Politics

Ex-speaker Kevin McCarthy rips Freedom Caucus for ‘locking in Pelosi’s policies’ 

By
Victor Nava
Published Jan. 22, 2024, 9:39 p.m. ET

Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy slammed th🔴e conservative Freedom Caucus on Monday, arguing that the hard-line group of lawmakers have prevented Republicans “from being able to govern” and are “locking in the Democratic policies” promoted by Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) 

The California Republican, who retired from Congress at the end of last year after being stripped of his speakership, took issue with asking why the majority part𓆏y decided to “kick the can down the road” by passing a short-term continuing resolution that funds the government until March 1. 

McCarthy, 58, suggested that her question would be better directed at members𓃲 of the Freedom Caucus,🎃 some of whom were among the eight the Republicans that joined with Democrats to oust him from the speaker’s chair last October after he pushed through a continuing resolution.

Kevin McCarthy
McCarthy argued that the Freedom Caucus has prevented Republicans “from being able to govern.” Fox Business

“They are the ones who have stopped the Republicans from being able to govern,” McCarthy said. “So what they are doing is they’re locking in the Democratic policies. They’re actually spending more money now than if we’d go to the debt ceiling numbers.” 

“They continue to stymie this majority to be able to do anything,” he added, before suggesting that members of 🍎the group are not “true” conservatives. 

“It really comes down to what’s a true conservative,” McCarthy said. “I look to Ronald Reagan. A conservative is one that can actually govern in a conservative way, but what you’re finding now is what they’re doing is doing nothing but it locks in Democratic, Pelosi policies.” 

The Freedom Caucus urged “all conservatives” to oppose the temporary spending bill passe🐓d by Congress and signed by President Biden last 🐼week, arg💫uing that it doesn’t uphold the GOP ​​commitment to “secure the border” or☂ cut enough spending. 

McCarthy accused the Freedom Caucus of “locking in Pelosi’s policies” by opposing continuing resolutions to fund the government. Andy Kropa/Invision/AP

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and Senate Majo♏rity Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) agreed to a topline of $1.66 trillion in spending for fiscal year 2024, including  $888 billion in defense spending and $773 billion in discretionary spending.

“This doesn’t preserve the status quo. It makes it worse,” the Freedom Caucus , urging Johnson to “walk away” from the topl൲ine agreement. 

“I would sit in the room and start negotiating,” McCarthy said of what lawmakers should b𝓡e doing now, with Johnson seeking to pass 12 separate appropriations bills for federal agencies before March 1 and March 8 deadlines. 

“If you don’t, you’re locking in Pelosi’s policies and that’s what the Freedom Caucus is doing,” he added. “I think this is a time to show you can govern, if you’re going to have the majority lead.”