US House adopts rules sought by Republican hardliners to control Kevin McCarthy

US lawmakers approved a rules package determining how Republicans will govern in the US House of Representatives

The changes include allowing a single lawmaker to call for speaker Kevin McCarthy’s removal at any time

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Published: 10:08am, 10 Jan 2023

The Republican-led US House of Representatives adopted a package of internal rules that give right-wing hardliners more leverage over the chamber’s newly elected Republican speaker, Kevin McCarthy.

Lawmakers voted 220-213 to approve the legislation. One Republican, congressman Tony Gonzales, joined all 212 Democrats in voting against the rules package. Another Republican did not vote.

The rules package, which will govern House operations over the next two years, represented an early test of McCarthy’s ability to keep his caucus together, after he suffered the humiliation of 14 failed ballots last week before finally being elected speaker on Saturday.

The legislation includes key concessions that hardliners sought and McCarthy agreed to in his quest for the speaker’s gavel.

The changes include allowing a single lawmaker to call for his removal at any time, an insurance policy that right-wingers will use to hold McCarthy’s feet to the fire.

Other changes would place new restrictions on federal spending, potentially limiting McCarthy’s ability to negotiate government funding packages with President Joe Biden, whose fellow Democrats control the Senate.