(Luis Cornelio, Headline USA) House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., issued a dire warning to fiscal Republicans who resisted a contentious defense bill that includes funding for scandal-plagued Ukraine, describing their opposition as an attempt to “burn the whole place down.”
Addressing reporters inside Capitol Hill, McCarthy voiced his concerns about his inability to pass the spending legislation.
“This is a whole new concept of individuals that just want to burn the whole place down.”
— After House Republicans once again failed to pass a basic procedural rule to fund the Pentagon, Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) hits some members of his own conference pic.twitter.com/Qt4AR71jP3
— The Recount (@therecount) September 21, 2023
“This is a whole new concept of individuals that just want to burn the whole place down. That doesn’t work,” McCarthy claimed.
The House speaker’s remarks came in the wake of a failed House vote related to a Pentagon funding bill, marking the third time he has struggled to pass his own proposal.
As reported by Newsweek, Republican leaders initially believed they had enough votes for the spending bill. The final tally proved otherwise, with 212 votes in favor and 216 against. Notably, six Republican lawmakers crossed the aisle to thwart the bill.
Among the dissenting voices, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., argued against funding contentious global conflicts, particularly the Russo-Ukrainian war.
“Our country is being invaded by the thousands every damn day and our Department of Defense does nothing,” the Georgia Republican posted on Twitter. “Our Defense bill should not fund our DOD for blood money for the Ukraine war, that’s why I’m a NO. What did we get out of Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan?”
Republicans who supported the bill expressed frustration at the party’s internal divisions. “This is painful,” Rep. Steve Womack, R-Ark., told Politico on Thursday. “It gives me a headache. This is a very difficult series of missteps by our conference.”
Rep. Anthony D’Esposito, R-N.Y., echoed Womack’s remarks. “At this point, it seems like there are some people playing policy warfare, and I think we need to move our country forward,” he remarked. “We’re pretty frustrated.”
