Members of the House Freedom Caucus held tough negotiations Saturday morning before letting incoming Speaker Kevin McCarthy win the gavel — a deal that gave the California Republican a narrow victory and significantly boosted the power of the conservative faction.
Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Florida, who led the anti-McCarthy forces, has been challenging the new president on the federal budget, committee assignments, and more.
“I feel like the American people have won. I think the House will be a healthy institution,” Gaetz said in an interview Saturday morning from Washington. “A lot of these things were challenged by Kevin McCarthy on Monday and we now have a great set of rules.”
Members of the Freedom Caucus are given several seats on the important House Rules Committee and the Appropriations Committee — a “very significant” perk, Gaetz said. He declined to say who he is pushing for those roles.
The lower house rules committee determines how new bills can be introduced to the House. Its members — often among the body’s most senior lawmakers — can effectively block bills of their choice, making it one of the most powerful in the chamber.
During this time, the Appropriations Committee is responsible for passing the most important appropriations bills that fund the government. Seats on that committee have long been targeted by tax hawks in the House.
Freedom Caucus member Rep. Lauren Bobert (R-Colo.) is rumored to be in line for a plum appointment on the Judiciary Committee. Gaetz told The Post that he does not want to leave his current positions on the Judiciary and Armed Services committees.
Under new rules to be adopted Monday, only one member will be allowed to vote on a “recess motion,” the president’s impeachment, the House of Representatives confirmed. Previously, five deputies had to make such a proposal.
“Any effort to limit the power of the speaker is a step in the right direction,” said a Freedom Caucus official who was jubilant after McCarthy’s election. “The Freedom Caucus is more relevant than ever, and McCarthy can’t do anything without our endorsement and support.”
Freedom Caucus members also receive other great benefits, including:
- A guaranteed vote on pet issues like balanced budget amendments and term limits, the Texas border plan and all remaining coronavirus provisions and funding cuts.
- A new committee to investigate the weaponization of the FBI against its political enemies. The committee is modeled after the Church Committee that investigated US intelligence agencies in 1975. His budget will be compared to the recently dissolved January 6 committee.
- More single-issue bills that allow MPs to vote on specific, narrow issues instead of thousand-page juggernauts.
- A 72-hour window for members to read any new bill before voting on it.
- A promise not to raise the debt limit in the next federal budget deal.
“I hope we’ve overcome a lot of pain,” Gaetz said of the torturous election process that embarrassed the Republican leadership and gave cheerful Democrats plenty of fundraising to do.
“Sometimes you have an easy flight and a lot of turbulence, like with Chairman Paul Ryan,” Gaetz said. “We’ve focused on turbulence here, and I think that could lead to better teamwork and a smoother flight for the 118th Congress.”
Gaetz received laughs and giggles from his colleagues all week after leading a group of insurgents against McCarthy.
On Friday night, after McCarthy failed by one vote on the 14th ballot, Gaetz confronted Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Ala.), who opposed him, and had to be physically restrained by Rep. Richard Hudson (RN.C).
“I’ve never seen Mike like this. He’s an older southern gentleman,” Gaetz said, denying the incident. “We have a longstanding positive and productive relationship. Given the drama and tension of these underdogs, it was a moment of frustration,” he added.
The Florida promoter said he didn’t go to bed until 3 a.m. Saturday and woke up to bad weather.
“I have rawness. It’s when you cough up phlegm,” Gaetz said. “My sweet wife made me some hot tea.”
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