Opinion | America Needs a House Speaker

Rep. Matt Gaetz and the seven other Republicans who voted to remove Speaker Kevin McCarthy are endangering America and the world. Because of their action, Congress has lost the ability to function. Lawmakers are powerless to act on behalf of the constituents they were elected to represent. These eight members surrendered the power of the House Republican majority, betraying the voters and their Republican colleagues.

A motion to vacate the speaker’s chair without the votes to elect a successor is foolish. At best it is pointless grandstanding. The eight dissidents claim to have acted to stop reckless spending. Overspending is a serious threat, but Congress can’t do anything about it without a speaker. Thus it’s impossible to defend their conduct as an act of principle.