Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) spoke with the press on Thursday outside a GOP conference meeting about selecting a Speaker.
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00:00 >> They're having a discussion in there.
00:02 When you become speaker, a lot of people won't know all the different rules.
00:06 After 9/11, they created a system where you put names on a list if a case
00:13 that you were no longer speaker for somebody to carry out that role
00:17 until you elect a new speaker.
00:19 It's about the continuity of government.
00:21 I always believed the names I was putting on the list could carry out
00:25 and keep government running until you elect a new speaker.
00:28 There is a question, McGovern ran down to try to make a legal question.
00:34 Some people legally say McHenry has that power
00:37 and some will say doesn't have all the power.
00:40 So there was a debate in there, should we allow McHenry to have that power
00:45 so we can deal with Israel and others and keep things working.
00:48 I know the Democrats tried to make some legal thing against it.
00:51 And that's the discussion we're having in there.
00:53 >> Can you explain specifically what happened with Matt Gaetz?
00:56 >> Oh, no, no, no, no, no.
00:58 I was at the mic, I was speaking and Matt Gaetz tried to interrupt
01:01 and so I told him to sit down and he sat down.
01:03 >> What's your view on that?
01:05 >> No, I told him to sit down.
01:07 I think the entire conference screamed at him.
01:09 People are, listen, the whole country I think would scream
01:12 at Matt Gaetz right now.
01:14 Remember, it was a crazy eights led by Matt Gaetz and every single Democrat
01:19 that put us into this situation.
01:21 We've never been in this situation before, but how do you have 4%
01:25 of your conference remove a speaker when 96% are there?
01:30 This is why we're here.
01:31 He had no plan afterwards.
01:33 Now we have Israel at a war, questions whether Congress can act,
01:40 questions where we'd be able to go to select a new speaker.
01:44 I mean, it's a difficult situation driven by one person
01:47 for his own personal beliefs, his own animosity towards me
01:51 and his concern about what's inside an ethics complaint
01:54 that was filed before I was even speaker.
01:56 >> What is the support for the McHenry resolution
01:59 to give him more powers and would you need Democrats to come and help you?
02:03 >> Well, the question in there, we'd like to have all Republicans,
02:06 but they get into the bunch of legal minds whether they're or not.
02:10 I just think we need to make sure government still runs
02:14 and I think we should be having a resolution
02:16 on the floor in support of Israel.
02:17 I have a five-point plan to support Israel,
02:19 but the question right now is you can't do anything
02:21 until you elect a speaker and apparently there's not enough votes
02:24 to elect a speaker.
02:26 >> Should Jim Jordan step down?
02:27 >> Look, it took me 15 times to win, so I don't question
02:30 when someone keeps being--
02:32 >> Do you think there's some--
02:33 >> Look, when I put McHenry's name down, it was my belief
02:41 that if I-- something happened to me,
02:43 that McHenry could run the floor until we elected a new speaker.
02:48 It was not my intention when I put a name down
02:51 that they couldn't do anything.
02:52 So why would you put a name down?
02:53 When the president decides on a state of the union
02:56 who his designated survivor is, I think it's his intent--
03:01 he or her intention that if something happens to everyone else
03:04 that that person could carry on the continuity of government.
03:07 If we provided these rules after 9/11, I believe it was the intent
03:11 of Congress for that same reason to put a name down and you put a number
03:17 of names that that person could carry on the job
03:20 if something-- you fail to not be able to do the job.
03:23 >> So what-- so is there going to be a vote on this resolution?
03:26 >> I don't know if there's going to be a vote or not.
03:28 You'll have to talk to--
03:29 >> Why did you choose McHenry?
03:30 What are you telling--
03:32 >> Why-- oh, the question, why did I choose McHenry?
03:33 There's a number of people I chose.
03:34 It's in the order.
03:36 I think from a Patrick McHenry, I wanted somebody
03:37 who had been committee chairs.
03:40 I wanted somebody that wasn't seeking the job
03:42 because their role was to carry it out and put it.
03:46 I wanted somebody that could work with all sides.
03:48 And McHenry is ideal for all that.
03:51 If you watch him, he's not seeking to be speaker.
03:53 He believes in the continuity of government.
03:56 He's chairman of a substantial committee.
03:58 He understands the working.
04:00 He's been here a number of years so he understands how Congress works.
04:04 He has respect on both sides of the aisle.
04:06 He could carry out the job.
04:07 Remember, when you're speaker,
04:09 you don't determine whether the bill passes or not.
04:12 The committees work on whether the bill comes before.
04:15 You make sure government keeps working.
04:17 It's shocking to me that all the Democrats and eight
04:21 of those crazies led by Gates would vote
04:24 to literally stop one branch of government.
04:28 Why would you do that?
04:29 It makes no sense.
04:31 >> What are you telling members who are calling on Congressman Jordan
04:33 to suspend his campaign?
04:34 >> That's a conversation then.
04:36 Look, I went 15 rounds in the process.
04:41 And so he got the majority of votes inside the conference.
04:45 He has the opportunity to go.
04:46 But you all determined that.
04:48 Steve decided not to go to the floor.
04:49 I don't get in the middle of their races.
04:51 They can determine whether they think they can get the votes or not.
04:53 >> Can I ask you, will a majority
04:54 of House Republicans support this resolution?
04:56 >> I don't think they'll bring it to the floor unless they have the majority.
05:00 >> And do you think they're going to --
05:02 >> I don't know.
05:03 They're having a long discussion.
05:04 >> So is there still a possibility that --
05:06 >> Can you just talk about the path forward as far
05:07 as if that resolution advances?
05:08 Like, do you support keeping McHenry in place through the end
05:10 of November, through January?
05:12 >> Well, the --
05:13 >> Is there an appropriate time frame if the resolution --
05:15 >> This is the uniqueness of the resolution.
05:17 It says a certain time frame or until you elect a new speaker.
05:21 We could elect a new speaker tonight and then it'd be done with.
05:24 I just think with what's going on in the world today,
05:27 I don't like the idea that Gates could go out and shut
05:31 down all of Congress and we can't act.
05:34 As Americans, that's not right.
05:36 And as the former speaker, I put a name on the list with the belief
05:40 that that would never take place.
05:42 That the continuity of government would continue.
05:45 There is some legal question about that.
05:47 I don't want that to happen.
05:48 Then elect a new speaker or let somebody continue to let us do the
05:52 work of the American people.
05:53 Look, we have men and women on aircraft carriers
05:56 out in the Mediterranean.
05:58 I don't want to question.
06:00 I go back to this.
06:01 I got removed from speaker because I kept government open
06:04 and made sure the troops were being paid.
06:07 I would do that again tomorrow.
06:09 That our men and women in the military, that they're out there
06:12 in the threat of what's going on,
06:14 questioning why they're going to make their house payment
06:16 or their car payment, that should not be their problem at all.
06:19 And look, if I'm going to lose that job because doing what's right,
06:23 I'm going to do it each and every time.
06:24 But I also believe when I put a name down, that person has the right
06:28 to keep Congress moving until we elect a new speaker.
06:31 >> How do you get to that point to the continuity?
06:34 I mean, Democrats and some members don't think he has that ability
06:38 to keep government open and keep government going.
06:40 >> Then those people just want chaos.
06:42 I mean, collectively in there, we've got to find a way to govern.
06:47 Now when you ask me all those questions,
06:49 could I get the things done during the week?
06:51 We did pretty well, didn't we?
06:52 You see, it's a pretty tough job.
06:55 >> Congressman, what's your sense of keeping the government funded?
06:58 I mean, you've got concern about he can just, you know,
07:01 they can just shut down the government.
07:03 Are you concerned about funding the government through the end
07:05 of the CR or after the CR expires?
07:08 >> You know how a CR works, right?
07:10 So a CR means it's a continuing resolution.
07:12 It's a stopgap measure that government is funded to a set date.
07:16 So I lost my job as speaker because I did that.
07:19 So I believe in that.
07:20 I believe in the troops.
07:22 I believe in keeping our border agents funded.
07:23 I believe in our ability to keep going.
07:26 And there's some people who don't believe in that.
07:28 I think that's wrong.
07:30 But the more time we waste here, all that ability to be able
07:34 to get our bill to secure the border, all that ability
07:37 to eliminate wasteful spending, all that ability
07:40 to end the wokeism, we're losing on.
07:43 And that's why I don't understand this brilliant eight people
07:46 on what their plan was and what they thought they were going
07:48 to achieve because as I look every single day,
07:51 we lose in that process.
07:52 And that means America loses.
07:54 >> Is there an acknowledgment?
07:55 >> Yes.
07:56 >> Right now, are the Republican who has had the most votes
07:58 on the floor, the most votes to go to the floor, is there any way
08:02 that you could hear from fine Democrats and put your name back
08:05 in as a potential speaker?
08:08 >> Look, every single Democrat made a choice to bring chaos.
08:11 Every single Democrat decided that this was the best way forward.
08:14 What's interesting though is the leadership
08:17 of Democrats had said something different the entire time I've been
08:20 here since Boehner.
08:21 So I guess they changed their mind.
08:22 >> They were mad about your comments the Sunday
08:24 after you kept the government open.
08:26 >> Oh, really?
08:27 So they were mad I kept government open?
08:28 >> Well, now it's a couple weeks later.
08:30 >> Well, no.
08:31 >> You blame them.
08:32 It's a couple weeks later.
08:34 >> Oh, okay.
08:35 >> So I walk through that since people have thin skin, okay?
08:38 So I put a bill on the floor to keep government open
08:41 and they moved to adjourn.
08:44 Then they moved to delay and then they took a magic minute.
08:48 But they were upset that I acknowledged they did that?
08:52 Hmm. I wonder if they should have this job if that upsets them.
08:55 What do you think they say about me?
08:57 >> Yeah, but is there any way to put the Republican government back
09:00 together again and you end up with the capitol?
09:03 >> I think that stuff is probably past.
09:06 They decided they wanted to shut down one branch of government.
09:09 I'm trying to keep it open just
09:11 for the same reason I fought to keep government.
09:13 I had to roll them to keep government open for the troops.
09:16 I'd do that again.
09:17 >> So if there's not a majority support for the resolution
09:21 to give McHenry more powers, is there a possibility
09:23 that we could keep --
09:24 >> Look, I am no longer speaker.
09:26 So I'm not making those -- I'm not making that determination.
09:29 So you have to ask those in leadership.
09:32 Steve Scalise schedules a floor.
09:34 You've got Patrick.
09:35 You've got Emmer.
09:37 And you've got Elise.
09:39 They are better to answer that question.
09:40 I don't have any --
09:41 >> Do you think Jordan should keep going forward?
09:42 >> Who should be negotiating things like Israel,
09:46 continuing resolution, continued appropriation?
09:48 >> Great question.
09:50 >> Are you involved in this?
09:51 >> Nobody's involved in this.
09:52 Because that brilliant eight people led by Gates,
09:54 this was apparently their plan.
09:56 I don't quite understand what that helps America for,
09:59 what that helps the conservative cause.
10:00 It's actually the reverse.
10:02 I laid out a five-point plan to be able to help Israel,
10:06 but more importantly, help America.
10:08 First and foremost, this Biden administration needs
10:11 to change their appeasement.
10:12 They should no longer pay for American hostage.
10:14 And their first focus should be bring every single hostage back
10:17 and make it very clear that we'll hold people accountable.
10:20 Secondly, make sure Israel has all the ability
10:23 and the resources they need.
10:24 That's from medical supply to precision weapons
10:26 to carry out what they do.
10:27 Hamas has to be destroyed.
10:29 We should also make sure
10:31 that we stop what this administration has done, reverse back.
10:34 The sanctions are there when it comes to Iranian oil.
10:38 Iran has become stronger, financially secure,
10:42 and able to fund more terrorism based upon this Biden administration
10:45 of not enforcing the oil sanctions.
10:48 They, when Biden came into office,
10:50 Iran was only producing 400,000 barrels a day.
10:54 Today, they're producing 3 million.
10:56 How many billions of dollars do you think that is?
10:59 Secondly, I would go about making sure we secure our border.
11:04 I have been fighting this Biden administration ever
11:07 since they opened the border up of how many people we're catching
11:10 on the terrorist watch list.
11:11 We don't know if there's any cells inside America.
11:14 We watch what transpired in Congress just yesterday
11:17 with people coming in.
11:19 I mean, this is a dangerous situation of where we are,
11:21 and we should reassess that.
11:23 And then we should replace the Iranian oil with American oil.
11:27 That would be more American jobs, more economic strength here.
11:30 And if you look at the foreign currency exchange, when Biden took over,
11:35 Iran only had 4 billion.
11:36 Today, they have 70 billion.
11:38 He has been stronger for the economy of Iran than he has for America.
11:42 >> So how do you get government back continuity-wise?
11:46 I mean, McHenry's coming out saying he's not asking for powers.
11:49 He wants to be focused on electing a speaker.
11:51 If the resolutions go to the floor, I mean, how do you convince McHenry
11:54 that he does have these powers?
11:56 >> Well, if the resolution went to the floor and passed,
12:00 it would exactly do what I thought I was doing when we signed a piece
12:03 of paper, to keep government running.
12:05 And it would stay running until we elected a new speaker,
12:08 then the new speaker would come in.
12:10 >> Wouldn't McHenry have to come with his own list of backups?
12:13 >> If it passed, yeah, and then someone was afraid,
12:15 would they do a motion to vacate?
12:17 I said, put me on the list, then they won't do a motion to vacate.
12:19 It would be fine.
12:20 >> Who's second on the list?
12:22 >> It's a secret list.
12:23 I'll tell you who's not on the list.
12:25 >> Matt Gaetz, not on the list.
12:29 >> I'm going to pull off on my last question.
12:30 >> I bet America will vote on that one.
12:32 >> In this scenario where McHenry does have more powers,
12:36 is he the point person negotiating with Democrats?
12:38 Is it the speaker?
12:40 >> I think the best --
12:41 >> Is it the former speaker?
12:43 You have like these three speaker figures in the conference.
12:47 >> Okay, let me answer your question.
12:49 The best thing for Republicans to do is to elect a speaker.
12:53 That would solve all these problems.
12:55 All right, I hope you all have a good day.