In a historic first, the US House of Representatives ousted its speaker after eight Republican Congressmen joined hands with the Democratic Party in an unprecedented vote to topple Kevin McCarthy from the position
The unprecedented ouster of McCarthy, who is Republican, comes after an infighting in divided Republican majority came to the fore. The last time a House voted on whether to remove a sitting Speaker was in 1910.
Congressman Matt Gaetz and seven other GOP Representatives along with the Democrats voted against McCarthy in a 216 to 210 votes on Tuesday afternoon. Gaetz-led Republicans were disgruntled that McCarthy joined the Democrats in preventing a government shutdown.
Patrick McHenry appointed Acting Speaker
Republican Representative Patrick McHenry was appointed Speaker pro tempore for up to three legislative days as the future course of action is being chalked out, reported Reuters
Any further action on bills to fund the government is unlikely until a House speaker is appointed. A partial government shutdown is on the cards if the House Representatives cannot meet the November 17 deadline to provide more funds.
The 221 Republicans and 212 Democrats are expected to try to settle on a candidate for speaker. The Democrats are putting their weight behind Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who ran for speaker in January against McCarthy and other candidates.
But the Republicans say they need at least a week to decide on a candidate with a small group of hard-line conservatives demanding deep federal spending cuts, according to Reuters. Reports suggest that McHenry, being the acting speaker, could be the likely GOP candidate. Meanwhile, ousted McCarthy said he will not run again, according to The New York Times.
Both parties' leaders will have to decide when they are ready to enter into the process of electing a speaker.
