House Republicans should cook with gas now.
Against the backdrop of the debt ceiling crisis, Republicans focused on protecting the public from intrusions into the federal kitchen. For months, Republican lawmakers have been clamoring for possible regulation, if not banning, of gas stoves due to environmental concerns on the left. So Republicans drafted two bills to protect gas stoves.
I wish some Republicans would even let House Republicans debate a GOP bill on gas stoves.
Here’s what happened:
Conservatives in the House Republicans feel betrayed by House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-California). They don’t like the debt ceiling deal McCarthy signed with President Biden to avoid a federal debt default. They hate the fact that far more Democrats than Republicans voted for the debt ceiling. That’s despite McCarthy persuading about two-thirds of House Republicans to vote for the plan to suspend the debt ceiling.
Gas stove protection bill suffers major setback as House Republicans express frustration at McCarthy
President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy were able to reach a compromise on the debt ceiling bill that was voted on Wednesday night. (Getty Images)
Political observers were skeptical that Mr. McCarthy could thread such a needle to strike a deal with the president while maintaining the trust of a wide range of House Republicans. It was quite an achievement for McCarthy.
But in the eyes of some conservatives, Mr. McCarthy’s success flickers like a flashlight.
A rebellion by right-wing Republicans prevented the House from even considering a dual gas stove bill on Tuesday. After two days of unsuccessful negotiations with rebel Republicans, McCarthy and his top Republicans have suspended voting in the House until next Monday.
House Republicans prepared for consideration of the gas stove bill earlier this week. Most bills before the House require so-called “rules” before debate can begin. The Rules set out guidelines for how the House considers bills. This includes time limits and whether any corrections are required. The House must first adopt the rule before it can begin discussing the underlying bill. No rules, no arguments.
The past is the prologue.
Conservatives block chamber in latest uprising against Republican leadership
Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) speaks at a press conference for the House Liberals Against the Debt Limitation Agreement outside the Capitol on Monday, May 30, 2023. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
There were several tense moments in the House last week as it prepared to bring the debt ceiling proposal to the floor for consideration. Remember, House Republicans can only pass bills without Democrat backing if they lose up to four bills of their own. More than 20 Republican lawmakers voted against the “rule” of the debt ceiling. To reject this rule would have blocked the House and prevented the underlying bill from being considered. But as the vote dragged on, many Democrats sat on the sidelines instead of voting. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York held up a green ballot card on the floor after the rule failed to vote. It was a signal to “free up” Democrats to vote in favor of the debt ceiling and cover the Republican deficit.
The rule was passed and the debt ceiling bill was referred to the House for consideration.
But the Republican majority isn’t going to get that kind of relief from Jeffreys or Democrats on the gas stove bill. A group of ultra-conservatives did not inform high-ranking Republicans of their plans to vote against the gas-stove regulation. They eventually broke this rule and even prevented the House from beginning consideration of a bill the party had crafted to appeal to a Biden administration.
Then began two days of backroom meetings between various Republicans, McCarthy and other top Republican leaders on how to quell the rebellion.
There was even a proposal for a sniping between Mr. McCarthy and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-Laminate). It is not entirely clear whether the two have the same perception. Fox has been told for months to keep an eye on Scalise if McCarthy stumbles as chairman.
Democrats Help Advance McCarthy Debt Ceiling Deal in Nailbitter House Vote
Rep. Steve Scalise (R, Louisiana) speaks during a post-caucus press conference with House Republicans at the Capitol in Washington, D.C., May 10, 2023. House Republican Conference Speaker Elise Stefanik (R-NY), Rep. Monica De La Cruz (R-Tex.), and Rep. Morgan Luttrell (R-Tex.). (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
It is worth noting that Mr. Scalise has not participated in the debt ceiling negotiations. McCarthy enlisted two lieutenants for this task: House Financial Services Committee Chairman Patrick McHenry, RN.C. gave. When asked about scheduling, McCarthy often replies, “That’s a question for the majority leader.” That is absolutely true. The floor schedule is Scalise’s prerogative. But it’s unclear whether McCarthy’s response is that he’s trying to stay in his lane, or that he’s turning potential problems over to Scalise.
After a session with recalcitrant Republicans, McCarthy finally called a timeout on Wednesday. He dissolved the House of Representatives in the hope that things would return to normal on Monday.
The House Rules Committee will hold a Monday afternoon meeting in full swing on a bill backed by Republican Rep. let me Gun rights advocates note the use of pistol gear by disabled people. They argue that the government is violating Second Amendment rights by enforcing ATF rules.
The Clyde bill has become the center of controversy among some conservatives. Mr. Fox was said to be having trouble getting support for his bill. It was therefore not ready to be put on the floor. But conservatives say there has been retaliation by the leadership against Mr Clyde. They allege that Republican leadership has refused consideration of the pistol armament bill because Clyde voted against the rule on the gas stove bill this week.
McCarthy has tried to keep an outwardly positive attitude in conversations with reporters after lengthy meetings with Republicans. He uttered a familiar line that he often uses when the Democrats and Republicans are at war with each other. He said Republicans would have a “family consultation.”
McCarthy accuses Conservatives of possible ‘miscalculation’ in parliamentary riots
Interview photo with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. McCarthy hopes things will return to normal on Monday after the House of Representatives was dissolved on Wednesday. (FOX News Digital/Catenacci)
“I’m not going to get upset. I’m not going to get frustrated with this process. I know this job is not an easy one. I didn’t ask for it because it’s easy. I like the challenge.” Mr McCarthy said. .
However, the Chair admitted that he was embarrassed by the objections.
“I’m not sure what they’re concerned about,” McCarthy said.
Fox is said to be angry with both McCarthy and Kentucky Republican Rep. Thomas Massey. Massey is a member of the Regulations Committee. Massey voted for a “rule” that would allow the debt ceiling bill to be voted on. If Mr. Massey had not green-lit the debt ceiling bill in the Rules Committee, Republicans would not have had the votes to defeat it on the floor. This infuriated the members of the Freedom Caucus.
“Massey has been cobbled into the leadership,” said one House conservative source.
Mr. Fox reportedly said some Republican lawmakers told Massey that it was time to unpin the debt watch he wore on his chest after supporting the idea of raising the debt ceiling.
“The rules committee isn’t functioning as it should,” exasperated one Freedom Caucus member.
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Republican lawmakers have drafted two bills to protect gas stoves. (Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
The House therefore reopened on Monday. Scalise has tentatively remanded the gas-stove measures back to the House minutes on Tuesday. By then we’ll know if the Republican Party is really cooking on gas.
Alternatively, the whole thing could explode.
