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Amodei statement on Kevin McCarthy's withdrawal from Speaker race

October 8, 2015

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Brian Baluta, 202-225-6155

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Mark Amodei (NV-2) released the following statement regarding Rep. Kevin McCarthy’s (CA-23) announcement he will withdraw as a candidate for Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives:

“For those who expressed frustration and a desire for change, we have now, through primary election in Virginia, through the resignation of John Boehner, and through today’s withdrawal of Kevin McCarthy from the Speaker’s race, gotten rid of or denied promotion to all three Republican Conference leaders who served when I was sworn in 48 months ago. I dare submit, those are significant occurrences in answering ‘What has changed?’

“Against the onslaught of constant criticism, other activities of note include: enacting the largest spending and deficit controls since 1981; protecting 99 percent of Americans from a tax increase on a permanent basis; cutting the annual budget deficit in half; funding our troops; reforming the student loan system; reducing IRS funding; repeatedly attempting to reverse the mistakes of the Affordable Care Act; opposing a bad Iran deal; and passing dozens of pro-growth jobs bills on energy, job training, regulatory reform, health care, and innovation, among others. So while it seems as if Rome is burning, the House Republican ‘fire department’ has done pretty good work when held to anything other than a perfection standard.

“I look forward to the 200 or so blue collar members of the majority conference continuing to work – in constant conflict with the administration and a curious (?) supporting effort from the U.S. Senate – the issues, and provide aggressive oversight for the executive branch agencies affecting businesses and families in Nevada, and to influence the policy and operations of the federal government. I will continue to make our nation’s and our state’s issues this office’s priorities, as opposed to helping cable news networks boost their ratings.”

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