation is just the latest evidence that the House is nothing more than a hotbed of MAGA politicians who can’t be trusted to govern responsibly for the American people,” said Zac Petkanas, senior advisor to the House Accountability War Room. “The fact that he’s gone too far even for Senate Republicans like Mitch McConnell shows just how extreme his leadership of the House would be in January and beyond.”
CNN: “McCarthy and McConnell on collision course as Congress barrels toward messy finish.”
“House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy took to Fox News primetime last week and dinged his counterpart across the Capitol: Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell.
Republicans are ‘wrong’ if they want to cut a year-end spending deal with Democrats, McCarthy told Fox News host Laura Ingraham, saying they should instead punt the issue until 2023 when Republicans take control of the House.
‘Does that include McConnell?’ she asked.
‘Yes,’ McCarthy said. ‘Why would you want to work on anything if we have the gavel inside Congress?’
McCarthy’s comment blindsided McConnell, according to multiple senators. While the House GOP leader had signaled privately – including at a White House meeting – that he’d be open to a large spending deal to finish this year’s business, Republicans were not expecting him to take aim at McConnell even if he publicly came out against the package. But as McConnell continually worked behind the scenes to cut a massive funding deal – effectively clearing McCarthy’s decks for the next Congress – the House GOP leader increasingly voiced his strong opposition against it.
‘Hell no,’ McCarthy told House Republicans about his position on the spending package – just a few hours before McConnell declared on Tuesday that the deal in the works was “broadly appealing.” House Republicans were the lone caucus not to endorse Tuesday night’s spending agreement backed by top House and Senate Democrats and Senate GOP leaders.”
Washington Post: “In Congress, Republicans confront divisions posing long-term threats.”
“Clashes over government spending and party leadership underscored looming challenges in the GOP as it prepares to take control of the House in January.”
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