House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy wasted no time in revealing what the priority is for the GOP in 2023, teasing that the nixing of the 87,000 new IRS agents is at the top of the hit list for Congress.

(Video Credit: Fox News)

On Friday, McCarthy appeared on “Jesse Watters Primetime” to lay out what he would do first off if elected the Speaker of the House.

“So, Kevin McCarthy, the American people, they didn’t give the Senate the majority in this last election… Republicans. But they did give Republicans in the House the majority. So, on Jan. 3rd what is the first order of business? What are Republicans going to do in the first 100 days that you have the majority?” guest host Sean Duffy asked McCarthy.

“Great question – the first thing we have to do is elect our Speaker. We can’t do anything until we elect that Speaker,” he said. “And if you watch, the White House is actually pushing back on our investigations, saying we’re not going to give you anything till you get this solved. So, we need to be able to move forward with that.”

“Then, on the very first day, the first thing we’re going to do is repeal the 87,000 IRS agents,” McCarthy answered. “Another reason why the Democrats are mad at me, I think – government should be here to help you, not to go after you, then we’re going to secure our border. You’ve got to secure this border, the millions of people coming across, the fentanyl that’s killing our children. We need to work on our economy. That means making us energy-independent. We need to hold this government accountable. Where’s the origin of COVID began? Find out what this Biden family had done in the process. Make sure the FBI is not going after Americans but actually going after crime. We’ve got so much work behind us, and we need to start on the very first day.”

MCCARTHY: Our very first bill will repeal Biden's 87,000 new IRS agents.

“Our job is to work for you, not go after you.” pic.twitter.com/c4SWOBVWeG

— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) September 23, 2022

Everything hinges on McCarthy now getting elected as speaker and that is far from certain.

Although he has offered a rule change that any given member could raise the issue of removing him from the position if his performance is not acceptable, there are still 5 diehard holdouts who are ostensibly not in his corner. That may be just enough to keep him from the speakership and could throw the whole thing into chaotic turmoil with a possibility, though slight, that a Democrat could ascend to the position.

The “Never Kevin” movement is a thorn in McCarthy’s side. It is comprised of GOP Reps. Andy Biggs of Arizona, Matt Gaetz of Florida, Bob Good of Virginia, Matt Rosendale of Montana, and Ralph Norman of South Carolina. If McCarthy cannot sway this group, and they have vowed that he won’t, he may never hold the speaker’s gavel even though he is supported by former President Trump.

I don’t see any scenario where I’d support Kevin McCarthy as House Speaker.

McCarthy has a track record of cutting backdoor deals with Democrats. pic.twitter.com/UzUz67yd7K

— Rep Andy Biggs (@RepAndyBiggsAZ) December 29, 2022

“This is a sh*t show,” said a centrist House Republican according to Fox News. “Without a speaker, you can’t organize the House, which means committees can’t send subpoenas or pay staff. We’re supposed to govern, but you can’t govern without a speaker in place.”

Next week will be dramatic in the House as the fate of conservatives and their agenda hangs in the balance.

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