Matt Gaetz, Maria Bartiromo spar over government funding stalemate, Biden probes

Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) and Fox News anchor Maria Bartiromo sparred Sunday over the stalemate between House Republicans and Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) when it comes to disagreement within the GOP over government funding that is set to run out Friday.

The interview also grew heated when discussing investigations launched by House Republicans into President Biden and his family, which Bartiromo referred to as a “win” but Gaetz said didn’t go far enough.

Bartiromo on “Sunday Morning Futures” peppered Gaetz with questions about just what House Republicans are looking for when it comes to agreeing on government funding as the deadline looms. When asked about four appropriations bills the House aims to work on advancing this week, Gaetz said: “The only way to do this, Maria, is line by line. Kevin wants it in one big, up-or-down vote; keep the government open, shut it down.” 

Bartiromo pointed out that one of those bills, which funds the Defense Department, was a measure that Gaetz supports.

“The bills are being worked on; you just heard [Ohio GOP Rep.] Jim Jordan say that they are efforting four bills this week, appropriations bills this week, to get through that would partially fund the government, the Defense bill as well. You wanted the Defense bill to move forward, did you not?” Bartiromo asked.

“Yes, that’s why I voted for it, and I voted for the rule to proceed on to it,” Gaetz responded. 

Gaetz is staunchly opposed to any short-term spending agreements, known as continuing resolutions, to keep the government from shutting down if Congress does not pass all 12 appropriations bills by Sept. 30.

He would not give McCarthy any credit for having four of those appropriations bills — Homeland Security, the State Department and foreign operations, the Department of Defense, and Agriculture — move through the chamber this week.

“And by the way, don’t give Kevin McCarthy credit for the fact that we’re moving on to these four appropriations bills. That was the deal that House conservatives foisted upon Kevin McCarthy when he couldn’t just move the big spending bills without moving the bills that cut spending,” Gaetz said. 

“Well, he’s doing the four bills next week,” Bartiromo responded, to which Gaetz interrupted: “Because we’re making him do it.” 

“So to push now, to blow up all of the wins that you all have had now,” Bartiromo shot back. 

“Which wins? Please enumerate them,” Gaetz said. 

“OK, well how about the fact that he has set up a weaponization committee to investigate the [Department of Justice], whether they’ve involved in a cover-up,” Bartiromo fired back. 

Gaetz tried to interject with “that process,” to which Bartiromo said “Hold on, hold on. How about the fact that he has set up the China select committee to keep China to account, and of course, he has launched this inquiry into impeachment, potentially for President Biden, is that not what you want?” 

Gaetz responded that “none of those things are deliverables.” 

“Those are steps a process, that setting up a committee is an end unto itself only in Washington, D.C., but the American people demand results,” Gaetz said before Bartiromo tried to interject. “Hold on; I let you talk, Maria. These committees have done nothing to reduce inflation, they’ve done nothing to actually constrain the Biden government.” 

Gaetz also pushed back against Bartiromo’s mention of McCarthy’s impeachment inquiry into Biden, calling it “failure theater.”

“If Kevin McCarthy was actually serious about pursuing the Bidens, he would have sent Hunter Biden a subpoena by now. That’s how you know that it’s sort of failure theater that you’re observing,” Gaetz said.

The Speaker does not have the power to subpoena individuals since he did not sit on any congressional committees.

Gaetz, a consistent critic of McCarthy, has threatened to put a motion on the floor to remove McCarthy from the Speakership if the California Republican does not cave to a series of demands on spending.

Under current House rules, it only takes one member to bring up a motion to vacate the Speakership.