DES MOINES, Iowa – House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., was ousted from the Speaker’s chair when eight Republicans joined House Democrats on Tuesday to vote in favor of a motion to vacate submitted by U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla.
None of Iowa’s U.S. House delegation voted in favor of the motion, and have publicly criticized the ouster.
U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, represents Iowa’s 1st Congressional District, said the motion diminished any progress Republicans have made in the U.S. House this term.
“The motion to vacate the chair delays the House proceedings and as history shows, it diminishes any progress the majority governing body has made thus far. Importantly it risks putting the gavel in the hands of Democrat Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. Under Speaker McCarthy’s leadership, House Republicans have passed appropriations bills covering over 70% of discretionary spending and two trillion in spending cuts, passed legislation to give the largest pay raise to service members in two decades and clawed back billions from the Biden Administration’s woke agenda. House Republicans have passed the strongest border security HR 1 to secure our border, stop fentanyl and human trafficking. Under Speaker McCarthy’s leadership, we passed energy legislation HR 2 to lower food and fuel costs for average Americans, passed the Parents Bill of Rights, prohibiting biological boys from participating in girls’ sports, ended the pause in repayment of college loans and put people to work if receiving social benefits. We worked to avoid a government shutdown. But, Matt Gaetz and his minions are single-handedly derailing our progress and eroding our ability to pass appropriation bills, hold committee hearings, investigate the Biden family corruption, issue subpoenas and work to secure the border and reduce crime. Dismantling our leadership ruins our ability to work for the American people and I now see why Matt Gaetz is referred to as Biden’s favorite Republican,” she said.
U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson, representing Iowa’s 1st Congressional District, called the motion a “political game.”
“Republicans had an opportunity to focus all our energy against the disastrous Biden agenda that has resulted in open borders, rampant inflation, and skyrocketing crime. Instead, Matt Gaetz has paralyzed the House and brought our work for the American people to a halt. Hard working Americans are the ones who pay the price for political games like these – not the selfish politicians who play them. I will continue working to end the embarrassing chaos and dysfunction and pursuing solutions to the challenges Iowans are facing each day,” she said.
She further said on social media that “Matt Gaetz’s grandstanding sideshow is a disgrace — and why so many Iowans are so frustrated with politics in Washington.”
U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn, representing Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District, called the leadership vote a waste of time.
“We have just 45 days to pass bills to get spending under control. Wasting even one day voting on a motion to vacate instead of budget cuts is self defeating & DC politics at its worst. I am a NO on the motion to vacate & a YES to getting back to work for Americans,” he said on X (formerly known as Twitter).
U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra, representing Iowa’s 4th Congressional District, said that McCarthy led with “grit, purpose, and resolve.”
“Together, we have passed legislation to secure our border, cut spending, give parents a voice in their children’s education, and restore American energy independence. Let’s keep delivering for American families,” he said on X.
