GOP members will vote on their choice to replace the retiring Boehner as Speaker behind closed doors on Thursday.
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The Republican congressman and newly announced candidate for speaker of the House of Representatives Jason Chaffetz on Monday struck out against his opponent Kevin McCarthy in an interview on MSNBC. “This new process will ensure House Republicans have a strong, unified team to lead our conference and focus on the American people’s priorities”.
Pennsylvania Reps. Keith Rothfus, R-Sewickly, and Scott Perry, R-York, were among the members who had complained that the decision should not be rushed.
But a few members wanted more time to weigh their options and pursue rule changes in the aftermath of Boehner’s sudden announcement that he was resigning at the end of October.
Webster, 66, a former Florida House speaker, is campaigning on a platform that declares lower-rung members of Congress are exhausted of the power games played by the leadership. 11, unencumbered with conservative proposals to defund Planned Parenthood.
Many are wondering if this could set the tone for McCarthy to take a tougher stance on conservative issues than Boehner did.
McCarthy recently got himself into trouble for suggesting that the Benghazi investigation was politically motivated.
“Everybody thought Hilllary Clinton was unbeatable, right?” Her numbers are dropping. Why?
Speaking to Joe Scarborough, Chaffetz described the majority leader as “a good man” but said voters want “a fresh start, a fresh face” in the speaker’s office.
“I think Republicans are going to have to decide this on their own”, Mr. Hoyer, Maryland Democrat, told reporters.
“If we just promote existing leadership, yikes, that’s going to get ugly for us at home”, Chaffetz said.
Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., said McCarthy apologized in the meeting for his Benghazi comments.
McCarthy has since regretted his comments and has defended the committee’s work. Republicans are not bound to vote for the caucus nominee, though, so there is potential for the party to be split during the floor vote. Its a victory 4 the Tea Party because Boehner wasn’t conservative enough.
However, by handing off responsibility for electing the second and third posts on the totem pole, Boehner has injected a new unstable element into an already volatile situation. “And all the North Carolina delegation supported this bill”.
Boehner hasn’t endorsed any of the leadership candidates, but has pointed to McCarthy as a suitable successor. But if it’s Kevin McCarthy, I will support him, but he still has a math problem.
“But everybody has a say, everybody has a voice because everyone that comes to the House, 750,000 people they’re representing – and you want those voices heard”.
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Carter commended Boehner on social media for his “more than 25 years of service in the House” and said that the speaker “served our great nation with dignity”. “There are 246 Republicans, you need 218 votes on the floor of the House to actually win the speakership, but unfortunately I think he’s shy of the 218 and I’m just offering myself as an alternative to bridge that gulf and bring this party together”.
