While the Freedom Caucus alone lacks the votes to block the bill’s passage, the situation becomes considerably more precarious for McCarthy if moderate Republicans also refuse to back it.
Representative Nancy Mace of South Carolina, who has referred to herself as a “caucus of one” within the House GOP, announced that she will vote against the legislation, declaring, “Washington is broken.
Republicans got outsmarted by a President who can’t find his pants.
I’m voting NO on the debt ceiling debacle because playing the DC game isn’t worth selling out our kids and grandkids.”
With the growing number of Republican opponents, McCarthy and Biden may have to rely on House Democrats to secure the bill’s passage.
However, that is far from guaranteed, as members of the House Progressive Caucus have criticized the bill for its expansion of work requirements for food stamps and expedited permitting for oil and gas projects.
President Biden, when asked whether he believed the debt ceiling bill would pass Congress, expressed optimism, saying, “I feel very good about it.”
The potential implications for McCarthy’s speakership When questioned about the possibility of Freedom Caucus members seeking to remove McCarthy from the speakership, Representative Perry emphasized that their immediate focus remains on defeating the bill.
However, he added, “We will decide once we’ve determined the disposition of the bill and the finality.”
It is worth noting that individual lawmakers’ threats now carry more weight after McCarthy agreed earlier this year to allow a single member to call for a vote to oust the speaker.
Nevertheless, a majority of the House would still be required to remove McCarthy from his position.
In order to secure his speakership, McCarthy made concessions to members of the Freedom Caucus, including granting them committee assignments on influential panels like the House Rules Committee, responsible for bringing legislation to the House floor.
Notably, Representatives Ralph Norman of South Carolina and Chip Roy, both Freedom Caucus members who opposed McCarthy’s speakership bid, serve on the House Rules Committee.
