Kevin McCarthy has added some of the Republican Representatives who had opposed his Speakership bid to the Oversight and Judiciary committees.
According to a recent Fox News report, McCarthy-R-Calif. has placed Reps. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., Scott Perry, R-Pa., Byron Donalds, R-Fla., and freshman Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., on the Oversight Committee. This is despite all of them holding out and not supporting McCarthy during the original Speakership ballots.
Additionally, he has reinstated Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., and Paul Gosar, R-Ariz., who had previously been removed from their committee assignments, and gave them seats on that committee.
Under Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, Reps. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., and Chip Roy, R-Texas, have all been assigned to the Judiciary Committee.
This is particularly noteworthy as both Gaetz and Boebert had been two of the most vocal opponents of McCarthy for the Speakership, running the “Never McCarthy” opposition. During the election rounds, Boebert had gone as far as to say she would continue to oppose McCarthy even if she was “the last person standing.”
Similarly, Gaetz had also criticized McCarthy calling him “desperate.” Despite all this, Gaetz, Boebert, and other GOP opponents voted “present,” on the fifteenth ballot. While this was not outright support for McCarthy it did reduce the number of votes necessary for him to become the Speaker. Ultimately this allowed him to win the gavel and start the 118th Congress officially.
Other recent appointments include Florida Rep. Byron Donalds and freshman Tennessee Rep. Andy Ogles who got a seat on the House Financial Services Committee.
