Rep. Dan Bishop (R-N.C.) on Tuesday became the first Republican to publicly support ousting Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) over the debt ceiling deal he struck with President Biden as conservative criticism of the agreement ramps up.
At a House Freedom Caucus press conference on Tuesday, Bishop was the sole Republican to raise his hand signifying he would support a motion to oust McCarthy over the bill.
"I think it's got to be done," Bishop told reporters after the press conference.
But Bishop did not commit to filing a motion to vacate the chair, which would trigger a vote on removing McCarthy as Speaker.
"I'll decide that in conjunction with others," Bishop said.
Hardline conservative Republicans had for months brushed off questions about whether they would seek to replace McCarthy as Speaker if he struck a debt limit deal that did not meet their standards.
But members of the House Freedom Caucus and beyond were infuriated the debt limit bill announced over the weekend did not do more to cut spending and complained that other provisions that Republican leadership touted had massive loopholes.
The measure imposes spending caps, rescinds unspent COVID-19 funds, increases some work requirements for public assistance programs and more.
"I'm just fed up with the lies, I'm fed up with the lack of courage, the cowardice," Bishop said. "And I intend to see to it that there is somebody who's prepared to say what needs to be done."
"There's 222 members of the Republican Conference. Nobody in the Republican Conference could have done a worse job," Bishop said of McCarthy's negotiation with the White House.
DEVELOPING.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.