A vote concerning gas stoves turned sour Tuesday, when members of the House Freedom Caucus used the opportunity to spite House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
Republican leadership was hoping to pass a rule that would move legislation to the floor barring the federal government from banning gas stoves.
But the vote went up in flames, when 12 GOP lawmakers sided with House Democrats to defeat the measure.
Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida says the vote was meant to put McCarthy on notice over the debt ceiling deal, which some conservatives argue was bad for Republicans and the American taxpayer.
“The era of the Imperial Speakership is OVER!” Gaetz tweeted along with video of his appearance on Steve Bannon’s show. “I’m done with their failure theater.”
The era of the Imperial Speakership is OVER!
I’m done with their failure theater. https://t.co/Ceovz4C03U pic.twitter.com/7jNJpfRz4Z
— Rep. Matt Gaetz (@RepMattGaetz) June 6, 2023
“We’re not going to live in the era of the imperial speaker anymore,” the Washington Post quoted Gaetz as saying. “We took down the rule because we’re frustrated at the way this place is operating… We’re concerned that the fundamental commitments that allowed Kevin McCarthy to assume the speakership have been violated as a consequence of the debt limit deal.”
Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) also voted “no,” but only so it could be brought up for a vote later. Every Democrat voted against it.