The rule that allowed Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) to single-handedly call for a vote ousting Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) has become a key issue for Republicans as they grapple over who should replace him.
Some are intent on changing the rule, known as a “motion to vacate,” so a handful of House Republicans can never again join with the minority to force a Speaker out and throw the House into chaos. But others who fought for the single-member threshold are defending it.
A group of 45 House Republicans — just over a fifth of the GOP conference — signed on to an open letter last week calling for changes to the “motion to vacate” rule, expressing frustration with the eight GOP lawmakers who joined with Democrats to remove McCarthy.
Wouldn’t it be easier to just eject Gaetz on ethics grounds? I mean, Democrats are obviously going to support it; Republicans just need a handful of people to join them. Everybody hates Gaetz anyway, and his kiddy-diddly associations are plenty enough political cover to justify it.
I’d bet $100 that will happen as soon as the Speaker issue is resolved. EVERYONE except the most die hard of the Chaos Caucus is tired of his shit. Hell even Lauren Boebert voted to retain McCarthy and avoid this mess.
The problem, from the perspective of the rest of the caucus, is that if any of them are held accountable for anything, then they’re all on the chopping block once a more extreme person wants to make headlines.
If there were a conviction, that might move some of them onto the roster of those willing to vote to censure or remove. But for un-adjudicated wrongdoing? They’d just be opening the doors for it to be used against them as well.