Members of the House Freedom Caucus met Monday to weigh rules changes they plan to put forward to shift power away from the speaker of the House in a Republican majority as Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) runs for the top leadership post.
The caucus is hoping to capitalize on the likely slim GOP majority to pressure McCarthy to agree to some of the rule changes, which they’ve been pushing since the summer. Former Freedom Caucus Chairman Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ), who is reportedly weighing a challenge to McCarthy, led the hearing at FreedomWorks headquarters, bringing in guests to speak in favor of the proposed changes. Biggs declined to say anything about his intentions at the event.
REP. ANDY BIGGS EXPECTED TO LAUNCH LEADERSHIP BID AGAINST KEVIN MCCARTHY
“Under current House rules, 430 of 435 members have no true opportunity to provide input into major legislation considered in the House of Representatives,” Biggs said in his opening statement. “The current autocratic and leadership-driven process robs us, and more importantly our constituents, of the ability to participate meaningfully in the legislative process.”
He continued, “Over the past four years, Speaker Pelosi has used the House rules to further centralize power,” but the issue is “not a problem unique to a Democrat-led House.”
The witnesses included Rachel Bovard, senior policy director at the Conservative Partnership Institute, and former Rep. Mark Meadows (R-NC), who suggested requiring a “majority of the majority” to approve legislation before it’s brought to the floor, allowing amendments that have the support of at least 10% of the conference, and mandating a 72-hour reading period before a bill is brought to a vote.
Firebrand conservative Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL), who is not a member of the Freedom Caucus, said in his remarks that he would introduce several amendments at the beginning of the next Congress.
He differs somewhat from the caucus, especially in his support for proxy voting, the pandemic-era rule suspension that allows members to vote from afar. Gaetz claimed his legislation will receive support from a majority of Democrats, including a ban on member stock trading, a ban on campaign contributions from federal lobbyists, and a single-subject rule to ensure that bills only contain legislation related to one topic.
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“If Kevin McCarthy can call on Democrats for votes for the speakership, then I can call on them for bipartisan rule reforms that not only are popular among our membership, they’re popular among our fellow Americans,” Gaetz said, apparently referencing reports that McCarthy made calls to at least one centrist Democrat to ask if he would switch parties.
Republicans appear poised to secure narrow control of the chamber, though more than a dozen races have yet to be called as of Monday evening. The GOP needed five seats to secure a 218-seat majority ahead of the midterm elections.
Since McCarthy needs to garner 50% or more of the entire House’s vote to become speaker, the Freedom Caucus could sink his ambitions if he doesn’t make concessions.
