Far-right Republicans are fuming at Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) over the debt ceiling deal he struck with President Biden, and some are publicly floating the idea of ousting McCarthy as Speaker.
At a House Freedom Caucus press conference Tuesday, members vented their frustration with the agreement and urged their colleagues to vote against it. But Rep. Dan Bishop (R-N.C.) went further, becoming the first Republican to publicly support ousting McCarthy from the speakership.
“I think it’s got to be done,” Bishop told reporters after the press conference, according to The Hill.
Bishop was one of 20 House Republicans who withheld support for McCarthy for Speaker in January, resulting in a historic 15-ballot Speaker election.
The outlet reported that “members of the House Freedom Caucus and beyond were infuriated the debt limit bill announced over the weekend did not do more to cut spending and complained other provisions Republican leadership touted had massive loopholes.”
“I want to be very clear: Not one Republican should vote for this deal. Not one. If you’re out there watching this, every one of my colleagues, I’m gonna be very clear: Not one Republican should vote for this deal,” Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) said. “It is a bad deal.”
McCarthy, however, brushed off conservative criticism of the bill.
“I’m not sure what in the bill people are concerned about,” McCarthy told reporters Tuesday. “It is the largest savings of $2.1 trillion we’ve ever had.”
