U.S. Rep Jim Banks, who represents Indiana’s 3rd Congressional District and is running for U.S. Senate, said Tuesday he opposes the motion to vacate Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., as speaker of the House of Representatives.
U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla, Monday night brought forward a motion to vacate the speaker’s seat, giving the House 48 hours to vote on the item.
In a phone call with IndyStar Tuesday afternoon, Banks, a noted conservative voice in the House, called the motion to vacate a distraction.
“Going back to where we started in January with multiple rounds of speaker votes only sets us back from advancing our agenda,” Banks said.
Indiana’s Republican delegation appears poised to support McCarthy. In public statements, Reps. Rudy Yakym, Larry Bucshon, and Erin Houchin each have noted some level of support for the speaker. Rep. Victoria Spartz,, whom some speculated would support the motion to vacate said on X Tuesday she would not vote to vacate McCarthy from the seat.
Banks praises McCarthy’s ‘transparent’ approach
Banks said the House should be focusing on legislation to solve problems such as the country’s fentanyl epidemic and passing appropriations bills ahead of the November deadline to fund federal agencies for the 2024 fiscal year.
In McCarthy’s January battle for the speaker’s role, McCarthy agreed with demands from Republican lawmakers to bring up appropriations packages one by one as opposed to a large joint bill. Banks said that has made for a more “transparent process.”
“For the first time in over 20 years, we are going through the single appropriations packages and debating them and having dozens of amendment votes on the floor,” Banks said Tuesday. “It’s the most transparent process I’ve seen since I’ve been in Congress in the Republican led House.”
Shutdown avoided:How Indiana’s federal lawmakers voted for spending bill to avert shutdown
Indiana reps split on government shutdown bill
Over the weekend, Congress averted a potential government shutdown when the House and Senate approved a stopgap measure, referred to as a continuing resolution, to keep the government funded through mid-November.
Banks was among four of Indiana’s U.S. Representatives that voted no on the continuing resolution. Yakym, Spartz and Greg Pence also voted no as well as U.S. Senator Mike Braun in the Senate. Braun is running for governor.
Banks said he voted against the continuing resolution because it continues “Biden Pelosi” levels of spending. In May, President Joe Biden and Speaker McCarthy agreed to raise the country’s debt ceiling in exchange for limits on future spending, according to USA Today.
Contact IndyStar’s state government and politics reporter Brittany Carloni at [email protected] or 317-779-4468. Follow her on Twitter/X @CarloniBrittany.
