Rep. Scott Perry presses Kevin McCarthy before House speaker vote

Rep. Scott Perry said Tuesday he could still be a “yes” vote on Rep. Kevin McCarthy’s bid to become House speaker, but said more negotiations would be required to resolve demands from the right-wing Freedom Caucus.

Perry (R-Pa.), one of a group of conservative GOPers opposed to McCarthy (R-Calif.) taking the gavel, was asked on “Fox & Friends” hours before Tuesday’s vote whether he could change his mind. 

“Absolutely,” Perry responded.

“Let’s sit down and talk. There’s time,” he added. 

According to Perry, one of the sticking points that is keeping him and other Republicans in the caucus from backing McCarthy for speaker is representation on House committees.

He acknowledged meeting with McCarthy Monday evening to discuss putting members of the Freedom Caucus on specific panels before the vote, but McCarthy refused, confirming a report by Punchbowl News.​

“This is how this works​,” Perry said, claiming that such assurances are typically made before the speaker is elected. ​

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“Once the speaker becomes elected, then promises aren’t kept and there’s nothing you can do about it. ​..​. The speaker’s position is incredibly powerful​ –​ determines all committees, who’s on committee, chairs committees, and the policies that come out of committees​.” ​

But the Republican also reiterated the statement that he and other Freedom Caucus members made in an open letter Sunday — that they are seeking a “radical departure from the status quo” among House leadership.

“Kevin has been in leadership for 14 years. And nobody came to this town saying, ​’Well, Washington is doing great.​ We don’t want to change anything.​’​ It’s the status quo. ​The only way to change the status quo was to either change how we do things or change the people that are doing so​,” Perry told Fox.

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In a separate statement Tuesday, Perry claimed that McCarthy had “balked” at the committee plan and refused to promise the hardliners votes on legislation mandating a balanced federal budget and term limits for lawmakers.

“We requested transparent, accountable votes on individual earmarks that would require two-thirds support to pass, and to ensure that all amendments to cut spending would be allowed floor consideration,” Perry said. “He dismissed it.

“We demanded that he cease his efforts to defeat competitive conservative candidates in Republican primaries. He denied it,” the Pennsylvanian concluded. “Kevin McCarthy had an opportunity to be speaker of the House. He rejected it.”

McCarthy is scrambling to find the votes that will put him over the threshold of 218 he likely needs to become speaker if the full House votes. 

There are only 222 Republicans in the House, meaning McCarthy can only afford to lose four members. 

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M​cCarthy also faces a challenge for the speakership from Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.), one of five making up the “Never Kevin Caucus” ​that also includes Reps. Matt Gaetz of Florida, Bob Good of Virginia, Matt Rosendale of Montana and Ralph Norman of South Carolina. 

F​ailure to reach the 218-vote threshold could lead to a protracted floor vote in the House.

Over the weekend, McCarthy also conceded to one of the Freedom Caucus’ key demands, on a legislative procedure known as a “motion to vacate” that would make it easier for Republicans to remove him from the speaker’s post.