Republicans Silent on McCarthy’s Secret MAGA Deals to Win Speakership

Kevin McCarthy may have survived his bruising House GOP leadership fight, but not without giving away the store to MAGA Republicans and becoming weaker than ever. Now weeks later, McCarthy still won’t say what promises he made to win the spot. 

Last week, it was revealed one of Kevin McCarthy’s promises was a vote on a massive tax increase for the middle class by instituting a national sales tax in place of progressive income tax. 

FOX: “Republicans in the House of Representatives will vote on a bill that would abolish the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), eliminate the national income tax and replace it with a national consumption tax… the House will reportedly vote on it anyway, because a floor vote was one of the concessions Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) made to right-wing members in his bid to become House speaker.”

And while the scope of McCarthy’s secret deals continues to trickle out, MAGA Republicans’ extreme priorities have already come into focus. Republicans are making plans to hold the debt limit hostage in order to force cuts to programs like Medicare, Social Security, and more.

NPR: “In the past, Congress has avoided breaching the limit by simply raising it. But House Republicans said they will not support increasing the debt ceiling this time around — not unless they get spending cuts or other concessions.”

New York Times: “Economists, Wall Street analysts and political observers are warning that the concessions he made to fiscal conservatives could make it very difficult for Mr. McCarthy to muster the votes to raise the debt limit — or even put such a measure to a vote.”

Last week the House MAGA majority voted on multiple anti-abortion bills, moving toward their ultimate goal of passing a nationwide abortion ban. 

New York Times: House Passes Bill That Could Subject Some Abortion Doctors to Prosecution

Forbes: House Republicans Are Already Voting On Anti-Abortion Bills As GOP Eyes Even More Restrictions

And the very first bill they voted on in the new Congress was to make it easier for billionaires and big corporations to cheat on their taxes and avoid paying their fair share – which would blow a $114 billion hole in the deficit and worsen inflation. 

Center on Budget and Policy Priorities: House GOP’s First Bill: A Misleading Gambit to Protect Interests of Wealthy Tax Cheats

Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget: IRS Funding Repeal Could Cost Over $100 Billion, Encourage Tax Cheating

AP: “Shortly before the vote, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office projected that rescinding the extra IRS funding would increase deficits over the coming decade by more than $114 billion. That created an awkward moment for Republicans, who have been saying that addressing deficits would be one of their top concerns in the majority.”

As the secret concessions McCarthy made continue to come into full view, the American people have a right to know about MAGA Republicans’ backroom bargains that could have a real impact on their lives.