Part political performance, part stall tactic, Republican leader Kevin McCarthy unleashed a long, rambling and vitriolic speech, seizing control of the House floor and preempting passage of Pres. Biden’s big domestic policy bill.
In this image from House Television, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy of Calif., speaks on the House floor during debate on the Democrats' expansive social and environment bill at the U.S. Capitol on Thursday, Nov. 18, 2021, in Washington.
legacy, picking up where the former president left off, mercilessly attacking his political opponents and their ideas with a ferocity that is rare even for the divided halls of Congress. The speech was a fact-checker's bonanza.“I’m just getting geared up, go just sit,” he said several hours later. At another point, he said, “I know you don’t like me, but that’s OK."
McCarthy’s speech began as almost any other during the final debate on Biden’s bill. Democrats were laboring to wrap up work on the package of social services and climate change programs, shelving their own differences to deliver on the president’s domestic priorities. Dozens of Republicans, some sitting directly behind him, urged him on. Democrats on the other side booed, and some tweeted snickering replies.
McCarthy's overnight performance could be seen as an audition of sorts, an appeal to the Republican colleagues who denied him the job last time.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Spending bill vote delayed until FridayThe House pushed back a vote on the sweeping economic bill, known as the Build Back Better Act, that would expand the nation's social safety net after months of negotiations. Follow here for the latest news.
Read more »
Dems scramble to finish social spending bill as price tag expected ThursdayThe CBO said it would finish its cost estimates for the bill Thursday afternoon, clearing one significant hurdle as Democratic leaders push toward the vote.
Read more »