House GOP civil war continues after government shutdown averted – National & International News –

Competing GOP factions mull ousting Gaetz, McCarthy after shutdown showdown.

Mississippi native appointed to fill deceased California Sen. Diane Feinstein’s seat.

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House GOP infighting continues after government shutdown averted

On Saturday, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy cut a deal with Democrats to pass a continuing resolution to fund the government until Nov. 17 and avert a shutdown. The CR passed the closely divided House with overwhelming bipartisan support, 335-91. The CR fully funds all government programs, with none of the cuts to the social safety net featured in a Republican bill, which the House failed to pass. The bill did not include $6 billion in new money for Ukraine sought by the Biden administration.

Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL), a member of the so-called House Freedom Caucus, previously threatened to call a vote to unseat McCarthy from the Speakership if he used any Democratic votes to pass a CR. McCarthy apparently told him multiple times behind closed doors to go ahead and file the motion. In an interview with “Face the Nation” yesterday, McCarthy seemed confident he would survive such a vote.

Still, Gaetz took to the House floor today, not to file the motion, but to repeat his threat that he would file it sometime this week. Meanwhile, members of the House GOP are reportedly mulling a vote to oust Gaetz from the House altogether.

Since 2021, the House Ethics Committee has been investigating accusations that Gaetz had a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old and paid her to travel with him. The committee’s sex trafficking probe against Gaetz has recently been revived. The Justice Department had previously opened an investigation but ultimately decided against charging Gaetz.

Expelling Gaetz from Congress would require a two-thirds (290) vote in the House, meaning all 212 Democrats and 78 Republicans.

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Mississippi native appointed to fill deceased California Sen. Diane Feinstein’s seat

Last week, long-serving Sen. Diane Feinstien (D-CA) passed away at the age of 90. California’s Gov. Gavin Newsom had promised months ago that he would appoint a Black woman to Feinstein’s seat if the senator could not serve out her term for any reason. Over the weekend, Newsome appointed Laphonza Butler, a Democratic strategist and current head of the pro-choice group Emily’s List, to serve out the remainder of Feinstein’s term, which ends in 2025.

Butler was born and raised in Magnolia, MS, in Pike County. When she takes her seat, Butler will be the only Black woman currently in the Senate, and only the third to ever serve. She will also be California’s first openly LGBTQ Senator. She has previously consulted for Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign and remains part of Harris’ circle. Butler is also former president of the Service Employees International Union, which represents nurses and other service workers.

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