Global Courant
House Republicans should now cook on gas.
A debt ceiling crisis behind them, Republicans turned their attention to protecting the public from a federal break-in in the kitchen. GOPers cried for months about possible regulation, if not ban, of gas stoves over environmental concerns from the left. So Republicans drafted two bills to protect gas stoves.
If only some Republicans would let House Republicans debate Republican gas stove bills.
This is what happened:
A conservative faction of House GOPers feels betrayed by House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif. They don’t like the debt ceiling pact McCarthy made with President Biden to avoid federal bankruptcy. They loathe the fact that more Democrats than Republicans — far more — voted for the debt ceiling. That’s even though McCarthy managed to convince about two-thirds of all House Republicans to vote in favor of a plan to suspend the debt limit.
GAS Stove PROTECTION BILLS SUFFER MAJOR OPPOSITION AS HOUSE REPUBLICANS EXPRESS FRUSTRATION WITH MCCARTHY
President Joe Biden and Speaker of the House of Representatives Kevin McCarthy reached a compromise on the debt ceiling on Wednesday night. (Getty Images)
Political observers were skeptical that McCarthy could pierce such a needle: strike a deal with the president and still maintain credibility with a large number of House GOPers. It was quite a feat from McCarthy.
But in the eyes of some conservatives, McCarthy’s success barely flickers like a pilot light.
An uprising among right-wing Republicans kept the House from even considering the bills for dual gas stoves on Tuesday. After two days of failed negotiations with the rebel Republicans, McCarthy and the GOP buyer canceled House votes through next Monday.
House Republicans primed the gas stove bills for debate early this week. Most bills that go to the House of Representatives require a so-called “rule” before debate begins. The “rule” sets guidelines for how the House debates the legislation. That includes time restrictions and any changes are in order. The House must first adopt the rule before the debate on the underlying legislation begins. No rule, no discussion.
What is over is prologue.
CONSERVATIVES BLOCK HOUSE FLOOR IN LATEST MUTE AGAINST GOP LEADERSHIP
Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, speaks at the House Freedom Caucus press conference to oppose the debt limit agreement outside the U.S. Capitol on Monday, May 30, 2023. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
There were a few tense moments in the House of Representatives last week as the House of Representatives prepared to question the debt ceiling package. Remember, House GOPers can only lose four of their own and still pass a measure without help from the Democrats. More than two dozen Republicans voted against the “rule” for the debt ceiling package. Defeating the rule would have stymied the House and prevented the underlying legislation from ever coming up for discussion. But as the vote progressed, a large number of Democrats sat on the sidelines without voting. When the vote on the rule fell through, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, DN.Y., then held up a green voting card in the room. That was the signal to “release” the Democrats to vote for the debt ceiling rule and make up for the GOP deficit.
The rule was passed and the debt ceiling bill was put on the floor for discussion.
However, the Republican majority would not deserve such a bailout from Jeffries and Democrats on the gas stove bills. A gang of arch-conservatives failed to notify the GOP buyer of their plans to vote against the gas-stove measure rule. They eventually broke the rule and stopped the House from even starting a debate on legislation the party designed to show off the Biden administration.
And so began two days of backdoor meetings between several Republicans, McCarthy, and other top GOP leaders on how to quell the insurgency.
There were even suggestions to sneak between McCarthy and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La. It’s not entirely clear that the duo are on the same wavelength. Fox has been told for months to watch Scalise when McCarthy stumbles in the Speakership.
DEMOCRATS HELP MCCARTHY ADVANCE DEBT CEILING AGREEMENT IN NAILBITER HOUSE VOTE
Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA) speaks at a news conference following a caucus meeting with House Republicans on Capitol Hill on May 10, 2023 in Washington, DC. Also pictured, LR, Speaker of the House Republican Conference Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY), Rep. Monica De La Cruz (R-TX) and Rep. Morgan Luttrell (R-TX). (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
It is noteworthy that Scalise was not part of the debt ceiling negotiations. McCarthy has drafted two lieutenants for the job: House Financial Services Committee Chairman Patrick McHenry, RN.C. and Rep. Garret Graves, R-La., for the job. When asked about planning questions, McCarthy often replies “that’s a question for the Majority Leader.” That is absolutely true. The floor scheme is the competence of Scalise. But it’s unclear whether McCarthy’s response is an attempt to stay in his job or avert potential trouble for Scalise.
After the sessions with recalcitrant GOPers, McCarthy finally announced a time-out on Wednesday. He fired the House in hopes that things would return to normal on Monday.
The House Rules Committee held a meeting Monday afternoon on a measure backed by Rep. Andrew Clyde, R-Ga., to block a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) rule on handgun bars. Gun rights advocates note that disabled people use pistol grips. They claim that the government is infringing on Second Amendment rights by enforcing the ATF rule.
Clyde’s bill has been tied to the center of controversy among some Conservatives. Fox was told there was a problem getting support for his legislation. So it wasn’t ready for the floor yet. But conservatives claim there was retaliation by the leadership against Clyde. They allege that the GOP leadership refused to bring the gun bar bill to the table because Clyde voted against the rule on the gas stove bill this week.
McCarthy has tried to remain outwardly positive in his talks with the press after lengthy meetings with fellow Republicans. He trotted out a familiar line — used by Democrats and Republicans alike — when their respective parties suffered internal strife. The speaker said the GOP would have a “family talk.”
MCCARTHY BLAMES HOUSEHOLD CONSERVATIVE RISE ON POSSIBLE SCALE ‘MISCALCULATION’
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy pictured in an interview. McCarthy hopes things will return to normal once Monday comes after the House resignation on Wednesday. (Fox News Digital/Catenacci)
“I’m not going to get upset. I’m not going to get frustrated in this process. I know this job isn’t an easy job. I didn’t look for it because it’s easy. I like the challenge,” said McCarthy.
However, the speaker admitted that he was baffled by the dissent.
“I’m not exactly sure what they’re worried about,” McCarthy said.
Fox is told that there is anger at both McCarthy and Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky. Massie is a member of the Rules Committee. Massie voted for the “rule” to raise the debt ceiling bill. Had Massie not given the green light to the debt ceiling bill in the Rules Committee, the GOP would have missed the vote to jettison the measure. That infuriates members of the Freedom Caucus.
“Massie has been co-opted by the leadership,” said a conservative House source.
Fox is told that some GOP members have told Massie it’s time he removes the debt clock pin he wears from his lapel after backing the debt ceiling package.
“The Rules Committee is not working as it should,” complained one member of the Freedom Caucus.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Republican lawmakers have drafted two bills to protect gas stoves. (Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
The House is back at it on Monday. Scalise provisionally returned the gas stove measures to the House’s roll for Tuesday. We’ll see if the Republicans are indeed cooking on gas by then.
Or the whole thing could explode.
Chad Pergram is currently senior congressional correspondent for FOX News Channel (FNC). He joined the network in September 2007 and is based in Washington, DC
