Rep. Scott Perry Says Pelosi’s Policies Gave GOP New Majority

Rep. Scott Perry (R-PA) said the reason why the Republicans now have a majority in Congress is that the American people got tired of former Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s policies.

“I think the person that has done the most, that has done the most, to make this fabulous, this wonderful Republican majority is Speaker Pelosi and her policies,” Perry said. “That’s what has achieved this majority over here because the American people are sick and tired of it and have had enough of it,” on the House floor.”

Perry made the comments while nominating Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) for Speaker of the House and rejecting House GOP leader Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA). Perry said Washington is broken and that there must be a vision so that Congress can work for the American people.

“We can make history today by electing the first Black Republican speaker of the House,” Perry said. “I’m here to nominate Byron Donalds because he has accomplished many things.”

Perry described Donalds as a man of faith, a businessman, a family man, and a man of community service. Perry added that Donalds has come from “the school of hard knocks” and accomplished many things.

Perry’s speech comes amid the ongoing drama at the Capitol as the new Congress convenes to elect its new speaker. McCarthy, who is hoping to be the speaker, has seen his efforts frustrated by 20 GOP House members, including Perry, who have made it clear that they will not vote for him.

Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL), one of the House Republicans not backing McCarthy, said he would not be supporting McCarthy’s bid because there is very little difference between Pelosi and McCarthy.

Congress has had six ballots as of Tuesday, with no speaker elected yet. The last time a speaker election went beyond the first ballot was in 1923 when Congress took nine ballots over a period of three days to re-elect Frederick Gillett (R-MA).

McCarthy, who has the endorsement of former President Donald Trump, and his supporters are refusing to back down. McCarthy’s supporters, including Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-TX), have signaled that they would go through multiple ballots to ensure he gets the gavel.