WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Fourth District Congressman Bill Huizenga says political disagreements and posturing are some of the reasons for the division within the Republican party right now.
That was highlighted this week with the removal of Kevin McCarthy as Speaker of the House. Eight Republican representatives voted in favor of him being replaced, along with 208 Democrats.
"There are some folks who had legitimate and solvable - I would argue - policy differences and questions. Then, there are others where it was just personality or camera-chasing," Huizenga said on West Michigan's Morning News.
The West Michigan Republican told WOOD Radio the policy differences can be resolved.
"But what you can't do is solve a personal grudge. And I think that's really what drove (the vote to remove McCarthy). That's not all eight of them (Republicans)," Huizenga said.
Lawmakers recently passed a Continuing Resolution bill that ensures the federal government will remain funded for 45 days. If it had not been passed, an automatic shutdown of the government would have been triggered Oct. 1. The measure secures essential government services and provides additional time for the passage of the appropriation (spending) bills.
"We're going back in Monday to have a conference, because I believe we need to have more consensus before we go out and play this Greek Tragedy theater out on the House floor again for the American people. We need to have this figured out," Huizenga said.
But it may take some work and agreement among lawmakers.
"Right now, honestly, I don't think anybody has 218 votes to become the next Speaker. And we've proven we need to have that internally before we move forward," Huizenga said.
In addition to a 218-vote consensus among Republicans, he believes that should be made a formalized rule.
"Obviously, you have to want to be a majority and we have some folks who would rather be in the minority and be able to control political bounds," Huizenga said.
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