Note: This article may contain commentary reflecting the author's opinion.
Last Thursday, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) told reporters that he wants to draft a new “code of conduct,” following the ousting of Congresswoman Ilhan Omar (D-MN) from the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
McCarthy was specifically addressing remarks made by Omar, remarks many have deemed to be antisemitic. Indeed, McCarthy himself argued these comments were disqualifying. While McCarthy maintained she would not be ousted from all committees, he contended it is in the American people’s best interest that she not serve on the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
“I just had a conversation with the Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries,” McCarthy said. “What I asked him to do was to select a couple members, along with himself and mine, and I have a couple members — one would be Nancy Mace to help, Ken Buck, and some others.”
McCarthy continued, saying, “I think what we should do is put into the rules. Look, there is a code of conduct here, but I do not know the definition of exactly what all that is going to mean. I think that should be clear so that if there is a concern, it is not tit-for-tat. But I think, in moving forward, every single member of Congress has a responsibility in how they carry themselves… And it is responsible upon us to let them know how what that is, and what is the due process, in a bipartisan way, that we can deal with it.”
REP. MASSIE: CONSERVATIVES WILL HOLD LAWMAKERS ACCOUNTABLE FOR UKRAINE FUNDING — ‘THERE WILL BE A RECORDED VOTE’
Then McCarthy turned to his solution — a new clarification of the House Code of Conduct. While the code of conduct is publicly accessible, McCarthy maintains it is in the best interest of Congress that it be clarified, in service of the House and the American people.
“I’m going to put a group of Democrats that we’ll select and a group of Republicans, and we’ll work to come and clarify the rules and pass something for not only this Congress but future Congresses as well,” McCarthy said.
The results of this endeavor remain to be seen and it is not clear the extent to which the Democrats will cooperate with the new Republican majority.
Last Thursday, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) told reporters that he wants to draft a new “code of conduct,” following the ousting of Congresswoman Ilhan Omar (D-MN) from the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
McCarthy was specifically addressing remarks made by Omar, remarks many have deemed to be antisemitic. Indeed, McCarthy himself argued these comments were disqualifying. While McCarthy maintained she would not be ousted from all committees, he contended it is in the American people’s best interest that she not serve on the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
“I just had a conversation with the Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries,” McCarthy said. “What I asked him to do was to select a couple members, along with himself and mine, and I have a couple members — one would be Nancy Mace to help, Ken Buck, and some others.”
McCarthy continued, saying, “I think what we should do is put into the rules. Look, there is a code of conduct here, but I do not know the definition of exactly what all that is going to mean. I think that should be clear so that if there is a concern, it is not tit-for-tat. But I think, in moving forward, every single member of Congress has a responsibility in how they carry themselves… And it is responsible upon us to let them know how what that is, and what is the due process, in a bipartisan way, that we can deal with it.”
REP. MASSIE: CONSERVATIVES WILL HOLD LAWMAKERS ACCOUNTABLE FOR UKRAINE FUNDING — ‘THERE WILL BE A RECORDED VOTE’
Then McCarthy turned to his solution — a new clarification of the House Code of Conduct. While the code of conduct is publicly accessible, McCarthy maintains it is in the best interest of Congress that it be clarified, in service of the House and the American people.
“I’m going to put a group of Democrats that we’ll select and a group of Republicans, and we’ll work to come and clarify the rules and pass something for not only this Congress but future Congresses as well,” McCarthy said.
The results of this endeavor remain to be seen and it is not clear the extent to which the Democrats will cooperate with the new Republican majority.