NASHVILLE — U.S. Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tennessee, said Sunday he would consider backing a possible effort to oust House Speaker Kevin McCarthy if the California Republican allows any spending deal with Democrats to avoid a federal government shutdown Saturday as Republicans continue wrangling among themselves over a dozen funding bills.
“That would be something I would look strongly at, ma’am, if we do away with our duty that we said we’re going to do,” the Knoxville congressman said Sunday in response to a question posed by CNN’s Dana Bash on the “State of the Union” program.
“There are alternatives, (to) this promise he made to Biden,” Burchett continued, alluding to an agreement McCarthy struck with President Joe Biden. It would provide for a continuing resolution to keep the government funded as House Republicans continue working.
The agreement suspends the debt ceiling to avoid a government shutdown Saturday. It combines that with spending caps on fiscal year 2023-24 appropriations.
“What about the promise we made to the American public that we were going to be responsible Americans?” Burchett told Bash. “Ma’am, we’re going to be governing over a pile of rubble if we’re not careful.”