Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer warned Congress Wednesday of a “dangerous situation” with about 40 days until a stopgap funding measure runs out and the House lacking a speaker.
The New York Democrat said he hopes it’s obvious that Make America Great Again extremism “isn’t good for the House Republican leadership, it is not good for the GOP, it is not good for Congress and MAGA extremism is dangerous for the country.”
“We find ourselves in a dangerous situation; with about 40 days to go before the government shuts down, the House has ground completely to a halt,” he said on the Senate floor. “Until Republicans stop their infighting, the House can vote on no bills. No appropriations work can get done.”
He said there’s a potential threat to national security due to ousting the speaker.
“If, God forbid, some national crisis were to occur that demands immediate action, the House would be unable to quickly respond,” he said.
A House vote Tuesday ousted GOP Rep. Kevin McCarthy from his position as speaker with a 216-210 vote. All House Democrats voted to remove Mr. McCarthy, with eight Republicans joining them.
It marks the first time in history a speaker has been removed for their position. There have been votes in the past, but none had resulted in removal.
Rep. Patrick McHenry, North Carolina Republican, is serving as interim speaker until the House elects a replacement. Government funding is set to run out on Nov. 17.
Mr. Schumer the eventual new speaker to “think carefully” before trying to “coddle the hard right.”
“Each of your predecessors got burned each time,” he said. “I urge the next speaker not to make the same mistake, not just for their own future but for the country’s.”
• Mallory Wilson can be reached at mwilson@washingtontimes.com.
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