A version of this story appeared in the On Background newsletter from The Washington Times. Click here to receive On Background delivered directly to your inbox each Friday.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has only one piece of advice for the next Republican House speaker: “Get rid of the motion to vacate.”
“I hope whoever the next speaker is gets rid of the motion to vacate. I think it makes the speaker’s job impossible,” the Kentucky Republican told reporters Wednesday. “The American people expect us to have a functioning government.”
Mr. McConnell said a motion to vacate is akin to a “hammerlock of dysfunction” — no matter who is speaker.
A motion to vacate is the procedure used Tuesday by Florida GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz to strip former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy of his gavel, over what anti-McCarthy rebels said was the California Republican’s failure to keep promises.
A motion to vacate can be brought by any one member.
Seven other hardline conservatives voted with Mr. Gaetz and with all Democrats to remove Mr. McCarthy, making him the first speaker in U.S. history to be ousted.
Mr. McCarthy’s ejection thrust the House into chaos, forcing the chamber to grind to a halt and adjourn until next week as Republicans scramble to coalesce around other potential speakers.
Mr. McCarthy said he will not seek to regain the speakership due to the staunch opposition from the eight conservatives who removed him.
The motion to vacate is a longstanding rule that was restored under House Republicans in the face of demands from those like Mr. Gaetz in order for Mr. McCarthy to secure his speakership in January after 15 rounds of voting.
Under ex-Speaker Nancy Pelosi, California Democrat, a motion to vacate could be brought for a vote only if a majority of either party supported it.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.