(Washington, D.C.) Today, Rep. Jill Tokuda (HI-02) voted yes on the Resolution to Declare the Office of the Speaker Vacant (also known as the Motion to Vacate), thereby removing Rep. Kevin McCarthy as Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives. Rep. Tokuda’s statement is as follows:
“Since the beginning of his Speakership, Kevin McCarthy has been more concerned about keeping the gavel by catering to a handful of far-right extremists instead of taking care of the needs of our people and moving our country forward. In all aspects of life, your word is your bond. When it mattered most for the good of our country, McCarthy has broken his word and fostered and encouraged distrust in government. Our people, all Americans, demand better. For our Maui ohana that have been devastated by the fires, for our keiki and families working hard across Hawaii, and for the kupuna who deserve better, I voted in favor of removing McCarthy from the Speakership. House Democrats have stood united in our goal of putting people over politics, and we've delivered when it mattered, by averting a default on the debt limit and preventing a government shutdown. What happens next remains uncertain, but regardless of who sits in the Speaker seat, we must remain focused on putting people first.”
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