McCarthy friend-turned-foe Burchett gives blunt answer about Congress’s productivity

As Congress looks to wrap up work for the year, Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN) doesn’t believe it has been productive, taking a jab at his colleagues under former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s (R-CA) leadership.

When CNN’s Manu Raju asked Burchett on the steps of the Capitol if “this been a productive Congress,” the Tennessee Republican said, “No.”

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The House adjourned for Christmas recess on Thursday without reaching a deal to pass wartime aid to Ukraine, while the Senate decided to delay its break and return next week to continue negotiations.

House Democrats have said it has been “the least productive Congress since the Great Depression,” blaming “extreme MAGA Republicans” for the lack of productivity.

Republicans have expressed frustration at their own party for allowing infighting to get in the way of passing legislation.

In a heated moment on the House floor last month, Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) asked members to come to the floor “and come explain to me one material, meaningful, significant thing the Republican majority has done.”

Some Republicans blame McCarthy, who will not seek reelection in 2024 and will retire at the end of the year, for the recent wave of Republican losses and slow Congress.

Burchett, once an ally to McCarthy, was one of seven Republicans who voted to oust him as speaker in October. Burchett cited a lack of urgency in the House, specifically in having to pass numerous appropriations bills and failing to deliver on various promises.

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“I hate to lose him as a friend, but I had the choice between that and my conscience and what my conscience tells me to do,” Burchett said in a video explaining his vote.

Since the House’s historic ousting of McCarthy, the former speaker and Burchett’s relationship has faltered, intensifying last month when Burchett accused McCarthy of elbowing him in a Capitol hallway. McCarthy denied intentionally jabbing Burchett, and the Tennessee representative said he has “no vengeance towards him” a day after the incident.