Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) has threatened to resign from Congress if Democrats join up with GOP representatives to elect a moderate Republican as Speaker of the House.
The rumored plan could happen if Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) can’t secure enough votes to win the speakership or be forced to step down if Gaetz and other GOP rebels continue to hold out.
The Democrats have floated the idea a few times and would love the power they would get by providing the votes for the next speaker.
Democrats would insist on co-control of committees and subpoena power, according to some reports.
However, other Democrats say they may join moderate Republicans simply for a deal on the debt ceiling.
The debt ceiling will have to be raised at some point over the next year and Gaetz and others are insisting on massive spending cuts from President Joe Biden for raising the ceiling.
Gaetz appeared on Laura Ingraham’s Fox News show last night where he made the statement.
BREAKING: Rep. @MattGaetz:
“If Democrats join up to elect a moderate Republican, I will resign from the House of Representatives” pic.twitter.com/UEIirVUco6
— ALX 🇺🇸 (@alx) January 6, 2023
WATCH:
Below is a transcript of the conversation:
INGRAHAM: Are you going to be OK, Congressman, will you be OK then if there’s ultimately a deal struck with moderate Democrats if Democrats kind of co-control committees?
You’re fine with that?
GAETZ: No, absolutely not. That will not happen.
There are two scenarios here.
INGRAHAM: Well, that’s what happened.
GAETZ: No, listen. I’m on the floor, Laura.
These 212 Democrats are going to vote for Hakeem Jeffries every single time.
He is a historic candidate for them.
They are not going to cleave off under any circumstance.
I assure you if Democrats join up to elect a moderate Republican, I will resign from the House of Representatives.
That is how certain I am. I can assure your viewers that won’t happen.
Amen.@MattGaetz told Laura tonight on @IngrahamAngle that @GOPLeader’s refusal to join the bipartisan antitrust reforms to hold Big Tech accountable was a key factor in his NO vote.
Hold the line.
Kevin McCarthy’s Big Tech’s champion.
Cheers,
@The_IAP pic.twitter.com/lWsf6RfrQ4— 🇺🇸 Mike Davis 🇺🇸 (@mrddmia) January 6, 2023
