House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (Calif.) on Wednesday urged Senate Republicans to believe in his ability to lead the House next year when the House Republicans will hold the majority. He added that they should not be moved to vote for bills out of fear that the House majority will be unable to get any legislation passed. McCarthy’s appearance during the Senate GOP lunch came during a time when the upper chamber was preparing for the vote on a year-end government spending bill that House Republicans have been widely opposing.
GOP Senators however have said that McCarthy’s comments were more of a plea to forge closer collaboration with the Senate in the next Congress since he is trying to win the speakership.
Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) told reporters after the meeting that the message was one of unity to have everyone work better together than they had previously.
McCarthy previously has said that the Senate is trying to “jam” the House before the break with their decision to negotiate and vote on an omnibus spending package.
During an interview with Fox News Host, Sean Hannity McCarthy said that it did not make sense for them to move forward with the bill when there would be a change of power within 32 days.
On Tuesday, McCarthy also endorsed a letter from 13 current and incoming House Republicans who called the legislative priorities of those GOP senators who support the $1.7 trillion year-end spending bill to be pushed aside in the 118th Congress. However, during his meeting with GOP Senators McCarthy was much softer in the things he said.
