118th Congress in the GOP House: Expect Lots of Revenge and Lots of Turmoil

How much do I have to cave to become Speaker

(After 15 votes he won – now what???)

This latest from the new GOP-House in the 118^th Congress reported on here from the DAILY MAIL with this headline:

“New House GOP majority PASSES rules package with only one Republican defection”

This new revengeful GOP House rules became a huge part of negotiations between McCarthy and his allies with the 20 hardline conservatives, many of whom are part of the House Freedom Caucus which caused the chaos in the 15^th vote turmoil before McCarthy won.

For example: Conservatives want more power in Congress and claim the status quo needs to change within leadership. To cement this while also allowing McCarthy to become speaker, they required that the rules included securing three of the nine seats on the House Rules Committee for Freedom Caucus members. 

The powerful House Rules Committee has a big say in whether bills and amendments are brought to the floor. 

Besides the rules packages, Republicans plan to use their first full week in the House majority by zeroing-in on a massive increase in spending at the IRS, which includes expanding the workforce and increasing audits – they want to cut the IRS funding bill by some $8b which is mostly for new staff to make IRS up to normal staffing levels and NOT for new agents to check conservatives as falsely claimed (the impact of that).

McCarthy also plans to establish a select committee on China, as well as stop petroleum sales to Beijing. Moderates who do not favor the way the new Congress is shaping up point to the fact that three of the first 12 bills will tighten abortion restrictions – and they were added to the floor schedule without first consulting with the middle of the Republican Conference. 

One bill would create “medical protections for babies that survive attempted abortions,” a second condemns attacks on pro-life groups. 

All-in-all, it’s shaping up to be a very ideological start to the term with focus on social issues important to conservatives bent on revenge. 

How far did McCarthy cave to the demands (BTW: They are mostly 2020 election deniers). 

The list of demands McCarthy gave in to:

RESTORING THE MOTION TO VACATE: Allows any member to call a vote to remove McCarthy as Speaker. 

VOTING ON TERM LIMITS: A floor vote was secured to establish term limits for all members, which lawmakers on both sides have pushed for in recent years.  There are currently no term limits. 

GIVING FREEDOM CAUCUS MORE POWER: The conservative House Freedom Caucus will receive three of the nine seats on the powerful House Rules Committee, which has a huge say in whether bills and amendments are brought to the floor.

ENDING THE OMNIBUS: McCarthy agreed to vote separately on spending bills instead of bundling them into a massive omnibus bill like the $1.7 trillion one that passed in December 2022.

LOWERING SPENDING: Concessions cap government spending at lower levels implemented just two years ago now means lots of cuts.

PROBES INTO PROBES: A new Judiciary subcommittee to focus on the so-called “weaponization of the federal government,” that would investigate the FBI; the DOJ’s raid on Mar-a-Lago estate (that got the classified docs stored by Trump; and Homeland Security.  In a last-minute deal, McCarthy agreed to allow the select subcommittee access to information shared with the House Intelligence Committee — including “ongoing criminal investigations” (e.g., allow investigations of the investigators like on the January 6 committee).

DECREASE GOP PRIMARY CONTESTS: McCarthy agreed to keep his Congressional Leadership Fund PAC money out of races against conservative members in safe districts.

REINSTATING THE “HOLMAN RULE:” The Holman rule allow amendments to reduce lawmakers' salaries, fire federal employees, and cut programs.

ADDING TIME TO REVIEW BILLS: Creates a 72-hour review period for members to review bills before they reach the floor. 

My 2 Cents: As seen listed in the McCarthy concessions above falling into place, expect to see the next two years as mean and nasty.

Don’t expect much in the way of productive results for the general public, either – only GOP appeasement for their hardcore MAGA base and mean-spirited radicals on the ultra-far right.

In summary: It’s gonna be nasty, mean, ugly, and revengeful, so hang on tight – it’s ain’t gonna be pretty – not one bit.

Thanks for stopping by.