Duval Times

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In response to Congress's vote to remove Kevin McCarthy as Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Congressman John Rutherford (FL-05) expressed his disappointment and criticized the move as a personal vendetta.

"Today Representative Matt Gaetz (FL-01) led House Democrats and a handful of dissenters in handing the House back to the Far Left. It is a lie to characterize this as anything but a personal vendetta," said Congressman Rutherford.

Rutherford further called out Gaetz's inconsistency in his claims to support cutting spending and securing the southern border. He pointed out that Gaetz voted against a bill to cut nondefense discretionary spending by 30 percent and secure the border. Additionally, Rutherford highlighted Gaetz's votes against paying the troops and his disregard for passing single-subject funding bills.

"Rep. Gaetz is driving our nation toward the brink of another government shutdown, all for clicks and cash and a boost in his national profile. His disrespect for his colleagues, this institution, and the people we serve is a clear reflection of his lacking fitness to serve in Congress and has made him President Biden's greatest ally," Rutherford stated.

Congressman Rutherford also defended Speaker McCarthy's record, emphasizing his commitment to America despite distractions from a small vocal minority. McCarthy's accomplishments include cutting $2 trillion in spending, streamlining energy permitting, passing historic border legislation, holding the Biden Administration accountable, reforming welfare programs, and rolling back soft-on-crime laws.

"I stand by this record, and hope we can put aside the childish gamesmanship playing out today and get back to doing the job of governing that we were elected to do," Rutherford concluded.