Last Updated on December 15, 2022
U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ) told National File that the ultimatum posed by the Republican Governance Group, formerly known as the “Tuesday group,” will not deter the plans of a number of House Freedom Caucus members to challenge McCarthy on January 3. Biggs, along with Reps. Matt Gaetz (R-FL), Ralph Norman (R-SC), Bob Good (R-VA) and Matt Rosendale (R-MT) have stated that they will oppose McCarthy’s bid and will vote as a group no matter what they ultimately decide.
On Wednesday, a moderate House GOP caucus known as the Republican Governance Group met with McCarthy and told him that they will tank a new House rules package, thus keeping Pelosi era rules in place, if party “hardliners” motion to vacate the speaker’s chair. “The Republican Governance Group met w/ McCarthy this morning & told him they’d support him on multiple ballots for speaker,” wrote CNN Capitol Hill reporter Melanie Zanona in a tweet Wednesday.
“But they also had a warning: if he cuts a deal with hardliners on the motion to vacate the speaker’s chair, they will not support the rules package.”
After the House elects a speaker, the chamber then adopts a rules package, which is where we could see some of the concessions, if any, McCarthy makes to win more speaker’s vote.
So this warning could further complicate things for McCarthy.
— Melanie Zanona (@MZanona) December 14, 2022
Of the 44 current members of the Republican Governance Group, nearly half of them (20) voted for the establishment of a Congressional committee to investigate the events of the January 6 Capitol protests. A further seven members voted to impeach President Trump following the protests and small riot. Of those seven, only U.S. Rep. David Valadao (R-CA) will be returning to Congress in January.
After joining the radical left, three were promptly defeated at the ballot box by the GOP electorate, including U.S. Reps. Tom Rice (R-SC), Peter Meijer (R-MI) and Jamie Herrera Beutler (R-WA). Others, including U.S. Reps. Fred Upton (R-MI), Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) and John Katko (R-NY) opted to retire rather than face defeat at the hands of the voters.
Despite their lack of alignment with the GOP electorate, the shrinking group is again attempting to give ground to the radical left by attempting to stop any opposition to McCarthy and any resulting House rules changes.
Rep. Biggs, who has stated that he will challenge McCarthy for the chair on January 3, told National File that the Tuesday Group’s ultimatum will not factor into their decision to oppose McCarthy.
Biggs and his House Freedom Caucus colleagues have stated that key rule changes are necessary in order for McCarthy to gain their support, including a ban on the practice of earmarking.