REP. BOB WALKER: McCarthy's concessions may help stop politicians from throwing ... trends now
Bob Walker represented Pennsylvania's 16th District for twenty years. In Congress, he chaired the Science, Space and Technology Committee, served as the Republican Chief Deputy Whip, Chairman of the Republican Leadership, Vice Chairman of the Budget Committee and Speaker Pro Tempore
America is in a leadership crisis.
Day after day, in failed vote after failed vote, a small group of dissidents within the Republican party have been able to deny the Speakership to Congressman Kevin McCarthy.
On Friday, McCarthy came up short in a 12th, 13th and 14th vote to determine leadership of the House.
America is starting to resemble a banana republic.
We even saw a mass walkout of McCarthy loyalists disgusted by Republican Matt Gaetz, who alleged McCarthy is where he is today because of his prowess at taking millions in donations from special interests.
Some Republican holdouts have – hesitantly – started moving in McCarthy's direction, but still, it may not be enough.
The GOP majority is so narrow that even a few objectors can derail the process and proposed ideas to break the gridlock have not worked.
Substitute candidates for speaker, such as Reps Jim Jordan, Byron Donalds and even former president Donald Trump, have been nominated but the chances of electing an alternative to McCarthy are slim to non-existent.
There is even talk that in the backrooms of the Capitol of plans for some Democrats to vote for McCarthy and in return for concessions. But that scenario is almost too ridiculous to consider given the divisions among the parties today.
So, how does this stalemate end?
As a former congressman, who served 10 terms, including several in Republican leadership, I believe that this standoff cannot only be resolved, but resolved in victory, and not just for Speaker McCarthy.
Some Republican holdouts have – hesitantly – started moving in McCarthy's direction, but still, it may not be enough.
There is a way that this seemingly embarrassing exercise in government dysfunction can ultimately fix one of Washington DC's greatest modern failures – its inability to control spending.
To date, McCarthy has made numerous concessions to holdout Republicans.
He's offered to make it easier for rank-and-file Republicans to force a vote to oust him and he's agreed that a political action committee aligned with him will not meddle in GOP primary races.
So far, none of these compromises have been enough to convince a sufficient number of rebellious Republicans to quit their fight.
The problem haunting McCarthy is the belief that he will not be tough enough on spending, and there's sincere reason for concern.
Under the Constitution, spending originates in the House and spending is out of control.
The total U.S. deficit stands at $248 billion in November 2022, up from $191 billion the year before.
In December, Biden signed a $1.7 trillion federal spending bill and
