The vote on President Joe Biden’s $1.75 trillion Build Back Better Act was delayed for several hours as House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) delivered a speech that broke records for its length.
“I didn’t even pay attention to the speech,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) told reporters on Friday.
She added, “I don’t even listen to most of the speeches on the other side because they’re not fraught with meaning or fact. So I don’t have my computer get bothered with that.”
Watch the video below:
Speaker Nancy Pelosi dismisses Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy's 8.5-hour floor speech:
— The Recount (@therecount) November 19, 2021
"I didn't even pay attention to the speech, I don't even listen to most of the speeches on the other side because they're not fraught with meaning or fact." pic.twitter.com/ojsqGWdHve
On Thursday, McCarthy took to the House floor to deliver a speech that ran 8 hours and 32 minutes, which delayed the vote on Democrats’ spending package, as IJR reported.
A little over three hours into the speech, Pelosi’s office sent out a statement asking, “Is Kevin McCarthy OK?”
“We’re glad we’re not the only ones who can’t follow Minority Leader McCarthy’s meandering rant that has nothing to do with the Build Back Better Act,” the statement read. “Tonight, Kevin McCarthy previewed Republicans [sic] very best attacks against the deficit reducing, inflation crushing Build Back Better Act.”
Finally, the statement added, “As he hopefully approaches the end, we’re all left wondering: does Kevin McCarthy know where he is right now?”
Her office also included a series of tweets from reporters highlighting portions of the California Republican’s speech, which wandered into topics other than the spending bill.
@GOPLeader says, “I can’t afford a Tesla.” Hmmm, who could he talk to about this?
— John Bresnahan (@bresreports) November 19, 2021
Kevin McCarthy: "Picture America in a swim meet after World War II against every other country"
— Ben Jacobs (@Bencjacobs) November 19, 2021
Handful of Republicans sitting behind McCarthy without masks: Clyde, Cawthorn, Miller-Meeks.
— Andrew Solender (@AndrewSolender) November 19, 2021
McCarthy, well into his second hour, is musing about what if Abraham Lincoln wasn’t assassinated.
"children can't play outside on their own property," not in cities but on "remote cattle ranches"
— Arthur Delaney ?? (@ArthurDelaneyHP) November 19, 2021
"build back… they're going all the way back to the westerns, I guess. people have to fend for themselves."
Before lawmakers voted on the package, Pelosi delivered remarks and took a shot at McCarthy over the length of his speech. She said, “As a courtesy to my colleagues, I will be brief.”
In 2018, Pelosi set the record for the longest speech when she delivered remarks that lasted 8 hours and 7 minutes.
On Friday, the House voted 220 to 213 to advance the massive spending package.
Every Republican and just one Democrat, Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine), voted against the bill.
