Brecheen joins principled conservatives in revolt against McCarthy speaker candidacy

Congressman Josh Brecheen of Oklahoma's 2nd Congressional District is staking out a bold stand for change on Capitol Hill.

This morning, Brecheen was one of 19 conservatives who did not vote for Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) for House Speaker, throwing the vote for the speaker to a second (and as of this writing, fourth) ballot for the first time since 1923.

The members, primarily from the conservative House Freedom Caucus, are aiming to garner rules changes or leadership changes that would make the House actually debate legislation, hear amendments, and generally operate like a deliberative body instead of a leadership rubber-stamp.

Initially, 10 of these patriotic "rebels" voted for Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ) while nine voted for various other members (Brecheen voted for Jim Banks of Indiana). On the second and third round, they voted for Jim Jordan (R-OH). McCarthy lost a vote in the third round, with the anti-swamp conservatives now taking twenty votes. 

Voting for Speaker will continue until a candidate receives a majority vote (218); fear-mongering about a Democrat winning the gavel is unrealistic, unless the pro-McCarthy swamp faction decides to help them out.

The following is Brecheen's press statement: 

Representative-Elect Josh Brecheen Demands Spending Reform; Votes For Representatives Jim Jordan and Jim Banks Against McCarthy for Speaker of the House

“The American people gave the majority to Republicans this November asking for transformative change—not more status quo appearing as change.” 

Washington, D.C. – Representative-Elect Josh Brecheen released the following statement after voting for Representatives Jim Jordan and Jim Banks against Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy for Speaker of the House of the 118th Congress. 

 “The American people gave the majority to Republicans this November for a change—not more status quo touted as change. I was elected to Congress by the people of Oklahoma’s Second District under the commitment to reform reckless spending that is bankrupting our nation and robbing our children and future generations. I’m keeping my word.

My message to Leader McCarthy has been—and continues to be—that to obtain my support for Speaker, transformative rule changes that stop out of control spending and address our debt loading must occur. 

After 40-year high inflation—tied to $31 trillion indebtedness that was half that amount just a decade ago—we need a Speaker who is committed to transformative spending reform. Though Leader McCarthy offered some positive rule changes to the House Freedom Caucus, of which I associate, they are not concrete reforms that will lead to a true change in our trajectory towards bankruptcy. 

A person’s history is the greatest predictor of future behavior. Leader McCarthy’s past voting record supporting major spending bills as part of the Republican leadership for the past decade gives me pause. Without substantive rules changes that would guide Leader McCarthy on spending, I must vote as I have until we have a better deal for your children. 

Additionally, I have relayed to Leader McCarthy that we have not had an open amendment process since 2016 and have had higher discretionary spending levels since. When my mentor Tom Coburn served in this seat under the Contract with America from 1995 to 2000, over 50% of all major bills operated under open or modified open rules and could be amended on the floor. A balanced budget was accomplished in that era. Today, zero percent of major bills can be amended on the floor absent permission from nine majority party members of the rules committee picked by the Speaker. I’m asking for change to be able to legislate—not just vote up or down—as the second Congressional district deserves their voice to be heard. 

The People’s House deserves equal representation by all Members, not just the voice of the Speaker and nine super legislators on the Rules committee who serve at the pleasure of the speaker. For the sake of the Republic, this body must get over its fear to take tough votes on the floor and truly legislate again.”

Clickhere to view Leader McCarthy’s past appropriations votes.