Against all odds, Congress avoided a government shutdown last weekend by passing a 45-day stopgap funding bill. The bill keeps government funding at current levels until Nov. 17, giving lawmakers more time to figure out a 2024 budget.
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-California, sought help from Democrats and got just that, as nearly all of the lawmakers on the left voted in favor of the bill.
“There has to be an adult in the room. It’s all right that Republicans and Democrats joined to do what is right,” McCarthy said after the bill was passed.
This high-performance showing of bipartisan support should be the main storyline. McCarthy should be praised for leadership in the face of a government shutdown that would have had devastating effects across the country and economy.
Nothing of the sort took place.
Instead, he will be fighting this week to hang on to the speakership.
Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Florida, a ringleader of the far-right wing in the House, didn’t hold back.
“I do intend to file a motion to vacate against Speaker McCarthy this week,” Gaetz said on CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday. “I think we need to rip off the Band-Aid. I think we need to move on with new leadership that can be trustworthy.”
What about McCarthy’s leadership looks untrustworthy? Is it because he decided to go across the aisle to get things done—for the good of the country? Or was it because he chose to lead instead of posture?
Putting loyalty to party over country, in this case over the millions of Americans who would have been affected by a government shutdown, is idiotic, plain and simple.
On Monday Gaetz took to the House floor and slammed McCarthy for working out a “secret” Ukraine deal with Democrats.
“Working with the Democrats is a yellow brick road that has been paved by Speaker McCarthy,” Gaetz said.
And the problem is?
“It’s becoming increasingly clear who the speaker of the House already works for, and it’s not the Republican conference,” he said.
Correct, Congressman Gaetz. McCarthy doesn’t work for the Republican Party. He works for the American people.
The GOP’s infighting has undermined the power and effectiveness of bipartisanship and could end McCarthy’s leadership of the House.
Is bipartisanship dead?
The main takeaway from the weekend should be that the Republicans are not in sync. Just look at how they voted on the stopgap funding bill.
In all, 335 members of Congress voted in favor of the stopgap bill—209 Democrats and 126 Republicans. Ninety Republicans and one Democrat voted against the measure.
Six Republicans out of the nine-member Tennessee Congressional delegation voted against the bill. The two GOP representatives who supported the bill were David Kustoff of Memphis and hometown legislator Chuck Fleishmann. Democrat Steve Cohen, also of Memphis, voted for the bill.
In a show of defiance against McCarthy, Majorie Taylor-Greene, R-Georgia, voted against the bill.
The Senate voted 88-9 in favor of the stopgap bill. Tennessee Sens. Bill Hagerty and Marsha Blackburn voted against the resolution.
With these “no” votes, Hagerty, Blackburn and most of Tennessee’s federal elected officials miss out on what bipartisanship is.
Bipartisanship is not simply just cutting a deal. It’s bringing both sides together for the common good. Hagerty and Blackburn’s decision to oppose the stopgap bill might have been for show, but that vote will always be on their record. It will and should be a reminder that these two senators will choose to feed the GOP hounds rather than invest in restoring faith in healthy political discourse and good governance. It’s hard to imagine what the late Howard Baker, a longtime Tennessee senator and Republican powerhouse who preached bipartisanship, would say about what has transpired in our nation’s capital over the last few days.
There are instances when Hagerty and Blackburn are a part of bipartisan legislative efforts, but when the government is facing a shutdown, it’s time for high-performance bipartisanship.
Unfortunately, we didn’t get that.
Americans always come first
Despite Gaetz’s pledge to oust McCarthy, the speaker is showing confidence.
“I’ll survive,” McCarthy said on CBS’ “Face the Nation.” “Bring it on.”
Before that happens, McCarthy will have to persuade the 90 lawmakers who voted against him on the bill to stick with him as the House and Senate prepare to negotiate a budget bill and vote on it before the Thanksgiving holiday break.
Ultimately, the real winner this week is the American people, and that’s who our politicians should be worried about, not political gamesmanship and grandstanding.
The political landscape of our country will look a little more bleak if Gaetz and his ilk press ahead with ouster maneuverings and succeed.
If McCarthy goes down for showing leadership and encouraging a bipartisan approach to averting a shutdown, at least he’ll go down as a leader who did the right thing for the American people.
Can’t say that about the GOP. Just look at their votes.