McCarthy Sends Lawmakers Home, Cites Hard-Liner Blockade ‘Chaos’
- Ultra-conservatives angered by speaker’s debt deal with Biden
- Speaker says he was ‘blindsided’ by revolt of 11 lawmakers
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy
Photographer: Ting Shen/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy called off votes for the remainder of the week and sent lawmakers home as a revolt by Republican hard-liners halted business in the chamber for a second day.
The blockade by a band of 11 ultra-conservatives heightened tensions among Republicans following the speaker’s backing of a compromise with the White House to avert a US debt default. It also showcased their capacity to grind the chamber to a halt even if holding off, for now, on a push for McCarthy’s ouster.