Rep. Tim Burchett Praises Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s Leadership Amid Looming Government Shutdown Crisis

In an interview with CNN on Thursday, Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN) praised former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) for her leadership and ability to keep her caucus together when she held the gavel. Burchett said, “I don’t agree with her ever, hardly on anything, but she was pretty successful, and the way she did it was […]We need leadership, ma’am.” He went on to explain that Pelosi was successful because she put an issue out, met with her caucus, figured out what they wanted, and then put it on the floor.

When asked about his support for current Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) amid the looming shutdown crisis, Burchett said he has “questions” and “doubts” about it. He said, “We need leadership. We don’t need someone just to say we’ve got 218 votes or whatever that jumps on the train after it leaves the station.”

The country is now closer and closer to a government shutdown due to the chaos and dysfunction within the House Republican caucus. Burchett’s comments suggest that he believes Pelosi was more successful in her leadership than McCarthy has been. He believes that McCarthy has not been able to provide the necessary leadership to keep the caucus together and prevent a shutdown.

It remains to be seen how the current shutdown crisis will be resolved, and whether McCarthy will be able to provide the leadership necessary to prevent it. Burchett’s comments suggest that he is not confident in McCarthy’s ability to do so.