With a federal government shutdown looming, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) continued to make a last-minute effort to work out some type of funding agreement with far-right members of his caucus. But the talks have not been going well, and a shutdown appears likely.
Democrats have been angered by the looming shutdown, and some Republicans are frustrated as well — including Rep. Michael Lawler (R-NY). During a Friday morning appearance on CNN, the GOP congressman pointed the finger at a McCarthy adversary: far-right Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL).
Lawler told CNN, "I don't think there is any question the only people who get hurt here are the American people. I respect some of the differences that some of my colleagues have with respect to spending, with respect to process. But in some cases, like with Matt Gaetz, it's a difference of personality."
Lawler continued, "He's made it very clear his objective is to remove Kevin McCarthy as speaker. And so, this has become a situation where the American people are going to be harmed because of one person: Matt Gaetz. And as far as I'm concerned, I am not going to stand by and let that happen."
The GOP congressman went on to say that he would "do everything I can" to avoid a shutdown "because the bottom line is people's lives, people's economic livelihood is at stake: the stock market, 401ks."
Lawler added, "It's totally unacceptable to be playing politics as Matt Gaetz has been throughout this entire three-week period."
