House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif. | J. Scott Applewhite / AP
WASHINGTON—As expected by anyone who has paid attention to the way Republicans have operated for many years now, GOP House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy announced Monday that he is against what has been touted as a bi-partisan proposal to form an independent commission to investigate the Jan. 6 insurrection. His move will reduce Republican support for the measure in the House.
Republicans negotiated with Democrats to come up with the bill, successfully watering it down to essentially give the GOP members of the commission the ability to issue their own subpoenas and cancel things the Democrats want. Just like countless prior negotiations where the GOP waters down a Democratic proposal but then proceeds to vote against it anyway, this is what McCarthy has now made clear he will try again.