Kevin McCarthy secures US Presidency on 15th ballot, accepts Conservative rule changes

“Hopefully we’ll have clarity this week,” McCarthy said in a statement after taking office. “I will never give up. And I will never give up for you, the American people.”

McCarthy’s road to picking up the gavel was neither easy nor certain, during four days of intense negotiations and debates with as many as 20 lawmakers, including three from Texas.

Representative Chip Roy (R-TX-21) emerge as a leader He reiterated that the concerns he and other MPs had caused conflict in the reform talks. During the deadlock, he and others crave rule reforms aimed at returning power to lawmakers, helping Republicans pursue key legislative issues, and providing oversight of the executive branch—the Biden administration. was doing.

Rep. Scott Perry (R-PA-10), chairman of the conservative House Liberal caucuses, declared victory written in holdout, “It was worth the squeezing. We fought and secured a deal for massive reforms that would end the unacceptable status quo in Washington.”

He also announced a list of agreed reforms, including:

• A plan to secure the southern border.
• A budget that stops the debt ceiling from increasing and holds the Senate accountable.
• End all COVID mandate related funding.
• Create a task force to investigate the weaponization of federal agencies against Americans.
• Give lawmakers at least 72 hours to read the bill.
• Require the bill to focus on a single subject.
• Restores the movement of leaving the chair by any one member.

Two other Texas Republicans — Rep. Michael Cloud (R-TX-27) and Rep. Keith Self (R-TX-03) — It also helped to force agreement on reforms. They, like Roy, voted against McCarthy in the first few days of the confrontation, but backed McCarthy on Friday when a deal was finally struck.

‘The reforms we negotiated won’t solve all Washington’s problems,’ said Congressman Cloud wrote in the statement After voting. “But this will be a big change in how the House operates, allowing members of the House to truly represent their constituents.”

Finally, in announcing his support to McCarthy for the agreed rule change, Self said, “My vote today is to show support for an important rule change that will transform the House from dysfunctional to functional. was.”

“We believe we are on the brink of transferring greater power from our leadership to our individual members and the American people.”

Self also called out a handful of lawmakers who continued to hold out “obstructors”, questioning whether their position was driven by self-interest or a sincere desire to “restore the republic”.

The night wasn’t without excitement, though.

Many assumed that the 14th roll call had secured enough votes to elect McCarthy, but Rep. Matt Gates (R-FL), who had previously nominated former President Trump as Speaker -01) voted for “now”, McCarthy lost by one vote. ”

Frustration boiled over for some. Rep. Mike Rogers (R-AL-03) was detained by another congressman after he began lunging at Gates in anger over his abstention.

After seeing Gates and McCarthy reach an agreement in the House, Congress voted against the subsequent motion to adjourn, opening its 15th and final vote.

Six lawmakers attended and voted, and McCarthy was finally elected Speaker of the House to thunderous applause from the Republican caucuses. Democratic nominee Hakeem Jeffries received his 212 votes, just like his previous 14 rounds.

Proceedings for the 118th session of Congress will proceed when the House reconvenes on Monday after lawmakers take the oath of office.