GOP rebels say McCarthy sealed his own fate with broken promises

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Broken promises were a top reason given by the handful of hardline conservatives for their votes that booted Rep. Kevin McCarthy from his role as speaker.

But some also said Mr. McCarthy, California Republican, didn’t know how to treat his colleagues.

Eight GOP lawmakers voted with House Democrats to remove Mr. McCarthy from office, including Reps. Matt Gaetz of Florida, Eli Crane of Arizona, Tim Burchett of Tennessee, Nancy Mace of South Carolina, Andy Biggs of Arizona, Ken Buck of Colorado, Bob Good of Virginia and Matt Rosendale of Montana.

For Mr. Burchett, the reason for ousting Mr. McCarthy, whom the lawmaker said he considered a friend, was personal. He said that Mr. McCarthy mocked him over the phone for praying about what would be the right decision. 

“That sealed it right there for me because I wanted to listen to what he had to say,” Mr. Burchett said. 

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SEE ALSO: House in limbo after McCarthy booted from speaker’s podium

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Mr. Crane and Mr. Good said they wanted to oust Mr. McCarthy because he broke his promises to return the appropriations process to regular order, which is Capitol Hill jargon for passing the 12 annual spending bills one by one rather than in a colossal omnibus package, which has become routine.

For other lawmakers such as Mr. Rosendale, it was a laundry list of problems. Mr. Rosendale said in a statement that Mr. McCarthy was not a strong enough leader to take the conservative fight to the Democrat-led Senate.

“Unfortunately, Kevin McCarthy violated his promise to the American people and the Republican Conference by working against them repeatedly and supporting ploys to aid the Left,” Mr. Rosendale said. 

Ms. Mace, like her peers, said that Mr. McCarthy did not hold up his word on advancing spending bills promptly. But she also had an issue with the speaker’s broken promises to do more to help women in the country, like working toward providing greater access to birth control. 

“If you make a promise, you should keep it, and if you promise women you’re going to help them, then you damn well better do it,” Ms. Mace said. “So as a fiscal conservative, I’m angry. As a woman. I am deeply frustrated.”