Republican Rep. Ken Buck of Colorado said he‘s had a “number of conversations” with Kevin McCarthy and that he told the House GOP leader he needs to make a deal with members who oppose his speakership or step aside.
McCarthy “needs to figure out how to make a deal in order to move forward and keep it simple,” Buck said, then bringing up Rep. Steve Scalise.
“I said to Kevin at some point, you know, you've got to make sure you gotta either cut a deal or you've got to give Steve [Scalise] a chance or others a chance to see if they can put it together. My feeling is Kevin gets more votes than anybody else,” Buck told reporters outside the House chamber.
"There are a few of those 20 that just aren't going to vote for Kevin McCarthy but would vote for somebody else. There are some of the others ... who want changes in the rules and there are some others who care about policy. I think if Steve meets those three needs, he will be able to move forward and take the speakership," Buck told CNN's Dana Bash shortly after speaking with reporters.
Buck told CNN that "today the conference as a whole needs to make a decision."
Buck told reporters the House is in “a state of disarray and chaos,” but he remains “optimistic.”
“All you need is one, two votes, right, and then you get a speaker, you get people sworn in and you move forward,” Buck said.
“I shouldn't say him by name, but there are some people who have personal disagreements, and the margin is so small that those people could make a difference,” Buck said.
Watch the moment:
