Speaker John Boehner said Sunday that the House will avoid a government shutdown by passing a clean continuing resolution, and he added the chamber will organize a select committee to investigate Planned Parenthood.
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As a Democrat, I know I’m supposed to tap-dance on Boehner’s grave, but actually I was sorry to see him throw in the towel.
Representative Steve Scalise of Louisiana, now the Republican whip, No. 3 in the leadership, has told colleagues he wants McCarthy’s current job. He moved up to Majority Leader in August 2014 after Eric Cantor left Congress following a defeat in a primary election.
Also over the weekend, several different conservative organizations and Tea Party groups sent out messages to members urging them to oppose McCarthy. In all likelihood, the next speaker – whether it is Boehner deputy Kevin McCarthy of California or another victim – will face the same Hobson’s choice Boehner did: appease the faction in his own party with no interest in compromise or governing, inviting brinkmanship and shutdown; or collaborate with the opposing party, inviting a coup.
There has been little common ground between congressional Republicans and Obama on foreign policy during Obama’s time in office, and McCarthy’s comments made clear that was unlikely to change if he were to become speaker.
The speaker represents his constituents as well as presides over the House and manages administrative duties.
Meadows’ strategy to force a vote to remove Boehner failed in July, but it reignited deep internal divisions inside the House GOP – a dynamic Boehner cited Friday when he announced his resignation.
Boehner warned against trusting a few legislators’ promises. In the 113th Congress, which served under Boehner from January 2013 to January 2015, Republicans had a Party Unity Score of 94.6 percent, the highest ever for the GOP. He is viewed as a more pragmatic conservative Republican, like Boehner, but he has cultivated relationships with members of the House Freedom Caucus.
“The Republican House is in a sad state”, bemoaned Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid of Nevada on the floor of the senate Monday. By the time whatever legislation was on the table came up for a vote, nobody got everything they wanted, but the law was probably better for everyone in the long run.
McCarthy’s backers say he’s already got strong support.
SHAPIRO: There’s been so much turmoil in Congress, especially within the Republican Party. That vote is done by secret ballot behind closed doors.
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The Speaker on that mid-September afternoon was Shawn Jasper, New Hampshire’s version of Boehner, and the deal in question was the state’s biennium budget. I asked him whether anyone can make all of those things happen, whether McCarthy or anyone else can unite House Republicans right now.
