Colleagues say their styles are completely different. But fiscal showdowns on the horizon mean the duo will need to work together.
“I think they’re kindred spirits in a political sense,” said Sen. Kevin Cramer ,How they operate
“People get way too hung up on buddy movies in Congress, and with McConnell that’s just not a thing,” the former aide said. “He wants to get the work done, he wants to win.”Colleagues say McCarthy and McConnell respect each other, despite their differences. Their dynamic will be shaped by McCarthy’s tenuous hold on his speakership, which is likely to limit how much he can demand or deliver in negotiations with the Senate or the White House, which are both controlled by Democrats.
Now that McCarthy has nabbed the job, some in his caucus are urging him to take a hard line against McConnell and Senate Democrats in fiscal negotiations. McConnell has made it clear he does not believe that the nation should default on its debt obligations, while McCarthy has agreed to push for spending cuts using a potential default as leverage.
Ryan also faced pressure from House Republicans during his tenure to “bludgeon” McConnell into getting rid of the filibuster to push through more GOP legislation in the Senate. Ryan said he believed that tensions were not as high today and that House and Senate Republicans would agree on most issues, even if they disagree on tactics.Ryan said he never considered distancing himself from McConnell for political reasons, even though some may have advised it at the time.
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