Today. Because you cant do the job if eight people, you have 96 of your entire conference, but eight people can partner with your whole other side. How do you govern . As of now, theres no clear candidate to replace him. Republicans are now going home for the week, effecitvely shutting down the house. They say they may have a candidate by next tuesday, with a possible vote next wednesday, but that all remains very fluid. It was all brought on by congressman matt gaetz of florida. He launched the vote to oust the speaker. After some debate, lawmakers voted 216 to 210 to remove mccarthy from the leadership position. Gaetz and seven other republicans joined all 208 democrats present in the room. Joining me live now is one of the republicans who voted to oust Speaker Mccarthy, congressman ken buck, of colorado. Congressman, great to have you back on bbc news. You have been critical of the former speakers decision to work with democrats to get a Stopgap Funding Bill passed this weekend, but can you tell us a bit more about what went into your decision to vote to oust Kevin Mccarthy . Your decision to vote to oust Kevin Mccarthy . Sure. The maor roblem Kevin Mccarthy . Sure. The maor problem we d Kevin Mccarthy . Sure. The maor problem we have i Kevin Mccarthy . Sure. The maor problem we have had is i Kevin Mccarthy . Sure. The maor problem we have had is that h Kevin Mccarthy . Sure. The major problem we have had is that we i problem we have had is that we have to pass 12 Appropriations Bills, and we have come out until last week, we had passed one appropriations bill. We passed three last week. The promise from the speaker when he became speaker was that we would pass 12 by september 30, negotiate with this in it and have a package ready for the president. That didnt happen and i think a lot of people were frustrated over that. Eight people stood up and voted against Speaker Mccarthy. I think there were others that had similar feelings that didnt feel they needed to do it because the vote was already 216 to 210. It because the vote was already 216 to 210 216 to 210. Knew where one of those eight Kevin Mccarthy, speaking a short while ago, said the eight who voted against him, yourself included, are not conservatives, and that they have enabled democrats to seize the opportunity to regain power in the house. Your reaction . I will put my conservative record of voting up against anybody, particularly someone from california like Speaker Mccarthy or some of the other critics who have criticised me from new york. I believe that we are spending too much money in this country, i believe it is an existential threat to this country, and i believe that we need to at this point in time make sure that we are doing the right thing and spending responsibly and that is why i voted that way i did. This leaves the house and congress paralyzed. The temporary speaker has proposed next tuesday for republicans to come together in conference and decide on a candidate. Do you think that is fast enough . Do you think that is fast enou~h . ~ ,. , enough . Well, these two weeks we were supposed enough . Well, these two weeks we were supposed to enough . Well, these two weeks we were supposed to be enough . Well, these two weeks we were supposed to be back. Enough . Well, these two weeksi we were supposed to be back on our district is working. Have the Appropriations Bills come to the house in an orderly Fashion Injune and july, we would have been in our districts meeting with our constituents explaining whats going on in dc and listening to their concerns. So the fact that we are not working on Appropriations Bills this week or early next week is nothing new. It was planned that way. I dont think we are paralysed. I think we are going through an orderly process that will result in a better plan for the United States. Result in a better plan for the United States. Funding for the government United States. Funding for the government will United States. Funding for the government will run United States. Funding for the government will run out United States. Funding for the government will run out in United States. Funding for the government will run out in a i government will run out in a month � s time, so is there enough time to come to an agreement . Enough time to come to an agreement . Yes, in 42 days time, agreement . Yes, in 42 days time. The agreement . Yes, in 42 days time, the money agreement . Yes, in 42 days time, the money will agreement . Yes, in 42 days time, the money will run agreement . Yes, in 42 days time, the money will run out again. We will have another continuing resolution for a period of time until we can meet with the senate, conference with the senate, decide on what to do with these 12 bills and send them to the president. It 12 bills and send them to the president 12 bills and send them to the president. . ,. , president. It took 15 rounds to elect a speaker president. It took 15 rounds to elect a speaker last president. It took 15 rounds to elect a speaker last time elect a speaker last time around. Do you think it will take this long this time . I dont. I think over the weekend we will have a lot of conversations among ourselves. I think we will have a candidate, and i believe that the party will get behind that candidate. Steve scalise is the next candidate up. We will see whether he is interested in it. He has had some health issues, but i think you may be interested in it, and i think a lot of people will come together and support Steve Scalise. D0 together and support Steve Scalise. , together and support Steve Scalise. ,. , ~ , scalise. Do you think Steve Scalise. Do you think Steve Scalise would scalise. Do you think Steve Scalise would have scalise. Do you think Steve Scalise would have the scalise. Do you think Steve I Scalise would have the votes needed to be speaker . I dont know at this needed to be speaker . I dont know at this point needed to be speaker . I dont know at this point in needed to be speaker . I dont know at this point in time, know at this point in time, because the conversation really havent occurred and we dont know who else is interested, but he is certainly one of the people that could get the votes to be speaker. We people that could get the votes to be speaker. People that could get the votes to be speaker. We spoke to one of our to be speaker. We spoke to one of your colleagues, to be speaker. We spoke to one | of your colleagues, congressman Don Baker A Little earlier. I want to play you a clip of what he said. It want to play you a clip of what he said. ,. ,. ,. , he said. It is really a vote for chaos. He said. It is really a vote for chaos. We he said. It is really a vote for chaos. We had he said. It is really a vote for chaos. We had so he said. It is really a vote i for chaos. We had so many important decisions we need to decide important decisions we need to decide on important decisions we need to decide on right now, Appropriations Bills, the farm bill. Appropriations bills, the farm bill. The Appropriations Bills, the farm bill, the defence bill, we have a broken bill, the defence bill, we have a broken body right now and all of this a broken body right now and all of this is a broken body right now and all of this is going to go on hold. Ithink of this is going to go on hold. I think it of this is going to go on hold. I think it weakens america and i think it weakens america and ithink i think it weakens america and i think its i think it weakens america and i think its a good day if you are i think its a good day if you are a i think its a good day if you are a russian government guy or are a russian government guy or a chinese are a russian government guy or a chinese communist, they are probably a chinese communist, they are probably smiling and giving high probably smiling and giving high fives. To matt gaetz to matt high fives. To matt gaetz to matt gaetz. High fives. To matt gaetz to Matt Gaetz Matt gaetz. What is your reaction matt gaetz. What is your reaction to matt gaetz. What is your reaction to that . Matt gaetz. What is your reaction to that . I matt gaetz. What is your reaction to that . I think| matt gaetz. What is your reaction to that . I think there is a lot of reaction to that . I think there is a lot of frustration reaction to that . I think there is a lot of frustration in reaction to that . I think there is a lot of frustration in our. Is a lot of frustration in our conference right now, a lot of frustration that has been building up for the last nine months. I understand the frustration when someone loses a vote. I dont think it is appropriate to suggest the chinese communists and matt gaetz have anything in common. What matt gaetz did was bring a very important issue to the floor. The speaker did not have the support and we will move forward, and we will move forward, and we will move forward in a way in my opinion that will make this country stronger and those that believe in freedom Around The World stronger. In freedom Around The World stronger in freedom Around The World stroneer. ,. , stronger. There are republicans who are unhappy stronger. There are republicans who are unhappy with stronger. There are republicans who are unhappy with the stronger. There are republicans who are unhappy with the deal. Who are unhappy with the deal that Kevin Mccarthy cut with democrats this past weekend to keep the government open, but there are still a democratic controlled senate and white house, so can the next week at do anything different to keep thatjob . Qt} do anything different to keep that ob . , ,. , that job . 90 republicans voted aeainst that job . 90 republicans voted against that that job . 90 republicans voted against that bill that job . 90 republicans voted against that bill this that job . 90 republicans voted against that bill this weekend. I against that bill this weekend. It wasnt just a few republicans who were upset with that, and yes, i believe the next speaker could pass these Appropriations Bills, negotiate with the senate and deliver something to the white house that will be signed and will be stronger than where we are right now. Stronger than where we are right nova stronger than where we are riaht now. ,. , right now. Would you throw your hat in the ring right now. Would you throw your hat in the ring to right now. Would you throw your hat in the ring to be right now. Would you throw your hat in the ring to be speaker . I hat in the ring to be speaker . No, i will not. I would not even vote for myself or speaker. So i doubt i would get any votes if my name was put in. I do believe there are a number of good people, people who are popular, people who have worked very hard around the country, have met the congressmen in their districts, those votes will run for speaker and im sure we will have a very qualified speaker in the near future have a very qualified speaker in the nearfuture have a very qualified speaker in the near future those folks. In the near future those folks. , in the near future those folks. ,. ,. ,. , folks. Final question, are you confident folks. Final question, are you confident that folks. Final question, are you confident that next folks. Final question, are you confident that next tuesday i folks. Final question, are you i confident that next tuesday you will be able to together with your colleagues come together on one candidate who will get enough votes to become a speaker . I enough votes to become a speaker . Enough votes to become a speaker . Enough votes to become a seaker . ~. ,. Speaker . I dont know that it will be next speaker . I dont know that it will be next tuesday speaker . I dont know that it will be next tuesday but speaker . I dont know that it will be next tuesday but im| will be next tuesday but im confident that by the end of wednesday we will have a speaker will start working on Appropriations Bills, yes. Congressmen ken buck, thank you so much forjoining us. So much for oining us. Thank ou. The Biden Administration has weighed in on tuesdays events on capitol hill. After the vote, President Joe Biden said, in a statement. The urgent challenges facing our nation will not wait, he hopes the house will quickly elect a speaker. The American People deserve leadership that puts the issues affecting their lives front and center. I spoke with democratic representative annie kuster for her take on the democrats role in all of this. Are you surprised at what we saw transpire today . Saw transpire today . Well, i wasnt surprised, saw transpire today . Well, i wasnt surprised, because. Saw transpire today . Well, i i wasnt surprised, because we have seen it coming for quite some time now. Really what this was about is that Kevin Mccarthy had a choice from the very beginning. He only had a five vote margin, and ever since the beginning of the session, when it took 15 votes for him to win the speakership back last january, for him to win the speakership back lastjanuary, he has back last january, he has steadily back lastjanuary, he has steadily eroded his position by caving into an extreme right wing element of his party, and now what we saw is they turned on him. So when they turned on him. So when they turned on him, he could not maintain his majority. Congressmen, there now leaves the house of representatives paralysed, as you know congresswoman. Democrats had some options to keep Kevin Mccarthy in his position as speaker. Was this the right decision for democrats . Well, absolutely. Decision for democrats . Well, absolutely, because decision for democrats . Well, absolutely, because kevin absolutely, because Kevin Mccarthy refused to negotiate, he refused to come to democrats. He absolutely had that option. Wed been talking about it for quite some time now, and he had plenty of opportunity to come to us and propose what we would consider to be a Power Sharing Agreement. I think this is something that happens frequently in the british parliament. Its not as common here in the United States, but certainly in State Legislatures across the country theyve done this. �. Across the country theyve done this. �. , , this. But ifi could ust ump in there. I this. But ifi could ust ump in there. A i this. But if i couldjust ump in there, a bipartisan h in there, a bipartisan Power Sharing Agreement in such a divided house, do you really think thats possible . Absolutely, i dont think there is any reason why so much of our legislation is broadly conceived, it is bipartisan, if you look at Something Like aid to ukraine right now, strong bipartisan majority, every single democrat, over half of the Republican Caucus supporting it in the house and equally strong bipartisan caucus in the senate, President Biden has asked for this aid, Kevin Mccarthy refused to bring it to the floor of the house for a vote, and we could easily take that vote. Another example is our farm take that vote. Another example is ourfarm bill, that is take that vote. Another example is our farm bill, that is set to expire and we need to reauthorise our farm bill, broad bipartisan support on the committee. 50 broad bipartisan support on the committee committee. So you are saying there are committee. So you are saying there are examples committee. So you are saying there are examples of committee. So you are saying there are examples of course | committee. So you are saying l there are examples of course of there are examples of course of the two parties of course working together, but at the moment, funding is going to run out once again in just about a months time, and there is no speaker, so what happens . Ida. Speaker, so what happens . No, the will speaker, so what happens . No, they will be speaker, so what happens . Iirr, they will be another speaker. We go back in the session in the morning and the speaker will be chosen. Im not concerned that there wont be a speaker. 0bviously, concerned that there wont be a speaker. Obviously, there is urgency to it, but as you saw just over the weekend, we came together to make sure that, you know, we didnt shut down the government, and we would continue to do that. So that is absolutely a possibility and those conversations may be starting as we speak, with a much more reasonable speaker, who is willing to work with both sides to get the work of the American People done. But the American People done. But the last vote the American People done. But the last vote took 15 rounds, this could take time. Arent democrats partly responsible here for not allowing the stability to get congresss work done . Stability to